Is it common for an anal sac problem to cause a continued smell even after having the sacs emptied. We've been to the vet 3 times in the last 3 weeks for a sac empty (including antibiotics) and still he stinks.... This cannot be right can it?? Anyone think there may be another reason for the smell. All help gratefully received.

If he is having anal sac problems so severe that it requires antibiotics and 3 visits to the vet in three weeks, then yes ... the stink is probably from the anal sacs. The antibiotics may not have worked - I assume your vet believes your dog has an infection.

Try washing the fur around his anal area with a little dog shampoo and water. Rinse the area clean afterwards. The fur and skin can pick up the odour.

Stacey

Thanks Stacey, we had already tried the shampooing and he goes swimming twice a day but nothing took the smell away. As I write he is under a general anaesthetic being 'flushed' with antibiotics and steroids. If it is an infection, the vet said, antibiotics find it hard to reach that area so this is the next step. Thanks again - we're just on our way to pick him up now.
Regards
Joyce

I have read a bit on this and if it persits and gets worse the anal gland may have to be removed......My one dog always chewed his tail and thought it was his anal glands but turned out not to be.

ttfn :)

Thanks for that. The flushing has not worked and the boy still smells. He tries to chew his tail aswell. What was the problem with your dog? I'm going to try anything in preference to the operation which apparently can cause incontinence.
Regards
Joyce
(and her wee boy!)

Hi Joyce,

I hope that the "flushing" does the trick for your dog.

Stacey

Thanks Stacy but it hasn't done the trick. The wee man still stinks. I read in 'Your Dog' magazine that the BARF diet could help - explained in a book by Dr Ian Billinghurst called @Give Your Dog A Bone@. Bones and raw food diet. I was never fond of giving Sweep bones and offal etc before but on reading this book I think I may just give it a go. Other alternative is Homeopathy. I must avoid the removal of anal glands because I have read and been told that this op can cause incontinence and he is only a young dog.
Thanks for your help and if you have any other views I'd be grateful.
Regards
Joyce and Sweep