Border Collie anal glands.

[dibble1]

My Dad has a lovely border collie who's generally very easy going, however he's been having trouble with his anal glands and previously when he went to the vet for this reason he went berserk, (who wouldn't), It would appear the only way the vet can treat them is to give him a general which my parents are loathe to do. Can these glands be treated any other way or what would happen if left un-treated, would they go away on their own?
Many thanks in anticipation.

[woofgang]

no they wouldn't go away on their own, they would ulcerate and become infected and really nasty. If the dog is healthy and can stand an anaesthetic, and I am assuming the vet wouldn't go ahead if not, get the poor thing treated, he must be in agony.

[divegirl]

What sort of diet is the dog on? Some dog owners I know would tell you to feed more raw bones, this will harden up the poop, thus clearing the glands!

Lisa x

[carmalee]

Mostly anal gland problems are feed related - does the dog have a lot of tinned food?

[jules77]

Add some bran flakes to his diet.

[woofgang]

I would argue about the diet related thing. The only dog I have ever had where it was a problem did have bones, his poo was solid (sorry tmi!!) and he still had constant problems. The vet taught me to evacuate them myself as he said that if a dog was going to have probs, regular emptying was the best chance of managing it. He was right, once I started regular emptys, he stopped getting the infections. His companion needed hers doing about once a year or less, again, same diet. My last weimaraner never had a problem the whole of her long life, fed on quality dry food no bones given, and my current two seem fine so far, again quality dry food no bones. Please please get this poor dog's rear end sorted then take advice on future prevention, diet won't cure an infection or prevent an abcess.

[carmalee]

every dog is different and there are always exceptions and anomalies, however I stick by what I've said (based on experience) most anal gland problems are as a result of incorrect diet diet causing the stools to be soft therefore not expressing the glands when stools are passed.

[lankeela]

My GSD had deep seated anal glands and they needed regular attention as the normal pushing action did not do the trick, even though he had plenty of bones. You can also have them removed if they keep getting impacted, which could be an option.
Ask the vet about this.

[woofgang]

dibble, how is the dog?

[Charlie911]

dibble1. It's totally wrong to say only vets can perform this treatment. As most of you know by now we have 2 boarder terries who have great troble emptying their glands. Our 'old' vet showed my wife how to do this and she has performed it about 50 times in all. That's including our GSD, one really used to suffer with it.

When you see a dog sort of sitting down and walking across the room, people used to say that the animal had worms. It's just a dogs way of emptying their anal glands. and sometimes..PHEW!!!!! the stink...lol

[wolf63]

My first dog was a big soft lump and I used to empty his anal glands myself. He didn't seem to mind - or maybe it was the treat that he got afterwards that helped in his cooperation.

[Amus1]

I have a border collie cross & very occasionally his glands need to be emptied. I empty them myself. I've not had a problem with doing so.
Perhaps if he goes mad when it's done then two people are needed? One to hold and the other to empty the glands. I can't understand why the vet would only do it via general anaesthetic cos that should only ever be a last resort I think.
Good luck anyway!

[dibble1]

thanks for your help. I will pass these on to Dad and let you know what happens. Especially you woofgang