My young cocker spaniel has taken to scooting and for want of a better expression, has a sore bottom!

He isn't due to be wormed until Jan and has no problems with food, poo, or anything else.  Over the past week or so I've noticed the scooting and he does lick more often hence inspection that discovered a very sore bottom.

I've just ordered more Drontal so I can worm him again (I guess it won't hurt a couple of weeks early) and I will go to the vets for frontline just incase it's flea related.  There is no sign of fleas on him but you never know.

Is there anything I should be doing or looking out for?  Advice welcome.

Anal glands full?

Yuk!  I don't know!  Can you tell by looking??!!!!

Although I've heard and read about anal glands, I've never had anything to do with them!

I can :) but if you are not familiar then you need to let your vet empty them and ask them how to do it yourself in future if needs be, vets are usually quite amenable to passing over this little job to the owner ;).  Increasing the amount of fibre in the diet can often help prevent a build up.

So worm, flea and chicken wings for breakfast then!

Personally, I would add a spoon of bran, spoon size dependant on breed :)  But I think, if it is full glands, you really need to have them emptied first as a diet change will probably not bring comfort quick enough and there is always the danger of them becoming impacted and infected.

He has chicken wings two or three times a week and solid formed poo.  I will add Bran to something for him to see if that helps.  He's one of three and the only one affected.

So give me a clue Isabel - how can you tell if they are full??!!

Some individuals do seem to "gather" more in that department :) but as I say I think it better to start with a clean slate by getting them emptied.

Look at the anus, the glands are 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock just outside the "rim" if you can feel anything there at all they probably want emptying because when working efficiantly the dog empties them constantly on each motion.  I think the best way to empty them effectively, without danger of forcing fluid backward, is to use a gloved and lubricated finger inside the rectum and squeeze against a finger on the outside but I really think it is better to get the vet to show you.

I totally agree Isabel - Yuk! :-(

Just part of the rich tapestry of dog owning

Might already have the start of an anal gland abcess?

Isabel this might be a silly question but if you need firm stools to clear the glands, why add bran?  Surely this makes stools softer? 

It's amazing the things that I ponder whilst lying in bed awake!

Raw bones do the trick.  Your dog will do a "few" very firm and very white poos which usually helps to shift anything that needs shifting!  But I would still go to the vet as you say he seems sore.

They need bulky, firm stools which is what you get with fibre.  I don't believe small hard stools apply enough outward pressure onto the glands.  I hope you sleep better tonight :)

Update:  glands emptied by vet and they weren't infected.  Steroid injection to counteract soreness and all seems well.  Back in two weeks to check.  It wasn't as bad (smell or otherwise) as I had anticipated and I could probably do it myself much to the disgust of the rest of the household!

Brave you! :D  Have another look at the diet and with a bit of luck you should never have to do it.

To be quite honest I'm confused.  I feed a mixture of Autarky (which mine do well on) and raw meaty bones a couple of times a week as I've got one who is prone to dirty teeth.  Their poo is always solid, and pickupable and after bones, hard and white!  This is the first time in 8 years of dog ownership that it's ever been a problem so I'm perplexed as to why now if its diet related.

The vet said to continue with current diet.

Any ideas or clarification?

Every dogs anotomy is going to vary slightly internally as well as their dear little faces :)  Certainly, I have found, some dogs just need more roughage for a bulkier poo to effectively empty the glands which are perhaps just that bit further out from the anus so I would be inclined to add a little bran.  You can do the same with veg if your dog is one of the unlucky few with an intolerance for wheat but you would have to feed rather more to get the same effect.

Hi jackyjat, it may be that no matter how much fibre this dog is fed manual expression of the anal glands may still be required as they may not be anatomically correctly positioned, the same way that some bitches will be prone to post spay incontinence due to the geographical location of their womb.

So I would not worry too much about the amount of fibre per se just keep an eye on the old glands and get your marigolds ready! :D

As it is not top of the favoured tasks for either owner or dog ;) it seems to me to be sensible to try a diet change first before giving up.  I can confirm that this has worked for my dogs in the past.

Every dogs anotomy is going to vary slightly internally as well as their dear little faces

Isobel I initially read the last word in that quote as faeces!!! lol!

Although none of mine have ever been officially diagnosed as gluten intollerant, I know they do better to avoid it.  My guess is that Tohme's advice is sensible as this is the first time this has occurred.  I will offer bran-flakes for breakfast together more veg and see how it goes!!!!

Thanks. 

Dear little faeces! :D
I would use pure bran myself although I now only feed foods with at least 3% fibre which seems to sort all mine very well..  I think wheat intollerance must be pretty rare, certainly I have never had or personally known any dogs that suffer from it.  I suspect it looks more prevalent on the internet due to that old thing of only posting bad news :)