I have started having real issues with one of my dogs and her anal glands! I've decided to introduce fibre in an attempt to bulk her stool. Does anyone else do this and, if so, what do you use and how much of it do you use?

Thanks xx

Get her/him on some raw meat bones :-)

Perhaps my dogs are in the minority but raw bones give them diarrhoea like I have never seen in my life.

once they get them regularly the get used to them.

Yes, I've read that before....I just don't think I could go through that level of perseverance....my youngest ended in the vet on a drip she was so bad :( In some ways, I think it's my fault. I have never really allowed my dogs enough variety of food (sticking to kibble and carrot for treats). I seem to have created dogs with extremely sensitive digestive systems :(

A dessert spoonful of bran should be about right for Collie size.

My boy was still getting problems with his anal glands when eating BARF on its own. I was also advised to add firbe into his diet. What i did was give him some complete with this diet and its cured the problem for now.

Hi

I have the same problem with our 19month old Cavalier

He has a infection now due to his anal glands having hardened..

We need to add fibre

What do you mean by a complete diet?

Currently he eats Science Plan kibble with James well beloved wet food twice a day

You can add bran to his food as fibre, it must be soaked though & about a heaped dry teaspoonful thoroughly soaked in each meal twice a day should help.

You can also use puréed Pumpkin or Coconut(this also has to be soaked) & Coconut oil

Well - I got myself a large bag of wheat bran from Holland and Barratt (guided by the shop assistant who assured me this was a common purchase from dog owners). I've now read that it should be Oat bran and NEVER wheat bran! Argghh. However, 3 days and she doesn't seem to be showing any sign of allergies from the wheat so I shall see how the next few days go. I've started my small collie on a teaspoon sprinkled over her soaked kibble twice a day and will monitor how that goes. I don't want to constipate her!

She has never had a problem with her anal glands until the vet expressed them following a bout of diarrhoea. Since then she's needing them expressed every month to 6 weeks!

One of my dogs has an occassional problem with her anal glands.  I've tried wheat and oatmeal, didn't notice a difference between the two.    Now I use psyllium powder instead, which seems to be more effective.  I can use less and it seems to be effective.  It's added to many complete dog foods as a source of fiber.   When I feed dry I put a bit of warm water on the food, sprinkle the powder and mix.   (I also use PlaqueOff (spelling?) and unless I moisten dry food it just falls to the bottom of the bowl and does not get eaten.)

If you google psyllium and dogs you will find a lot of info.

There is something on the online vets which came recommended by someone in Newfs for anal sac problems.
This is a fibre supplement as well. From the makes of Pro-Kolin

http://www.petmeds.co.uk/p-3789-protexin-pro-fibre-for-dogs-and-cats.aspx

Not tried it myself, but will do if the problem flares up again in my boy

Trouble with Protexin Por-Fibre is its got wheat in it.

thats what our vet has given Whistler looks like rabbit food.