Hello all,
Posted many times on Buddy's anal glands and their need to be cleared out by Vet. (approx 6 times now- last time just over a month ago).
Had a few problems with finding the right diet for Buddy which i'm sure i have now with Naturdiet Lite. His poo is much firmer and less frequent. However over the last week he had been dragging his bottom again.
He was wormed with Drontal Plus on July 14th as well as Stronghold drop on. So it can't be worms, can it?. Sorry to get graphic here but over the last week he has been having 2 firm poo's every morning followed by a softer one in which he ends up straining with drops of mucus. At tea time he usually has another firm one and that's it for the night.
Does this sounds like an anal gland problem again. I've heard that some small dogs are just prone to this no matter how firm their poo is. ( Buddy's a Westie) If so is it worth having them removed. Would appreciate advice on the latter - pro's and con's etc. Buddy is booked in to see vet on Monday so would like to be armed with knowledge so i can make an informed decision etc in case the subject of an op is brought up.
Many thanks
Budmag.

Hi it does sound as if he has a problem with his glands bless him i would say dont have them removed it is a very big operation and does not always work well i know 3 people that have had this op on there dogs and still not good you can have them flushed out which is better do you give bones i find that helps bran 2/3 times aweek in food that helps.Jackie

In some dogs anal glands are going to be a problem, and in this case I'd have a good long talk with the vet about the pros and cons of having them removed. I've not followed the posts, but in some cases removal is the only real option as if they get impacted and infected the complications are that much worse. This is not an operation for convenience, but because eventually something bad will happen if they are left the way they seem to be going.

My one dog has to have hers expressed every few months at the vets, but that's just her. It sounds like Buddy's problem is more serious.

Wendy

Hiya,
My 2yr old dog has the same daily toilet arrangement as Buddy. Please can you tell me what it is that prompts you to take Buddy to get his glands emptied - does he smell? My dog has started to stink. We have had him for over a year (rescue) and have just moved home. Within the last couple of months he has been to the vets to have his glands squeezed (3 times) and also put under a general anaesthetic to have his glands flushed with antibiotics. He still smells. The final option we have been told is this operation. Our vet did say it is complicated and I have since done research and found that it can make the dog incontinent. I read in 'Your Dog' letters page that someone had felt that the BARF diet helped her dogs anal gland problem. The book that was being written about is called 'Give Your Dog A Bone' and is wriiten by Dr Ian Billinghurst. I am now reading this and am going to try this diet -(bones and raw food). So far the book makes sense. My dog didn't have any problems until we moved house 4 months ago and I'm now looking at everything that is different in his new life. Why would this suddenly happen? Change of water etc etc? Next I will try Homeopathy - anything before that operation! Good luck and please let me know if Little Buddy smells.

Hi Maljoy
No Buddys anal gland has never given off any smell except when emptied. He's had a long history of soft poo with some bottom dragging. The bottom dragging has decreased loads since he's been on Naturediet due to his poo being much firmer. When he does start the dragging and i know it can't be worms that usually makes me think of anal gland. However saying all that i sometimes think he's just wiping his bottom ???. Would be interested in others opinions on this.
For instance up to last friday i noticed he was dragging, plus 2 or 3 of his motions were softer than usual with drops of mucus which dripped onto his coat. He would drag then. Made an app at vet to have gland emptied then for the past 3 days his poo firmed up and no dragging, tail chasing or bottom chewing nada, zilch. Cancelled app at vet for time being. The only thing different over last 3 days is that i've stopped giving him Beef Jerky as training treats. But i honestly don't know if that was the cause of recent soft poo relapse.
Sorry to be long winded but the answer to your question is no smell.
Budmag

Oh hey - I'm just learnig - but Sweep has now been given 'raw meaty bones' - apparently totally safe only in the raw form. I got them from the butchers and I think we are on the right road. I was scared about the bones but I want to try all before that op! He did his usual firm poos followed by a sloppy and then the last one was pure clear liquid. He did a 'wee' from his bottom!! The smell has gone - early days I know, but It must be the bones that have done this- we think his anal sacs expressed. One of the "Champdoggers" replies also suggested bones - but they must be raw - like in the wild!! Try it and good luck!! When Sweep gets a dirty bottom he tends to look at us and wait for us to clean it - sorry I don't know about the possible wiping of bum!
Good luck and let us know how you get on

Anal glands should express normally (by themselves) when the dog defecates. However, if poo is too soft this natural process does not come into action. Bones help because they firm up the poo. If you do not want to feed whole bones you can add ground bone to food. Pets at Home carries ground, sterilized bone.

Stacey