| Have you had a vet or groomer teach you how to express them? Trying to do it if you don't know how to do it correctly can cause discomfort and even injury to the dog, so if you're not sure about what you're doing, I strongly suggest you stop doing it and get someone to teach you how to do it properly. If there was anything to express in there, and you were doing it correctly, there shouldn't be any "trying to" about it (unless there's an impaction), you'd know if you'd emptied them, believe me! ;)
It sounds to me as if this dog needs a visit to the vet - that much chewing of her hindquarters says to me that she's in quite a lot of discomfort (chewing of hair isn't just unsightly, it's indicative of a problem which needs medical attention), and the longer you leave it, the worse it will get - impacted anal glands often need surgery to fix. I suggest you take her to the vet, and get him/her to teach you how to empty them while you're there.
Increasing the fibre in the diet can sometimes help (canned pumpkin, NOT the pie mix, just the pumpkin, is what many recommend), as can increasing the amount of exercise. Some dogs, however, just never express them properly, and will need help on a regular basis. Whatever the cause, this dog needs to see the vet, and sooner rather than later. Good luck.  |