Anal gland expressing

Mikey · 10-19-2009, 01:48 PM

Ok we all know why I am bringing this up now. I actually meant to ask earlier. I am wondering how often do you all express your dogs anal glands?

Mikey doesn't scoot or anything but I was thinking of doing it just in case, and then in the thread about the ruptured gland, it was mentioned doing it monthly

Am I super bad momma? Should we be doing it this often?

Oh and I need some back up for Dave-he thinks I'm making it up

(expressing the anal glands) or that I have some sick obsession with them (Bunnies need their glands cleaned too, and I clean all my friend's rabbits' glands too)

I haven't physically expressed glands before, my mom used to for Molly all the time, she filled up quickly.

Funny story-this is how my parents did it for their first dog Max. Well anal glands serve a purpose you know-like a skunk they release a smell when the dog is scared-also called 'scare glands" ...Max was scared of strange men...so my dad would dress up in black, creep around the back of the house, and pop his head up over top of the fence-Max was outside- to scare him "Boo!" and yeh-he emptied his anal glands

pawzaddict · 10-19-2009, 02:37 PM

Well apparently, according to our vet, they don't have to show signs like scooting...the bf told the vet she doesn't scoot, he said it doesn't matter some dogs don't scoot. So NOW we will express all anal glands monthly to make sure this never happens again

Gone2Dogs · 10-19-2009, 08:07 PM

This is one of those things I have never asked my vet. I will say in all the years of owning dogs I NEVER express anals. Never had anal issues either. Used to be told that expressing habitually is bad and can do more harm than good. That good diet will decrease or remove the need to manually express them.

As a groomer I know certain breeds tend to need it more than others and certain dogs within those breeds.

Also always treated butt scooting as the dog having an itchy butt...not an anal gland issue.

Again, something to talk over with my vets.

borzoimom · 10-19-2009, 08:28 PM

Sighthounds have small sacs so no we dont have too.. However- my parents had Cavaliers for over 50 years, and if you dont know how to do them, you need someone to show you.
An anal gland not properly expressed can cause more harm than good! If not done right, it can make an infection. You can also damage the sack if you do not know how.
Have a vet show you how if you have too in your breed.

**Criosphynx** · 10-19-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gone2Dogs

This is one of those things I have never asked my vet. I will say in all the years of owning dogs I NEVER express anals. Never had anal issues either. Used to be told that expressing habitually is bad and can do more harm than good. That good diet will decrease or remove the need to manually express them.

.

oo oo thats a good point...made me think of som'thing too

even tho I "do it" every month...9 times out of 10 I get nothing...or next to nothing (except Emma) I guess its better to say I "check" them monthy than I "do it" monthly.

The grain free food has helped ALOT.

calcium will firm up stool too

Sheltiemama · 10-21-2009, 10:03 AM

Ok, I am not doing this. Not gonna happen. Either the groomer or the vet is in charge. Blech. Nope, not going there.

**fawkese1** · 10-21-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheltiemama

Ok, I am not doing this. Not gonna happen. Either the groomer or the vet is in charge. Blech. Nope, not going there.

lol...i'm with you sister...i'm gonna have the vet check clover out next time we go in tho...