Impacted anal glands

[leelapops]

Hi there, noticed last night that Jack's rear smelt a bit funky, and it seemed to be what I have often heard about on here-impacted anal glands. The smell seems to have gone today, and I just wanted to find out if the anal glands can self-clear, or if I ought to go to the vet anyway with him. Thank you, lovely people. Lisa.

[Clanad]

If that is actually the problem, the impaction will not, most likely, go away on its own.

Is your dog "scooting"? This action of a dog dragging its butt on the ground (or your white living room carpet) is even more indicative of impacted anal glands than is a smell (how did you narrow it down, by the way?).

A vet will charge a pretty penny for the simple procedure, which is easily learned by the dog's owner, if you care to accomplish it yourself, so watch the procedure in your vet's office and then buy a big box of really good surgical vinyl gloves.

Seriously, though, be sure your dog is getting a good supply of roughage in its diet. One thing that can improve that aspect is canned green beans. Sounds strange, but most dogs really like them, they are relatively inexpensive and a half a can a day greatly improved our dogs problem with his anal glands. Got the idea from a dog breeder's magazine and our vet confirmed the validity of the idea.
Best of luck!

[lankeela]

Doubt if you would smell the need to empty them - however you would know if the dog had emptied them himself after being blocked!

Some dogs have very deep seated anal glands and it is very difficult for the owner to empty them, Jeeves the GSD was one such and he had to have it done by the vet occasionally.

As Clanad said the usual sign is the scooting on the carpet, which some people think is due to worms.

A grooming parlour will usually do them for you, but a bit of roughage in the diet will help stop them getting blocked.

[leelapops]

Clanad and lankeela, thank you both for your speedy responses.

Apart from the smell, there have been no other symptoms, no scooting (such a funny word, and very apt!), and I haven't smelt the smell on the carpet or the furniture or the rugs, so they can't have emptied indoors.
The smell just seemed much like what others have described as being impacted glands, and it seemed the most likely diagnosis-although I could well be wrong!

I didn't think it would be a problem that would just go away on its own, so I am baffled now the smell has disappeared! Jack's pretty confused too-wonders why I keep sniffing near him!

I will certainly introduce some "roughage" to his diet, thanks for the suggestions. He is on a complete dry food, which I think normally suffices to exert enough pressure on the glands on the way out, and it might well be a one-off. I know some dogs suffer more than others, and this is the first time Jack's been so stinky!

Cheers both, Lisa.