LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Comments

Hi Cheryl,

I think you are on the right track seeking a better food for your pet. I don't know which brand you currently feed, but many commericial dog foods, even those with a high reputation, often use a less digestible (and cheaper) protein source like meat by-products and corn products. This results in larger, softer stools because so much goes to waste. Subsequently, this type of stool doesn't help the anal glands express a little each time the dog has a movement, resulting in the kind of buildup you've observed.

Look for a food that uses real meat as it's protein source. The first five ingredients in the label are the most important. Additionally, you can firm your dog's stools by adding a teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin to his daily dinner.

Thanks for your question, and I hope these suggestions help. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has full anal glands monyhly. Is there a dog food that may help such as kiibles or something containing oatinol? Thank you!

-- Contributed by: CHERYL

Hi Shirley, and welcome to the site.

This is a delicate issue because the glands can be damaged if the procedure isn't done correctly. I would only advise doing it when you begin to notice the smell. Since this is a chronic problem, you may want to speak with your vet about it to find out if gland removal is an option in your dog's case. This would permanently eliminate the odor problem.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope you find a solution to the problem. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 2 year old Yorkie which I've had since he was 2 months old. He has always smelled bad from day one. I noticed a foul, fishy smell coming from his face so I started bathing him about once a week. I mentioned it to his vet and she said it was his anal gland where he was licking himself and it was getting on his face hair. She excreted his gland and he was fine for a few weeks. I take him for grooming every few months and within a week he smells bad again. I keep him in a puppy cut because of his odor. I bath him at least once a week. After reading this article, I think I can do the anal gland excretion myself and see is this is the problem. How regularly should this procedure be done?

-- Contributed by: Shirley

Hi Jenn,

You're absolutely right. Expressing your dog's glands at home is an option for many pet caretakers. It's always best to learn directly from a vet, but you'll also find information on anal glands and expressing directions in the following articles.

Thanks for sharing!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a pug and a puggle who both have problems with their anal glands. Because it is expensive to keep taking them to the vet to get "squeezed" and it is bad for me if they just leak at home I asked the vet if I could do something myself. As disgusting as it sounds, and is, the vet actually taught me how to do the "squeezing" myself. It is very easy, just gross. I am saving myself a lot of money though and a lot of embarrassing and stinky situations. Maybe ask your vet if they will teach you also. Hope this helps. No one likes a "fishy" dog:)

-- Contributed by: Jenn

Hi Emily,

Has your vet offered a reason why the fluid smells like iron? I'm not a vet, but this seems like important information because most people describe the odor as quite foul. Aside from that, how firm are your dog's stools? If they are mushy, they are contributing to the problem. Firmer stools help the glands express properly as the stool passes through. If this sounds like your dog's situation, you might want to switch to a higher grade dog food, or at least add a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's daily dinner to increase his fiber intake. By all means, ask your vet for recommendations on a brand. Hopefully this will help remedy the situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a one year old beagle and i have her anal glands expressed every 2 weeks. It smells like iron. Sometimes it feels like i should have to take her every week to have the glands expressed. I don't know what else to do. And every time i take her they say that they where packed. Is there something else that i should be doing.

-- Contributed by: Emily

Hi Debbie,

Baby wipes might be alright to use, but perhaps you should give your vet a call to make sure this is okay. Some wipes contain extra perfumes and such, and it's possible they could cause irritation. Better to double check with your vet to make sure.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog recovers quickly. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I just had my golden/beagle 2and 1/2 year old dogs anal glands removed.This is day 3 and I have some concerns. Is warm compresses the only way to clean the area or can I use baby wipes? Thanks Debbie

-- Contributed by: Debbie

Hi Suzanne,

It does sound like your dog has a serious problem with his glands. Perhaps it would be better to go ahead and have them removed. Your dog will be able to get along without them. The only complication is if the surgery isn't done correctly. Don't be afraid to ask your vet if he/she has performed the procedure before, and ask what to expect during the recovery period.

Thanks for your question, and if you do opt to have the glands removed, please let us know how it goes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

MY 1 YEAR OLD LAB MIX HAS TO HAVE HIS ANAL SACS CLEANED OUT EVERY 1 TO 2 WEEKS.MY GROOMER SAID I COULD HAVE THEM REMOVED BUT I HAVE CHECKED WITH DIFFERENT VETS SOME SAID YES AND SOME SAID NO. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PERMANAT SIDE EFFECT AND DAMAGE OH YA IT LEAKS OUT EVERYWHERE.THANKS SUZANNE

-- Contributed by: SUZANNE

We have an 9 month old mutt puppy he has been fixed. He has always been skitish but when he gets scaired or threatened he gives off this strong stinky odor. What do you think it could be?

Hi CJ,

Some dogs will tense up their rears when they are overly excited or scared. This expresses a small amount of fluid from the anal glands, resulting in the smell you've detected. It's actually a natural response, although not that common. It's a bit of a inherited behavior left over from wild dog ancestors.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Cj

Hi, We have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he scoots often. We have the vet express his anal glands, but the expression is very thick and dry looking. His stools look very normal and formed, is there anything that he can be given to help the thickness and the dryness of the expression?

Hi Brenda,

Actually, thick dry expressions can be a sign of infection, something that should be treated by your vet. That said, it may be helpful to add a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's dinner each night. Pumpkin is high in insoluable fiber, and it firms the stools. This in turn may help express the glands a bit more as the stools pass through. Hopefully this will help allieviate the back up and lead to more normal secretions.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Brenda

Tonight my dog was laying on the couch and when she got up there was a wet spot with no odor or color. What can this be?

Hi Laura,

Even though there was no odor or color, it's possible this was a urine leak. Is your dog older? Has she ever experienced any kidney issues that you know of? This could be a one time accident, but if it happens again, I'd have your vet examine her.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it's nothing serious.

-- Contributed by: Laura

We have a little Pomeranian who has periodic problems with anal glands. I believe it is unrelated to diet, since she eats what our other eight eat, and she is the only one with the problem. Our veterinarian is suggesting surgical removal of the glands. She was spayed as a puppy. I understand that the anal glands are necessary if you are planning on breeding a dog. However, since there is a potential for problems with the anal glands, I don't understand why removal of the anal glands isn't done regularly as a part of spaying?

Hi Ronda,

I'm sorry to hear your dog is having problems. Actually, the anal glands are not part of the reproductive sysmtem, and play no role in breeding. Therefore, removal of the glands is a completely separate surgery. On that note, there's no reason to remove healthy glands, however, surgical removal can be an option for dogs that have chronic problems with them. All surgeries carry certain risks, so it's better to leave things alone unless a problem arises. Thanks for your question, and I hope this clears things up for you.

-- Contributed by: Ronda
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