Dog (anal glands)

Diet might help.
Our dog only ate raw meat and chicken, also bones. and a few croquettes. Her bowel movements were hard and dry, she had to push hard to force them out.
Evidently that's what's needed to keep the anal glands down.
No doubt there will be exceptions though.

Only last night my husband came into my room (sleeping there a few days a month due to treatment) and said ..YOUR dogs arse exploded on my bed.. bless him it does this every three months and it stinks. Only dog this ever happened to, yes horrible but bedding on line and spoke to vet and they are supposed to empty naturally but some don't, it's horrible but the positives outway although I know a lot of people will be horrified, sorry but reality of having dog

I'll state the bloomin' obvious and ask if you've bathed the dog ?
I was a vet assistant for many years and I have squeezed many anal glands. Never noticed the dog smelt when it needed doing but the gunk that comes out stinks ! The carpet scooting is a classic symptom.
Unfortunately Riverwalk it's not a one off thing.
The other thing to check if doggie is smelly is his teeth.

I would love to help but unfortunately I'm not near Bolton!

I spent many years evacuating the glands of the family pet, she was less than keen in the moment but always very grateful immediately after!

Well I bet she was less than keen!

What is going on? I've had dogs and cats over the years and they all had nice bums that didn't need squeezing. I think you're all making this up!

Riverwalk

We always had cats when I was a child.
I'm sure my mum wouldn't have allowed anything resembling an anal gland in our home.

Is this a rural thing?

I’ve had dogs all my adult life, and only once did one dog have his anal glands evacuated. It’s down to diet.

No not rural..anal! .

Yes ninathenana bathe him weekly..

I've only ever had cats... several cats, for the past 38 years. One of mine had the problem. I didn't know, and I thought she'd hurt herself as she was walking and sitting strangely. She had her anal glands emptied, and had it repeated a few times. The smell was awful.

Yes OldMeg I believe it is diet,we've only had him a few weeks..his owner,his entire life,died suddenly,am sure the dog was grieving for first few weeks and food was a bit hit&miss with him..have now got him on a sensitive, complete dry food..1dental stick per day.he had meat twice and both times had horrendous diarrhea..never ever had problems like these with a dog..

Bones have been mentioned...what sort of bones? Also..if I get his diet right...do I not need to take him to the vet re glands..will they rectify themselves?

You should be so lucky, farview!
Nope, you're going to have to do it yourself.

Good luck Farview all the pet owners on GN sympathise. (secretly chuckling )

Be careful with bones. Vets recommend raw bones but these often come with quite a bit of meat attached no matter how well the butcher has scraped them. It gave our dogs diarrhoea. Meat particles also stick in the teeth causing rotting teeth.

Guess what? You end up back at the vets. Kerrrching!!

Farview, take the dog to the vet. The dog needs an overall health check and the vet will do the anal glands. It may not happen again. Oldmeg, I agree diet is important but out of many current three and previous many Dogs, only ever had one prone to anal glands. It’s one
Of my current Dogs and I’ve tried everything but she’s just that way inclined ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecB3wbReljM

And then there's always this.

Ah! I looked for that video on YouTube earlier, but couldn't find it.

I agree that some dogs are more prone to this than others Iam

Feel sorry for the poor little mite, losing his life-long owner and so happy to read you’ve taken him on farview. My two are rescues, one came as a foster for a dog charity and I just couldn’t let him go. He was a bag of nerves and fears. And he was 6 too.

It’s been 4 months now and the difference in him is amazing, He laps up love and cuddles, never having known them before. Still a way to go, but baby steps.

Good luck with your little rescue.

Yes, best wishes to you, farview.
Thankful for anyone who takes on a rescue dog.

That's funny Merlotgran ?

Hi everyone. I’m new here. I just typed a long message and lost it.
Small dogs can be prone to anal gland issues. Groomers automatically express their glands. Their body then stops doing it and you have to have it done all the time. I have two Maltese girls and one previously. Every 3-4 weeks the vet techs do it, cut nails etc too. I have tried but they won’t express for me. Good luck farview.
Menopaws I have to say letting your dog’s glands explode is not a good way
to have them empty. That hurts the dog so much. Also scar tissue will form and make it more difficult for them to express on their own. Please be kind and check your dog to see if the anal glands need to be expressed before they explode. Had to say it.