Anal Gland Question

[Brooke&Ryan]

Hi everyone---

On Thursday Ryan went over to his mother's house for dinner with Julius. Julius was in the backseat of the car in his seatbelt harness & when Ryan arrived at his mom's house he found that Julius had expressed his anal glands on the back seat. Not that big of a deal because he had expressed them on the vinyl part of the seat. Lucky Ryan!

Today, I was reading in bed & Ryan came into talk. Julius comes into the room & is sitting beside the bed. Well a part of the comforter was on the floor & I smelled "that smell" that only anal glands can produce. Julius had expressed his anal glands AGAIN on the edge of the comforter that was on the ground. Looks like we'll be making a trip to the laundromat tomorrow.

I'm just wondering if this is something to be concerned about. He only expressed his anal glands one other time in the house (that we know of) when he was a pup. I have not noticed any of the butt scooching that comes along with the anal glands needing to be expressed. He seems to express them fine when he has BM's. So I'm just wondering what this is all about....

Any ideas??

Thanks!
Brooke

[DieselsMom]

I had the same problem with Diesel about a month ago, I took him to the vet because the odor was horrible, the vet said it is unusual in male dogs, but it can happen from stress.So the vet cleaned out what was left in there and Thank God it has not been back. You were lucky that it was on vinyl seats, mine was on the carpet,I had to have the carpet cleaned because it STUNK!!!!!!!!!

[mmgy]

He might be getting to the age that he just needs them expressed regularly. I have had 2 dogs like that, one had to be done every other month or so, and one that still gets done about quarterly. It is one chore that I will NOT learn to do myself.

[Rott-Wiley]

This may have come about because you guys had that period back there where he wasn't getting his usual amount of exercise. When he had that limp. I have known dogs that have minor anal gland problems when the amount of exercise changes. I should say don't get their regular amount in.

[DieselsMom]

Your probably right because Diesel had TPO surgery recently so he has been getting no exercise.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Rott-Wiley

This may have come about because you guys had that period back there where he wasn't getting his usual amount of exercise. When he had that limp. I have known dogs that have minor anal gland problems when the amount of exercise changes. I should say don't get their regular amount in.

Hmmm, interesting RW & could be true. I've never heard of that happening before but then again Julius is my first dog...so I've got a lot to learn. :)

We did just start back to excercising him about a week ago so maybe it's his body getting back into the swing of things. Do you think once he gets used to being more active again that anal gland thing might not occur as frequently as it has this past week??

M2---I totally agree with you. It is something that I do not wish to learn how to do & something that I will happily pay someone else to do. :D

:)
Brooke

[Rott-Wiley]

If I had to guess, once he's back into his old routine and getting his regular exercise, I think he'll be fine.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Rott-Wiley

If I had to guess, once he's back into his old routine and getting his regular exercise, I think he'll be fine.

Lord, we hope so. If not, we're going to have to buy stock in Febreeze.

Thanks RW!
:)
Brooke

[Rott-Wiley]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

Lord, we hope so. If not, we're going to have to buy stock in Febreeze.

Thanks RW!
:)
Brooke

I hate to mention this now but some animals have gotten very ill from being exposed to Febreeze. My wife won't use it, not so much because of the dog but the cats. Their systems are much smaller and not able to handle toxins as well as us larger beings.

[mmgy]

Originally Posted by Rott-Wiley

I hate to mention this now but some animals have gotten very ill from being exposed to Febreeze. My wife won't use it, not so much because of the dog but the cats. Their systems are much smaller and not able to handle toxins as well as us larger beings.

Hasn't that been mostly a bird issue? Though I have to admit we cut way back. I probably only use it once or twice a month, and I try to do it when I can open the windows.

[Rott-Wiley]

Originally Posted by mmgy

Hasn't that been mostly a bird issue? Though I have to admit we cut way back. I probably only use it once or twice a month, and I try to do it when I can open the windows.

According to my wife it started as a bird issue and next were small animals like hamsters. One of the cat forum boards is now talking about it being harmful to them also. Seems it has only been tested for use around humans.

[mmgy]

When it first came out, I thought it was the greatest thing for dog beds. But I've switched most of my bedding to easy-to-wash-and-fold blankets and throws, instead of fighting with foam innards. So I guess I'm glad I don't use it so much.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Thanks for the info. RW. We don't use it either but we were going to start possibly if the anal gland thing kept on going like it was...

But now we'll make sure to use something else...

:)
Brooke