Anal Glands GROSSSSSS

[sweetlee]

The past few days Dodge has been stinking really bad at times.
I read about anal glands and I am sure that is what the smell is. I talked to the vet and they will check him on Thursday, she said it isn't urgent as he has not been licking, or scooting.
I think it is releasing when he is getting overly excited. My son is staying here for a few days and they have a guinea pig, and that dog KNOWS when that guinea pig has been out.
He acts like a total idiot. Sniffing the floor frantically, wagging his tail so hard it could knock you over etc.
Anyhow, is this normal for them to let loose when they get overly worked up? And if so, does that mean he has no control over them?
When I first got him he had terrible mushy poop, so they probably weren't expressing properly.
I guess I am just scared that he is going to have to have them done often and he has a problem. Is it possible that just once they might need expressed and then straighten out?
In the meantime does anyone have any idea what I could wipe him off with to neutralize the odor? He just had a bath a couple of days ago, I am wondering if maybe just wiping some baby wipes across his butt and fur will get rid of the stink?
This is really freaking me out.

Sharon

[Lola B Marie]

At the pharmarcy, you can get Tucks pads. Wipe the offending area and the smell will go away. The pads are for people but good when used on dogs as well. Lola once expressed her glands right on the couch while sitting next to me. I thought I'd been sprayed by a skunk. The vet used to express them often but now we are down to 2x a year. It's not serious and you can wipe with the pads if the oder gets you.

[newguy1]

My dog get impacted anal glands every month or so. This means that the fluids build up and the glands swell up making it real uncomfortable for him. Hes gotta go to the vet every month or so to get them drained out, and it smells terrible when the vet does his thing.
Its a good thing you are getting him to the vet before he starts chewing or scooting, because it seems like it is habit forming for the dog. My dog always scoots and chews even the day after seeing the vet.

[jlaack]

I have a question on this line too. My youngest only expresses his glands when he rides in my husbands BRAND NEW TRUCK. It has happened every single friggin time. We can put him in there three days in a row and he still has a little extra left. The last time he did it I checked his glands first and I doubt I could have gotten any out by expressing them myself. Any ideas why the heck he would do this?

[Gunsey'sMom]

How do you "tell" when they express by themselves? I thought when Gunner had that bacterial overgrowth that it might have been an anal gland problem, but htey said that was fine. I have always been lost on the anal gland thing.

[jlaack]

The smell! It is AWFUL! My hubby can have someone ride in his truck a week later and they usually say they would rather walk ;o)!

[sweetlee]

When they drain you will know it. PEEEEUUUUUUEEEEE. It smells like a dead and rotting fish, I think I might prefer the skunk.
I was gagging today. I certainly hope I don't have to go in on a regular basis.
I did use the tucks on his butt and the fur around it.
I am hoping they aren't impacted, but he just gets so excited that they let go.
I don't know if the dog has control over the things or not. I know they are supposed to empty when they poop, and have been adding either bran or oatmeal to Dodge's food for quite some time to keep the turds beefed up which is supposed to help.
Jlaack, maybe your guy gets really excited about going bye bye in the truck? I am pretty sure that is what is causing it in my dog.
Guess I will find out in two days. I am so hoping they feel them and say they are empty.
I looked up on the net how to express them, but I just don't think I have the stomach for it.
Best of luck to all of us, I will let you know what the vet says on Thursday.

Sharon

[groupieindenial]

Go to your local farm/feed store, buy some natural food grade Diatemaceous Earth (DE) to add to his food. Measure 2tbs, and water it down with a few oz of water and mix with kibble. This shoudl cure your anal gland problem within a week, but I'd continue it for 10 days.

Anal glands should express themselves with every BM, this is that liquidy stuff at the end of their poop. When my dog had the runs, he developed leaky anal glands, cept he would lick his bum, but it smelled fishy, so I knew.

[jlaack]

Jlaack, maybe your guy gets really excited about going bye bye in the truck?

I think that is probably correct, but MAN its brand new. Already lost that new truck smell.

[Casey Jones]

Originally Posted by groupieindenial

Go to your local farm/feed store, buy some natural food grade Diatemaceous Earth (DE) to add to his food. Measure 2tbs, and water it down with a few oz of water and mix with kibble. This shoudl cure your anal gland problem within a week, but I'd continue it for 10 days.

Anal glands should express themselves with every BM, this is that liquidy stuff at the end of their poop. When my dog had the runs, he developed leaky anal glands, cept he would lick his bum, but it smelled fishy, so I knew.

i'm in the same boat... but i'm not sure where there's a farm/feed store around me. would this work?
Diatomaceous Earth Organic colon cleanse cleansing - (eBay item 140161786852 end time Oct-02-07 06:34:12 PDT)

[groupieindenial]

Yeah, that looks like the stuff. Try looking up "Feed Dealers" in your online yellowpages. They usually sell/use this in conjunction with storing and supplementing with their feed.

Feed Dealers in Bel Air MD - YELLOWPAGES.COM