emptying anal glands

[ilovemarkb]

Do any pet owners attempt doing the above(to their dog) or do you leave it to the vets. There are demonstrations on youtube which make it look fairly straight forward.

[craft1948]

No thanks................I'd rather pay the vet.

[ilovemarkb]

just been reading up and apparently they can become impacted / infected etc so i'm definitely with you Craft on this one !!

[Barmaid]

My cat had this problem. I used to put bran in her food - that sorted it. But when it came to emptying them I'm afraid it was a trip to Uncle Vets.

[tinkerbell23]

Vets do it usually but i did it once myself - appareny it is STINKING so i just didnt breathe ill id cleaned it pmslx

[firewatch]

hmmmm think sprites need doing so a trip to the vets is in order, now hes passed the cupcake cases.

[rsvp]

don't do it unless you have been shown by a professional

[MissCommando]

I know someone who does it to their dogs, I'd never attempt it though. It's vile! How often do they need emptying by the way?

[crisgal]

my bichon had a lot of trouble with these a few years back and the groomer did them each time. When he went to the vets, she asked me to tell them to leave them alone. She explained that they sort it out themselves when they erm, empty their bowels.
If they are not doing it naturally, then they need to see a vet. Otherwise, you could make the problem worse. Once the groomer stopped messing with them, he was fine!

[woofgang]

Yes, I had a dog who needed them emptying every two or three weeks. They didn't empty naturally, bran didn't help, a real bone didn't help (firms up the poo) if they weren't done he got infections and it was interfering with my being able to take him to the vet for other things because he was getting to hate the vet so much. Oddly we later got a bitch who also needed to have it done on occasion (about 3 times a year) did wonder if it was something that we were doing eg diet etcetera but it just seems to have been coincidence, none of our dogs since have had any problem (touching wood here)
Anyway the vet showed me how to do it for my dog and because it was me and i would just whisk him out to the garden and do it when i saw the beginnings of discomfort, he was much happier and more co operative.
Its not difficult but you do need to be careful and have the dog co operate.
My experience is that the thing about leave them alone and they will sort themselves out is not always the case, neither does a higher fibre diet always work, if the dog needs them doing then he/she needs them doing.

If you do decide to try and do it yourself, go very very gently, use disposable gloves, do it OUTDOORS lol and have plenty of kitchen roll to hand as well as a bin bag ready to take the smelly rubbish. If you cultivate long nails, don't even consider DIY as the risk of hurting or damaging the dog is too great IMO.

[Ratty2E]

I used to have to do it fairly regularly with my Cavaliers but the 2 crossbreeds I have now have never had any prolems and never needed it done. I did used to do it myself and believe me it's not for the faint hearted or weak stomached, it's one of those smells that stays with you for quite some time. There is a technique so it's best to be shown by the vet before you try as you could hurt the dog also not all dogs are built quite the same and some of them are harder to get to than others. I used to put them in the bath with gently running warm water so that everything expelled went straight down the plughole and they need a good wash round the back end afterwards anyway.

[woofgang]

I found the smell is way less horrible if you do it outdoors.

[islasmum]

One of my labradors used to have it done every six months or so, but Isla has never needed to have hers done and I definitely would take her to the vet if they needed doing - they know what they are doing, and Isla can bear them a grudge, not me!

[naomi24]

Leave it to the vet. I know someone who caused her dog major problems and considerable on-going pain by attempting it herself.

[johnny37]

I recently posted a question to my vet on a Q&A session on Facebook. His answer was that the glands are 'left well alone'. Not sure what he meant and I did not follow it up. My gentle springer after pooing about ten minutes later will always manage to squeeze some more watery poo out. It looks too much to be gland fluid but is this what is meant by doing it themselves? After that she indulges in bit of skidding. Is that a sign that more attention is required? It is not worms as she is up to date with all her meds.

[woofgang]

johnny that is not always the case and sometimes if glands are left well alone the dog can end up with a nasty infection. Naomi, I wouldn't try to learn to do it by watching a facebook vid, but vets don't know how to do it until they are taught and it can be much less stressful to the animal to have it done at home than to go to the vet.

[ilovemarkb]

pheww!!
all done consultation fee £24.00
anal gland £5.80
ear drops £10.21 =TOTAL £40.01

Then on the way home popped in to get his nail clipped (£6) then £24 for frontline ... £11 for Acclaim spray.....and £4.75 worming tablets. (The car costs less for a MOT than Oscar)

[firewatch]

yous aying its like a watery dishcharge, sprite farted and followed through last week but it was very watery and only a small amount. The worse thing is he licked it back up again ewwww

[chaptazbru]

Vets every time - wouldn't dream of doing it myself. I'd be too scared of hurting my dog.

[Kiki-frog]

Definitely one for the vet.

[lankeela]

I had a GSD who had very deep seated anal glands and even the vet had trouble emptying them. I doubt you would actually see any discharge under normal circumstances, and the scooting on the carpet is definitely a sign of it, and not worms (thats a fallacy). I think whatever they charge at the vets it worth it to avoid the disgusting job!