Vet is recommending this as he might have an infection.  Anyone had any experience of this and were there any problems with the procedure?

We had loads of trouble with anal glands until someone told me that they get in to trouble when they are not being emptied propery and that the 'poo' squeezes them naturally as it passes through IF it is hard enough. Increased amount of fiber in the diet and added a bone every now and then, since then no problems.

Flushing them sounds a bit drastic, have they got a really deep infection? 

I take it your vet has tried a good course of antibiotics first and this has not cleared the glands up. I have had 2 of my dogs anal glands flushed and packed with antibiotic's and it certainly did the trick. Both of them got it done under a mild sedation and was back home within a few hours. Hope this is of some help to you.

Margaret

Margaret, no we haven't tried a course of antibiotics.    The vet didn't offer a course - he just said that he thinks that it would be wise to flush them out and then apply the antibiotics as a lining I think he said.  He has only had them expressed 3 times and each time they have been a bit worse in terms of what they were full of - hence he thinks he may have an infection.  As for his poos, for the last 6 months or so he has been very firm so there isn't a problem there.

I would have thought if the vet had found the anal glands to be infected he would have put your dog onto antibioticcs right away and only if the infection was re-occuring would he then decide to flush them out. Could you ask your vet would he be prepared the try a course of antibiotcs first. Would be interested to hear the outcome.

Margaret

Yes thanks I will do that - anything to save Oscar some unnecessary treatment.