I really need some advice about what to do concerning Molly's anal glands and so far anytime I've posted here I've always been given very good advice so here goes.

Molly my wee Staffie girl will be 6mths old next Tues and she has already been at the Vets three times to have her anal glands  expressed, has had an antibiotic injection (they were both impacted and infected), a course of antibiotics and I have to put on a steriod cream twice daily, none of which so far has given her any relief. She is constantly biting at her rear end and scooting her bum across the floor and I'm at my wits end as to how to help her as she is obviously in great discomfort.

Her next app at the Vets is Thurs 7th April and he has said that she may have to have them removed which he could do when I'm getting her spayed as he assumed I was having her spayed at 6mths.

I have already posted on this board about who to spay first as I couldn't justify getting my male Staffie Charlie done and thanks to all of you who helped me make up my mind. In the end I had Charlie done and intended to let Molly have her first season. I say intended because I'm now thinking, Molly is already in such discomfort and maybe pain and when she starts to bleed she'll be licking even more and the base of her tail is already red raw.

Should I get her spayed next week and let the Vet remove her anal glands when she goes for her app next Thursday?

Another reason is I don't want to keep giving her antibiotics and rubbing steriod cream on her skin. I just want what's best for her and to give her relief from having to bite and scoot all the time.

I would really appreciate all of your views on what I should do. Any advice is welcome because I'm in such a quandary over this.  Thanks, Deirdre

Hi Deirdre,
Yes if they are causing so much trouble then it might be a good idea to have them out and as soon as possible really.  If they are getting infected and she is really sore then it probably is the best option if the vet has recommended it.  My sister used to have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and he had lots of trouble with his anal glands and had to have them out and I think he was fine afterwards although I know that it can cause problems with some dogs.

REmoval of the anal glands is a major operation, and really a last resort.  Have you modified her diet in any way?

I agree it certainly isn't an op I would approach lightly, has she plenty of fibre in her diet.  So many foods are sold with the promise of low residue to facilitate easy cleaning up but I believe firm but bulky stools are the best way of ensuring the glands are naturally emptied when passing a motion.  For a dog with this tendancy I would be looking at a good 3% fibre if your favoured food does not match this a desertspoon on bran on one feed a day for an adult, something less for a puppy should help.

I should have included what her diet is. Molly and Charlie are fed Nature Diet for one meal and I started BARF feeding them their other meal about 2/3 weeks ago. Her poos are firm and easy to pick up and she loves her chicken wings etc her coats shining and the vet found no fleas and she's been wormed and no worms so I don't think it's her diet.  Deirdre

They want to be bulky as well as firm, its the size squeezing out that counts, sorry to be so graphic :)  You can add a bit of bran to any diet really, not too much of course.

They are bulky as well as firm, she also gets the pulp from the veggies and fruit etc  I know it's the size squeezing out as well (now I'm being graphic) and believe me she squeezes hard. I don't mean she's constipated just that her poos couldn't really be more perfect. What a subject to be discussing and I apoligise if anyones eating.  Deirdre

Before rushing in and having the glands removed has your vet not suggested flushing them out and packing them with antibiotics ? This worked a treat for my bitch and the good thing is, it is done under sedation only. Also I feel with the glands being infected a swab taken and sent off for analysis to ensure you get the correct antibiotic, also  a longer course needed.

Margaret

Sorry should have asked this at the beginning, but how is Molly directly after the vet has emptied her anal glands ? Does she stop biting and scooting ?

To Margaret, No he hasn't but I will ask him about this. After the Vet emptied them the last time she was scooting again before we even got to the reception desk!!!!!!  What do you think this means?  She is also biting her paws etc and the Vet told me she might have to have a skin scrape. Deirdre

My last 2 dogs both had Anal gland problems like yours and both ended up having them out.  Seeing how the poor things suffered I wish I had, had them out sooner.
The op can be tricky as there are a lot of nerves around the area that they have to be careful not to damage.  (Our vets have a specialist in once a month to do these or other specialist ops).
Both my dogs, although wimps were fine after the op and never had any problems with recovery or after.
I have never regretted having them done and if another of my dogs suffered the same I wouldn't hesitate in having thiers removed.

Bev

As it is such a major op I would be inclined to leave the spaying for a while maybe until after her second season, especially as Charlie has been castrated.  The main risk of having the glands removed is incontinence and you can also get temporary urine incontinence right after spaying (also bitches spayed before any seasons seem to get more incontinet later in life than those who were done after maturity) so risking infection between the two areas.

An Elkhound bith I brede who enjoyed a varied quite natural diet (including horse manure and rabbits the stable cats caught), bu7t had her glands removed after repeated infection.  she never had a problem after.

I would insist on a specialist doing it, and not as part of anything else.

See: http://www.first4pets.co.uk/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?pg=ste_userpage_load&userpageid=110

Hi Stakemaster,  Thanks for the link, I've just e mailed them, (I did ring but got a voice mail) Haaving read the testimonials even if they don't get back to me I'm going to order the Nzymes for her anyway. I wish I'd known about this site last year as I had to have my 12 and a half yr old Staffie girl pts and she suffered from IBS.

Have you used any of their products?

Thanks again.  Deirdre

Hello Deirdre,

I bought the Antioxidant Treats for my 12 year old Boxer who was getting a bit arthritic and was having trouble getting up. I had tried all the usual vitamins and palliative recommendations that you find in pet health forums, but as is usually the case, nothing seemed to work as well as it did for the person making the recommendation. I initially found the American website for NZYMES and figured that if only 50% of what I read on the site was true, it was worth giving them a try, and given they were offering a 30 day money back guarantee, I really had nothing to lose. I found that the explanations of how and why these products work also made a lot of sense...basically getting rid of free radicals and toxins in the body and boosting the immune system so that the body can cure itself.

I started with the recommended double dose for the first 2 weeks (detox period) and found that at the beginning of the third week it was as if my dog's batteries had been recharged...he had become more like a young dog, being alert and interested again, with a much improved coat and finding it a lot easier to get up. The dullness in his eyes had also gone. I was so impressed with the changes in his overall health in such a short time that I bought the Antioxidant Complex (treats for people) and the Oxy-Drops for myself. I'm glad I did. I have a lot more energy now, my skin has improved, my nails regrow much quicker and I'm sure my hair has stopped thinning. My whole family now take the Complex and Oxy-Dops every day. For over 10 years, my brother has suffered from very hard and cracked callouses on his hands due to a reaction to chemicals that he used to handle. He tried all sorts of creams and potions on them but gave up when nothing seemed to make any difference. About three months ago I persuaded him to try the Complex, just to improve his energy levels really, and the callouses on his hands actually got better!! He now takes them everyday, too.

Given that we intend to continue using them, we're glad we can now get them from the UK distributor, first4pets/first4people, it was getting a little expensive having to pay import duty, VAT and handling fees when we got them from the US.

Regards.

Hi Stakemaster,

I ordered the Oxy-Drops and the Granules yesterday (Sat) so I'll let you know how Molly goes on them. I really hope they help her as I don't want to put her through an operation.

My last Staffie Tessa had Osteoarthitis and she was on Metacam which I really didn't want to be giving her and  like yourself I searched on the net and tried many different things. I read about a product called Synflex for both people and pets and I saw the difference in her inside a week. I also changed her diet to Nature Diet and she was like a new dog and she had that glint in her eyes back. I would have taken it myself but it doesn't work on Sciatica (which I suffer from) only Arthitis.

Anyway thanks again for your recommendation, I'll keep you posted.  Regards Deirdre

My dog has his anal glands and it really helped. There was the odd occastion that he still scooted, but not the extent he did while he had them.
I know everyone is saying that this is a major operation and they are right, but its was the best thing I did for my boy.