Anal Gland?

[andyhilt27]

I hate to even start this thread. I noticed today when my Eva was doing her business that some juices shot out. Don't ask why I was watching! I am not some sicko! I understand the purpose of said gland. But is there something I should be concerned with in terms of these secretions shooting out? We feed Eva Royal Canin puppy. She was started on this at the breeder. Her poo is solid and she does not appear to be constipated. Her fecal matter smells extremely bad. I mean bad. Could this gland be infected???? We just recently treated her with Keflex for the UTI she was diagnosed with. Any thoughts on this gross topic?

[andyhilt27]

:eek: :eek: :eek: I just realized this thread is setting me up for a lot of jokes! Fire away, I can take it. It is funny though, I say UTI and possible anal gland infection, you MUST be curious as to what I am doing to her. Oh man. Even if you don't respond I can hear your thoughts now. I must say this: Athough Eva is a beautiful bitch, I have no sexual interest in her.

[tosca]

Andy, I'm no vet, but I am of the understanding that some anal gland excretion is normal while elminating - that is what helps prevent impaction. So, unless she's chewing on her behind or has a horrendously bad odor, I'd offer that it is very probable everything is just fine. :)

Also with regard to the UTI, you might want to add some cranberry extract (you can get it in pill/capsule form) to help prevent recurrences. I've used it on bitches and found it to be helpful.

Best -

[andyhilt27]

tosca, your response was indeed helpful! I was disappointed that there wasn't a cheap shot taken at me. I am all for humor even if it is directed towards me!:D thanks again

[robinb]

Andy,

First I agree with Tosca and I'm not a vet either! A couple of other thoughts, when treating with antibiotics I always use a plant enzmes and probiotic. It's actually possible that the antibiotics for the uti, upset the natural digestive enzsmes and caused some minor anal sac problems. If you think your girl is suffering from Anal gland problems you might try adding some fiber to her diet, such as canned pumpkin, peas, beans, carrots, banana, etc. You don't need lots, just add a tablespoon at each feeding. Wellness makes a cookie that has yogurt, apples and bananas. Regular exercise also helps dogs with anal problems.

Robin

[andyhilt27]

Eva hasn't paid much attention to her anus. I don't blame her there! I will keep an eye on it(yeah yeah I am sicko) and contact the vet in the coming days if warranted. Thanks for the thoughts!!!!

[dobesign]

It's fairly easy to learn to express anal glands. They can become hyper-active when dogs have nutritional changes, diarrhea, hormonal issues, or thyroid issues. Often you can actually SEE an overfull anal gland from the outside. The occasional whiff or "scooting" is also highly indicative. It is a good idea to keep an eye on it though, for if it becomes a chronic issue it may lead to other things in the unpleasant department. Please learn how tyo express an anal gland properly! You can do some serious damage if you do it incorrectly. I check the glands on my dogs once a month, not only for the sake of the gland, but it will often reflect other wellness issues, as well.

[andyhilt27]

you say once per month is enough for expression of the gland? Are most groomers competent in this department? I have yet to try this and I fear I may harm the dogs. I will gladly pay for this service. What would be a decent price?
Thanks!!

[tosca]

I would like to think that most groomers are competent; but you should ask your groomer to be certain. It's a nasty smelly 'job'. When I was grooming, we just did it when bathing the dogs as a matter of course.

[andyhilt27]

The nastiness of it doesn't seem appealing. I will watch it done correctly so I don't harm her. Thanks!!!

[Sheila]

Hi Andy
Having had 3 different mini poodles with the dobes over the years, I've encountered impacted anal glands. Seems more prevalent in small breeds. If you aren't comfortable dealing with it yourself, ask your vet to do it. On Jemma's last physical the vet mentioned she had rather enlarged anal glands and expressed them for me. It is nasty, and smelly<G>

Sheila

[dobesign]

I check, not necessarily express the glands every month. If you have ever dealt with an anal gland abcess you will understand why. I, personally, hate to mess with their digestive systems. ANtibiotics can mess them up a bit, but do talk with your vet before adding other supplements to the diet to counter what you have already done. I'm not saying supplements are bad. I am saying that some things can be given with wonderful intentions, and actually can cause other nastiness to happen. Research, research, research...and with training and your Muse on your shoulder, you, too, can become an anal gland artiste...(this way, I become the sicko, right?:D)

[Ann Lanier]

The anal glands are related, sort of, to skunk glands, and in fact you may smell something stinky when your dog is dozing and wakes up in alarm, like if someone banged on the door. They also probably add a little 'je nais sais quoi' to poop to individualize it, should the next dog be interested, and being a dog, enjoying nasty stuff, he probably is.

Anal glands are located at 3 and 9 o'clock on the anus. Probably when Eva pooped the fecal material put some passing pressure on the glands and expressed them as it went by. If they get infected they get red and swollen and you can see that.

Part of monitoring your dog, or horse, or bird's, maybe your own or your baby's health is watching the poop. The texture, color, firmness are all indications of digestive, and thus bodily, health, and in fact may be the first indicator of something going not-well. So no need to feel deviant at this point but also no need to become obsessed. Now, if you have an uncontrollable urge to decorate with it or fling it onto a large canvas, personally I'd start to worry. Just a bit.

The really stinky poop may be an indicator, for instance of a kill-off of normal bowel bacteria that can happen when antibiotics are given. It could be that the normal bacteria took a hit and their usual activity could normally act as a stink reducer. If that is the case, they will rebuild to a normal level and her poop will once again be fragrant. <g> Don't count on it, we all know that end of a Doberperson is occasionally, well, decidedly unalluring. To preserve their dignity and good will, we refrain from exaggerated reactions, such as gagging, throwing them outside or making decidedly rude comments from inside a sweatshirt collar, instead calmly donning a gas mask.

In general though, the food you feed historically does affect the smell of the feces. Suppliments also may add to the odor. If you are happy with the food, you could try chlorophyl tablets. Some people also believe it makes bitches in season less attractive to the boys. That all may depend on diet and the individual dog. Some dog food digests better than others, resulting in much smaller stools.

So, Andy, watch away.

It's okay to observe from a distance.

a

[andyhilt27]

Now, if you have an uncontrollable urge to decorate with it or fling it onto a large canvas, personally I'd start to worry. Just a bit.

:eek: That has got to be the single most hilarious post to date!!!! I now give up my reign of poo to Ann Lanier. Sorry Janice, next month perhaps.

[MissMerry]

I was looking through some of the health threads here & found Andy's original question about anal sac:
Merry has recurring anal sac problems....we take her to the vet every couple of weeks to have them expressed....sometimes once a week !...
Our vet is wanting to remove them by laser surgery" Does anyone have any comments/experience with this ???
Thanks,
Julie

[dobesign]

Have you discussed AT LENGTH the things which FREQUENTLY occur related to this surgery? Things like RECTAL PARALYSIS? Have you identified the underlying cause for this condition? If it is something like an adenocarcinoma or a recurrent fistula (not likely in a bitch, by the way) I would be totally for having it removed. If, however, it is because:
1. the dog is hypothyroid
2. has had GI problems which cause the stool to be too soft to express gland
3. insufficient exercise to cause the gland to be emptied
4. the gland has been OVEREXPRESSED or injured by expressing it
5. the food is incompatible with the dog (too much fat, not enough fiber)

then I would STRONGLY advise against this surgery until you can identify the underlying problem. Yes, the glands stink. Yes, abcesses are horrible to deal with. But if these signs are signalments for something MUCH BIGGER going on, wouldn't you rather solve it and have a healthier dog? I have had a bitch that underwent this surgery (adenocarcinoma). I NEVER will do it again. Nor would I do the anal gland filling procedure. Removing the gland eliminates the problem like closing your eyes does just before you get hit by a train.:eek: Investigate all the other possible underlying causes before resorting to surgery, in my opinion.

[MissMerry]

Hi Brenna,
thanks for you answer.....
I have had blood work done....all normal - thyroid
I feed her "Primal" Beef with a spoon ful of organic yogurt & some pumpkin twice a day...
we throw tennis balls & frisbee every day....
her stool is normal...no constipation or loose stool either....

so that is why I'm so confused & concerned....I sure don't want to have this surgery....the vet acts like "it's nothing", but it's a BIG something to me....after all this is my dog we're talking about !!!

So, should I have x-rays or what to see if there is an internal problem ???

I know I'm asking a lot here, but I just don't know what to do !!!

Julie

[andyhilt27]

What are the problems with her anal sacs?

[MissMerry]

What are the problems with her anal sacs?

She will start biting at her tail/butt & barking at them....she doesn't scoot....when she does this, I take her straight to the vet & he expresses them, she has had one infection....last March....they just fill up so darned fast !!

[dobesign]

there are no radiographs that will show soft tissue problems. it may still be the fat content or cholesterol content in her food. as for thyroid: NEVER say normal. look at the numbers. if the scale is 1-4, is she a 1? or on a 0.9-5 scale, where is she? feel free to contact me directly. Surgery IS a big deal! If your vet does not think that anesthesia and surgical procedures should be dealt with seriously, I would be gravely concerned. You can learn to express them properly yourself. There should also be concern with expressing them too frequently. Like overbathing dogs, anal glands expressed too frequently can develop and entirely unnatural set of problems. Read up on anal glands, what they produce, what they do. You are your dog's best advocate, and knowledge is ALWAYS power.:cool:

[doberdogsfd]

Dogs on a straight raw diet will sometimes present this issue.

I have known a few folks who have had the problem and the answer has been to add a super premium kibble into the mix and increase the volume.
The stool being softer on a raw diet, can be the cause.

After about 1-2 weeks on the new mix there should be a change. Keeping the dog on the kibble / raw mix is recommended.

If the dog continues with the symptoms, there is something else causing it and you need to seek out a vet's care at that point.


I feed a raw/kibble mix and haven't experienced the issue.

Cheryl

[Patty Storkel]

WhooBoy... this can be a stinky situation for sure!!:o
I agree with what Brenna said and will share my experience with my dogs. It is unusual for big/giant dogs to have problems with the glands, but in my case, once the problem started, the only permanent resolution was to do the surgery.
One evening while sitting on the floor watching tv, i happened to catch what i thought was a fleeting movement out of the corner of my eye. Donner was laying on the couch next to me, and i just happened to be at eye level with his butt... and he had shifted around so that his tail, normally tucked close to his body, was extended so i could clearly see his anus. I looked and all of a sudden saw a brown trickle of liquid come out. What was that!!! Where did it go??? :eek:I jumped up to check him out. A few seconds later, the smell hit me. I was horrified that this stuff was going on the couch and down between the cushions. I got him up and fortunately, it had gone into his fur, not the couch (one good reason to have a long, wiry coat!). I made an appointment for a vet check. He did have severly infected, impacted anal glands. I hadn't seen any scooting, but readily recognized the smell as it had been occuring for a couple of weeks. I just didn't realize what it was. He was put on a course of antibiotics after being expressed (a gagging ordeal, and so painful for him). After the course of antibiotics, he was fine- for about 3 weeks (no expressing inbetween). Back for another course of antibiotics. Fine again but this time it only lasted for two weeks. A third course of antibiotics and one week... So, after fully questioning my vet on the pros & cons, we had the glands removed (he had been having good, firm stools, everything else had checked out ok).
Like dobies, wolfhounds are very sensitive to anesthetics- there's usually no body fat for the anesthesia to dissapate into. Reversing agents need to be used, and you can't administer by weight as was done with the older gasses and all (Brenna would know the current stuff, i forget what it's called). My vet was very experienced with the surgery, and uses the dental acrylic technique so that removal is very clean with no or minimal danger of cutting a sphincter muscle or nerve.
A week after the surgery, he was fully recovered. Unfortunately, i had him entered in an obedience trial on saturday, and his surgery was done as an urgent case friday the day before. I was happy that he did his sits and even held his sit/stay- and got a qualifying green ribbon!! It finished his CD title.:D
A few years later, when another iw developed the problem, we did the surgery right after the first long course of antiviotics were completed. No problems since, and Claire also healed with nary a problem. She obtained her CD title also!:D
I would definitely make sure your vet has had lots of experience with the surgery, and is sure of his/her technique. My vet was able to say the chances of a cut muscle or nerve were very unlikely with the technique he used.
patty, neala & seamus