How often to have anal glands expressed?

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. Will definitely add some fibre to their diets. Funny, I always thought fibre loosened bowel movements. Have been feeding grain free for a while now which seems to have helped overall health. I don't believe we have canned pumpkin in Aus but I can get psyllium husk quite easily.
 
Hollie see to have issues a few times a year. I am willing to pay the vet however much it costs. One time there was a new young vet in his nice clean new white lab coat, needless to say Hollie christened that lab coat. I think he learned that day to stand to the side when expressing those glands.

Shelby on the other hand has never had any issues.
 
Some things are just worth the investment! This definitely falls into that category!

I heard if you start doing them you will always need to. By this thread it seems not to be true.

Thank goodness I have never had this issue with my dogs!
 
After watching Chris’s video, my husband expressed Sparkle’s anal gland tonight. I hadn’t thought this needed to be done until she started to smell so fishy. The strange thing is that Sparkle has been having perfect poop, no soft stools etc. So technically, her gland should have been emptied when she defecates. We notice fishy smell when she goes potty too. She also has zero scooting, and never licks her bottom. Basically, she has no classic symptoms of any anal gland issues. Nonetheless, she started to smell like a fish and stink up our sofa, car seat etc. I bathed her last weekend and the smell came back within two days.

Having to banish her from our sofa while watching TV, my husband expressed her anal glands after I showed her Chris’s video. It was surprisingly easy and some liquid squirted out like the video showed. What we didn’t prepare was the pungent smell that made the famous wet dog smell like perfume in comparison. We ended up having to clean the kitchen tiled floor with Lysol and Nature’s Miracle. I also had to wash her bottom after using quite a few baby wipes to no avail.

Now I wonder how often we have to do this. A healthy dog with normal stool shouldn’t have this problem. I’m hoping this won’t be a lasting issue. I heard vets have some enzymes that can stop anal gland production. Anyone heard of it?
 
Last edited:
Our first doxie had wicked anal gland issues and both were on a grain free diet. I think some dogs just have them worse than others although diet is the first issue that comes into play, IMO, when anal glands are involved. I would start by adding pumpkin as suggested in previous posts - it does work! Check the fiber content of your puppers food and treats. With normal anal glands, a good solid poo will clear them out. I can see them release with our 2nd doxie who we still have - with Brodie, I'd have no chance at seeing anything.

I expressed our doxies anal glands; it's too expensive when you have a dog with issues and really easy, although super gross. I would take 2 ziploc bags, inside out, use them for my glove/collection/containment. I would always express outdoors no matter the time of year. Have wipes ready. If you get them in the morning when they still have to poo, I find it is easiest as there is internal stuff already wanting to come out. When you express, it goes into the inner ziploc bag, you zip up both bags and toss. The anal glad smell is that of aging, rotting tuna fish - best for outdoors, no skin contact, prior to a bath. I never expressed on a regular basis as I do believe it interferes with how the dogs system is supposed to work on it's own - I only did as needed. You will instantly recognize that awful odor creeping back in and know it is time.

Both Brodie, our sheltie, and Kooper, our remaining doxie, are on Fromm's Gold Adult - I can see Kooper's glands empty at times when he poos so I know things are working a-okay. We lost Buddy, the first doxie, years ago and I, thankfully, have not had to express glands since.
 
Sandy in CT said:
Our first doxie had wicked anal gland issues and both were on a grain free diet. I think some dogs just have them worse than others although diet is the first issue that comes into play, IMO, when anal glands are involved. I would start by adding pumpkin as suggested in previous posts - it does work! Check the fiber content of your puppers food and treats. With normal anal glands, a good solid poo will clear them out. I can see them release with our 2nd doxie who we still have - with Brodie, I'd have no chance at seeing anything.

I expressed our doxies anal glands; it's too expensive when you have a dog with issues and really easy, although super gross. I would take 2 ziploc bags, inside out, use them for my glove/collection/containment. I would always express outdoors no matter the time of year. Have wipes ready. If you get them in the morning when they still have to poo, I find it is easiest as there is internal stuff already wanting to come out. When you express, it goes into the inner ziploc bag, you zip up both bags and toss. The anal glad smell is that of aging, rotting tuna fish - best for outdoors, no skin contact, prior to a bath. I never expressed on a regular basis as I do believe it interferes with how the dogs system is supposed to work on it's own - I only did as needed. You will instantly recognize that awful odor creeping back in and know it is time.

Both Brodie, our sheltie, and Kooper, our remaining doxie, are on Fromm's Gold Adult - I can see Kooper's glands empty at times when he poos so I know things are working a-okay. We lost Buddy, the first doxie, years ago and I, thankfully, have not had to express glands since.
Click to expand...
Sparkle is on Hill’s Gastrointestinal Biome diet, which has 9% fiber and already contains pumpkin. Her stool is like text book perfect. LOL. Good suggestion to use a ziploc bag. My husband used surgical gloves yesterday. But ziploc can actually catch the squirting liquid. It’s a genius idea. For sure we won’t do this again in our kitchen. Outdoors is definitely the way to go.
 
I feed my boys raw and I've never had to do this (Piper is 5 1/2)...they have nice firm poop. Perhaps her stool isnt as firm as you think it is? I've read that doing this too often can actually damage the glands. I'd add some more fibre (and dont go by what the dog food manufacturer tells you they add, the amount of pumpkin in it is probably minisule), even just adding raw veggies to the food will help. The firmer the poop the more the anal glands are released every time they poop. Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top