Any other way to get Anal Glands to relive themselves?

[Tova]

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Hi, my dogs had a fishy smell around her back end for a few days and after a look on the internet found it could be her anal glands. She's not had this problem before as it usually expresses when she does her business but she's been on rest for 3 weeks due to a wound on her hind, so no vigorous exercise. Apart from vigorous exercise is there any other way to get them to express themselves? She's going for another check next week anyway but don't want the problem to get any worse in the meantime. Thanks.

 

[JoanneF]

They can be manually expressed but if you don't know exactly how it can be painful for her. Can you give your vet a ring - a nurse might be able to do it so you don't need a full appointment.

That said - are you sure you are smelling it because they are blocked and not because they are actually expressing?

 

[Tova]

They can be manually expressed but if you don't know exactly how it can be painful for her. Can you give your vet a ring - a nurse might be able to do it so you don't need a full appointment.

That said - are you sure you are smelling it because they are blocked and not because they are actually expressing?

I don't know haha. She's never smelt fishy before. She's been licking her butt and everything else more than usual but I put that down to boredom. Other than that and the smell she seems fine. I've never done it before so wouldn't want to anyway without a demonstration first.

 

[ad6mly]

I've heard there's quite a big relationship between the quality of food they're being fed and their anal glands being expressed. Maybe change what they're eating?

 

[JoanneF]

I've heard there's quite a big relationship between the quality of food they're being fed and their anal glands being expressed. Maybe change what they're eating?

Yes, longer term adding fibre or bone content can help keep them clear.

 

[excuseme]

As @JoanneF has suggested, bone content. Raw chicken bones, wings or carcass are excellent for firming up the poo's which helps the anal glands empty. Raw lamb ribs and pork ribs are also very edible. NEVER feed cooked bones !
A large intake of bones will turn our girls poo's extra hard over night and very white and crumbly at times. This is not a problem.
There are times when in the right place and at the right time, it is possible to see the glands expressed naturally while they are having a hard poo.

Enjoy
.

 

[merlina]

Raw bones- mine get the whole menu: lamb bones, marrow bones, (with a lot of marrow removed and saved for the next few days otherwise too rich), pigs trotter, and of course when I can get them sprats or even a herring (cut price from fishmonger when its not quite as fresh.) One of them will eat chicken wings. It's the only thing I've found works. Better for teeth too! I'm a veggie but my dogs are my responsibility so I do it....which I know is a moral problem for many.

 

[houseof_fraser]

Hi, my dogs had a fishy smell around her back end for a few days and after a look on the internet found it could be her anal glands. She's not had this problem before as it usually expresses when she does her business but she's been on rest for 3 weeks due to a wound on her hind, so no vigorous exercise. Apart from vigorous exercise is there any other way to get them to express themselves? She's going for another check next week anyway but don't want the problem to get any worse in the meantime. Thanks.

Our lab had this problem and does occasionally have it reoccurently. We found the best way to reduce flare ups was to add vitalin muesli and or oats to his food. Bone in raw food should do the same trick. Basically upping the fibre. We found that our lab was doing very soft poos and this was causing a build up of liquid in the glands which would then leak or burst. So anything that firms the poo up is helpful.
Hatti