Anal Glands!

[denisegordon]

Sorry, I know it's tea time but here goes. Our dog needs her anal glands emptied because she scoots along the ground on her bum and occasionally smells, but the vet said we should be doing that ourselves. Is that reasonable? We have no idea what to do.

I've looked at a couple of animated guides online that look easy, but I can't find the glands and she's starting to be scared of me now. She's got a thin coat so there is no hair really to get in the way, but the only bumps I can find are bones I'm sure.

[andy-hughes]

Ask your vet to show you how to do this - it's not difficult, or painful for your dog, but watching an expert first time always helps. If your vet is awkaward about showing you, find a new vet!

[lankeela]

Not the most pleasant job in the world, but necessary. Some dogs have very deep set anal glands that you cannot get to yourself. If you have a grooming parlour anywhere near, they will probably do it for you (for a fee!).

Now before the rest of you start to panic, most dogs will never need this doing, but some dogs need it doing regularly. Feeding a dry complete food, or bones will help as the firm poos help push to nasty stuff out naturally.
All those of you who say you will never feed bones might like to think again!

[kipchik]

Ooh,reading your post at first,i thought the vet had told you to drag YOUR butt across the ground!hahaha,

[kita1]

I would try and find a new vet! For the vet to tell you to do it yourself when you have no idea what to do I find appalling. If your dog is becoming scared of you then I would definately try and find a vet or vet nurse (or like Lankeela says a grooming parlour) to do it for you.

It is probably a simple thing to do, but in 20 years owning dogs I have never done it and I too would be unsure how to go about it.

I definately would rather pay a vet nurse to show me properly rather than have the dog getting scared, because the more scared she gets the harder it is going to be to do it! You really don't want her getting a hang up about it!

[josaphine32]

My big old cat smelled terrible, We got his removed under a general, It was better all round. For the cat and us

[drgnrdr]

Kipchik: ROFLMAO
okay back in control......LOL
check this out I think I posted this before somewhere on here..
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P =A&S=0&C=0&A=625
You'll need a shockwave plug in thingy ma jig( computer techno babble balh blah) to run it....I'd get the vet to show you or pay a groomer also...don't keep your mouth open either...had guy on a show here called "dirty Jobs" and he was at a groomer and they made him do it, he got hit in the mouth because she did not warn him it might happen.

[maggie01]

Our Shih-tzu used to do that but luckily the beauty parlour did that for me. She doesn't seem to have that problem any more