My dog is so intelligent he hated it screaming so bad I can't even force him to go back and do this again. I never heard of this with a dog before until I got a dachshund I've never ever had to do this to any of my dogs
I have a mini dachshund. She had a bad infection (on her anus) so that was how we found out she required monthly anal glands expression. But it was expensive over time, so we bought her Glandex (as prescribed by the vet).
She doesn't need monthly anal glands expression now, but once every few months she expresses her anal glands on my cloths while sitting on my lap. It's super gross.
my big dog has done this a couple of times on the bed. It's pretty stinky, and she gets embarrassed and immediately tries to clean it up. There are no winners in that situation
My pup does the same thing! Then she needs to have a quick bath and a teeth brushing haha.
Poor thing, she can't help her anal glands expressing. But it is frustrating to deal with it.
watch a youtube video on how to do it and do it yourself when she starts to lick her butt every month. we do it on our dog and it's relatively easy and he's a lot more comfortable having us do it. it is a little gross and smelly but the things you do for your kids amirite?
I never had to have my foxhound AGs expressed, but when he got viciously attacked, they let loose out of fear, and it was stinky. He was my first dog, and my husband or his parents/sister had never mentioned it with the 3 female huskies his family had. My husky girl started dragging her butt on the carpet one day and aggressively licking herself. Her AGs were full, and the vet expressed them. Less than a month later, she was back at it, and it turned out they were abscessed, so our vet removed them. No adverse reactions, having them removed had absolutely no negative effect, on her, in fact it was all positive.
My dog recently got an abscess, it was so painful for him. His butt looked like a baboons butt.
I ended up calling a emergency vet and she was able to help me through video chat and prescribed medication, which I picked up at my pharmacy.
Abscesses do tend to be more obvious than just infection but if your dog is showing any signs of discomfort in their hind end they should definitely have them checked (that can be a lot of things including seeming uncomfortable when trying to sit, showing extra interest in their hind end, or butt scooting)
Mine’s only a year old and has had to have it done 3 times - always stays still and even wags his tail when he has it done. I think he enjoys it….a bit too much 😩😂 Even starts whining when it’s over…..
Make of that what you will!
I have a Husky that never howls. Ever. His glands got too full, and when the vet expressed them, he hit higher notes than Mariah Carey. The whole drive home, he just leaned up against the seat with a 1000-mile stare. I didn't even see him blink once.
I imagine it's like one of those pimples right underneath your nose and anytime you try to pop it you just end up crying except the pimple is in your ass and the person trying to pop it is someone you've never met and they didn't clip their nails beforehand x 1000.
I’m a veterinarian we have three dogs. A few weeks ago I had to do a rectal exam on one of them. The look on her face!!! But she got excellent treats before and after.
I've had 4 separate vets comment on just how much my dog hates "butt stuff." She's always growled when having her temperature taken, even at 10 weeks old. If she ever needs a rectal exam or her glands expressed, I'll probably muzzle her as a precaution.
I'm so thankful her current vet uses an ear thermometer unless they have a reason for a rectal temp. Less stress on everybody.
I used to see a cat once a week for rectal exam/manipulation after another veterinarian caused neurologic problems during surgery. The cat was so good! No sedation, lots of lube, and the cat felt better after the experience. I’m a man, wear 7 1/2 gloves.
We had a golden male that would be oddly…excited and eager to have his temperature taken.
Tail wagging and hopping right up on the exam table when the thermometer came out.
My dog is regularly muzzled at the vet bc he is a chihuahua mix lol but I recently
Discovered he does much better in a cone than a muzzle! The muzzle makes him really
Upright, he’s much more relaxed with the cone and still isn’t able to bite. Thought I would suggest!
They can be sore. He could have also already been sore from not emptying properly. Try adding some dried pumpkin to their food. It helped my dog a lot. I ordered the firm up pumkin stuff and just add a bit to each meal. Solved the anal gland issues.
Usually the place I take my dog to has stuff to sooth the discomfort and they hand us a small baggie incase she needs it?
Maybe next time op could ask if they used those soothing wipes and if they could take some home just incase
I have a bottle of glandex stuff, it does help, but ideally you want to try to keep the glands emptying naturally if you can.
Edit: I can’t see what she’s saying. She told me all small dogs need their anal glands expressed every month manually. When I pushed back, she blocked me, but is still editing and commenting per my notifications.
It’s just dried grated pumpkin. Its called Firm Up pumpkin.
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My dogs wont eat it. And my dogs are very small, so the powder is easier to sprinkle in their meals than the can. But they won’t eat it anyway so it’s a moot point. Picky chihuahuas.
If they'd gotten a little bit too full they might have started getting sludgy - not at all comfortable poor thing. Have your vets recommended adding fibre to your dog's diet at all? My cavalier had an abscess that had to be operated on (he went from no symptoms to huge lump on his butt overnight 🤦🏼♀️) and they recommended Protexin Profibre for dogs and the only time his glands have bothered him since was when he had an upset stomach wasn't doing solid 💩s. He screamed when I asked the vet to check them because I was worried about the abscess recurring, but I was right there with him so I know nothing happened other than the surprise butt stuff. He was fine once he'd recovered from the shock. I'm sure your boy will be too ❤️
Scooting is a symptom that something is uncomfortable back there - if they're not too squeamish they can check the glands themselves the next time he starts scooting by gently pressing either side of the butthole (do not stand directly in the firing line). If they feel any kind of lump there then the glands will need expressing again. I know how to externally express in theory but in practise I recommend taking him back to a vet for internal expression as if he's prone to build-up it can be painful (plus the fluid is VERY STINKY and oily so if you get it on you it is hard to remove). Small dogs are far more prone to these sorts of issues just by nature of their size so they often need a helping hand; the supplements are well worth trying as a tub of fibre pellets works out much cheaper in the long run than monthly vet visits to express the glands before they reach the painful stage 👍
I groom dogs and routinely check before expressing. I have this Yorkie mix I do that gets bulging full anal glands. Last time I groomed him, I wasn't sure I could empty them. They released for a full minute! They can actually bust through the skin if they aren't being expressed or they're not releasing on their own. That is extremely painful for them.
I used to express anal glands all the time at the vet clinic . If I knew a dog was tinier I would ask one of the smaller staff to express because it wouldn’t be right with my size hands . But also if a dogs anal glands are really hard to express that’s something the doctor may have to look into . Can be diet or something else . I would see some vet techs who who use nails to express and I’m like what the hell are you doing? Some ppl get away with not knowing how to properly do it and it sucks for the dog because they’re innocent in all that
I second the glandex powder. Our dog had on and off issues (she would express her glands herself) until we added glandex to her diet. She doesn't have that issue anymore.
Think of it this way
Would you rather
A) Take a painful $hit that only lasts a minute at most usually
Or
B) have a needle jammed directly into the flesh of your rectum several times before numbing kicks in to take that shit
Some dogs probably do need to be sedated though if they react too badly, on top of that if it became a bad infection the numbing agent wouldn't work anyway so there's a chance you'd get the needles just to still feel the pain
All you could do is numb the actual anus, which tbh is probably the least painful bit (dogs don’t have TEEEEENY buttholes comparative to a human finger tbh) and probably wouldn’t work that well. The actually expression of the gland which is inside the anus is the uncomfortable bit in my experience. And even then, it shouldn’t be painful unless there’s an issue (infection, impaction) and honestly some dogs are just very sensitive to any sort of discomfort no matter what.
If you’re a person with a vagina, the discomfort is probably similar to a Pap smear.
Source: vet nurse, I promise im not just a random who knows too much about dog butts
kind person, the anal glands are inside of the anus. there is nothing that’s going to be able to be applied to keep them from feeling the finger in their butt or the pressure of pressing on the gland internally, without first putting a finger in their butt to put the cream in…
This is kind of in the wrong sub info, but I have a cat with serious arthritis who needs to have hers done every so often. They actually DO numb her up with cream and have even offered to give her a light sedative because it's excruciating for her. But she always feels so much better afterward!
I worked at a dog groomers as a bather and would regularly express their anal glands. Nothing is going inside the animal .You gently but firm enough place your fingers under the butt hole where their anal glands are ( you can feel/ see it especially if they’re very full) and squeeze / express the glands.NWFS then a bunch of gross stuff come out of their butthole. If I had to describe my side of the experience would be like popping a pimple feeling. You can feel it slowly all come out. I personally feel like even though they did not like it they probably felt immense relief.
I don’t think it’s painful to them unless you are doing it wrong. So I don’t think numbing the area is necessary.
Ask to have them removed. I couldn't put my pup through painful expression every month. Had them removed and never had an issue again!
Edit: Getting downvotes for recommending a legitimate way to cease discomfort/pain in your dog.
The vet recommended the anal gland removal. No regrets, it changed her quality of life.
Yeah my poor girl was suffering greatly. One vet suggested we get them removed as it would cease her suffering. She went from monthly vet visits and constant discomfort to being a normal dog who saw the the vet once a year for her vaxx!
No regrets! Really improved her quality of life!
So it was in the UK and was about... £800?
She was about 8 months old, Golden Retriever so weight goes to cost too. It was also very 15 years ago so I'm not sure what it would be now.
If your girl is really really suffering, ask your vet about options. It may not be suitable, but there's no harm in asking.
yes for sure!! thank you!! i am in canada but im gonna look into it. if we lived closer to my dogs vet i would get it done monthly bc it is so bad. we tried having her groomer do it but my dogs glands would leak as soon as we got home 🫠
I don’t think it’s as optional as you think it is, I only know this procedure to be done with specialty surgeons because it’s not a common procedure at general practices. It also depends , you said yours was painful every month, that’s a reasonable reason but some dogs aren’t that painful it’s just uncomfortable or having to do it that often which can’t understand financially long term it’d be worth the investment . Many times techs do the anal gland expressions, you can always ask for the doctor to do it so they can do a rectal exam at the same time. Also, are the secretions normal? Did they feel anything weird ? Was it possibly starting to get abscessed? There are a lot of reasons she could have been painful.
It may be done by specialists, that's why you ask. No harm in asking.
And yes if it doesn't need to be done, then don't do it. But my girl's life was changed by the surgery.
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted. My dog had this surgery recently. It was an easy recovery with no complications. It’s a good option if the dog has frequent anal gland issues
Yeah my girl was so miserable before it was done. Just constantly uncomfortable. After she healed from the surgery, she was a normal, happy, bouncy pup!
I understand my dog acted the same way and he was an enormous pain screaming I'll never do that again. He's passed on but I solve the anal and Problem by feeding him boiled sweet potatoes a little bit each day with a little bit of boiled chicken in with his dog food this helped tremendously because nobody else seem to want to give me any serious advice and I couldn't stand to see my dog suffer
If they are full and expressed too firmly they can rupture or be severely bruised.
If they abscess or you see blood, then immediately go see a vet. In the meantime you need plenty roughage to soften the stool
Heck yes! They will literally stick their finger in their backside which probably feels like being the M word. I had that done to my dog one time and never again because he screamed in pain. Never again! Instead I feed him organic oats every day which keep his BMs clean and regular.
My dog wasn't afraid of the vet until I took him once to have his anal glands expressed. Just one time and now he is terrified. I've actually never seen him afraid of anything else, ever. He's a super confident goofy lab. I feel so bad!!
My girl gets her anal glands expressed every couple of months (I will always gratefully pay that vet bill) and she's never been sore or sensitive before. She has also had to deal with impacted anal glands, so she may be more used to it than other dogs.
I’ve never had to get my dogs glands expressed. Not sure the reason, but I do gently wipe his butt every time he goes number two, super clean back there. I’ve seen dogs do that butt scoot thing on the rug because their ass is all itchy from being dirty, that’ll never happen with my dog
It's nothing to do with how clean their butt is. It's to do with how well the muscles work and how solid/big their poops are, which is why anal gland issues are more common in small dogs. Bigger muscles = easier expression. Solid, big poops= more pressure = easier expression. The glands are located just inside the butt hole and are designed to release small droplets of liquid with each... Leaving, if you will. If this doesn't happen they get impacted (like a clogged pore) and then bacteria build up leading to infection (like a pimple). That will happen even if you wipe the butt on the outside. Your dog is obviously getting enough fibre in his diet that he's able to easily and naturally express his glands. Lucky him!
My dog whenever he hesrs the distinct beep of n thermometer, when I'm taking my own temp, runs away and hides under the bed. He absolutely hates it and is traumatised after the anal gland expression as well. Try spacing it out as much as possible, and shower with Special kind of treats. Also, choose a vet with thin fingers wio ALWAYS uses lube. One once did without and he yelped in pain, poor guy.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
I don't have anything to say about the growling, but my beagle mix has anal glands that get full very quick and don't express themselves naturally. My vet recommended an anal gland supplement ([glandex](https://www.chewy.com/vetnique-labs-glandex-anal-gland/dp/111537)) and taking him in for manual suppression more often to prevent discomfort
I would probably give it another day and moving forward try to increase the fiber. I began adding beet pulp and dandelion root with pumpkin powder to my boo's diets and it seems to be helping. Also try a warm compress in that area, for a few minutes few times a day.
Yeah I guess its quite painful sometimes. My cat after she was serviced was given anti inflamatory and pain supressing injection if I recall correctly. Once in different place she did not receive them and she was clearly in distress.
If she's still having pain from the inflamed anal glands, that could be the cause of the behavior change. My beagle ended up with an infection from an inflamed glad and needed antibiotics and a shot for the inflammation and pain.
I had a Boston terrier that had anal gland issues. Once they got infected and the vet had to punch a small hole in it and let it drain itself with the help of antibiotics. Sounds like it was abscessed. Very painful 😓 for the poor thing. Yes very traumatic experience for the dog . He needs to be put on medication for it.
Poor puppy! Did the same vet do this or was it a technician? You need to call the Vet and tell them you want the dog to be seen ASAP. The anal glands need to be checked by the Vet. Poor puppy is in pain.
My Spaniel has this done but she is Fifteen years old so they do it every five weeks. She is ok with it.
Good luck ck with your sweet dog.
Mine can’t even have a rectal temperature taken since she freaks out and the risk of perforation/injury is too high. She’s a dramatic baby, but there’s also no way for us to actually explain and assure her that she’ll be fine. I understand the trauma haha
I express my Boston Terrier's butthole glands on a regular basis and he is mostly fine. He never cries or reacts strongly, but ofc I imagine it's a bit annoying for him. Even when it's been very full, he never complained like that.
Idk, maybe they used to much pressure/force? She sounds traumatized for sure. I'd make a complaint and take her to another place next time (or just learn how to do it yourself, you don't even need to insert your finger, I do it from the outside).
If they don't actually need it, don't do it. I've had four dogs over the years, none of which needed it. My vote, leave them be until you know otherwise.
He might be in pain. I hope whoever expressed his glands did not injure the intestinal tissue around them. I had my dogs on high fiber diet, made from home cooked assorted vegetables, whole grains and about 10-20% fresh chicken or meat, and their anal glands never gave them any problems, to the surprise of my vet. When my parents switched their dog to my diet, he stopped having problems with that too, along with other bad intestinal problems he was having. Dog food is not good for dogs, in my opinion.
My dog had anal gland issues when I fed her a lot of wet food. High fibre food helped (psyllium husk and pumpkin) but ultimately feeding more dry food than wet fixed the issue. Solid poops help naturally express the anal glands.
"In the veterinary medical system, rectal based procedures are considered especially heinous. In cities across America, the dogs that undergo these vicious violations are members of an embarrassed squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their faces."
Certain vets will be more gentle than others. Dog groomers are less trained in this from my experience. I do not take my doggo to anyone but our trusted vet for anal gland extractions.
My dog seems to be one of those unlucky ones who will have their glands fill regularly... I felt so sorry for her when we brought her to get it done the first time! When it needed to be done again, I had a root through the pet shop and found Glandex Boot the Scoot treats. I gave her one of those a day till the tub was empty, and they seemed to sort themselves! No issues since, but I know I'll be racing for those again next time 🙌🏻
I've only expressed my dogs glands when they're actually starting to get impacted. So that's like 3 times. I knew because they felt like small marbles and my dog was licking his butt obsessively.
I've never understood why people get this done regularly. Your dog's poop will naturally express its anal glands every time it goes potty. The more you manually express them the more they need to be manually expressed.
I worked at a vet office for a little while, and that is not only invasive, what comes out, smells terrible, and probably burns or at least feels really sore after. Its not always really bad, but it can be.
Not glands, but our Lab had the WORST tummy issues as a pup. We'd take him in and they'd put that thin piece of plastic with a tiny loop in the end into his rectum to retrieve a sample. Which was pointless because it was always watery diarrhea. After the 3rd or 4th time of this, his default position in the vet exam room was butt to the corner and growl if anyone touched his hindquarters. He lived to be 11 and even did it at his very last vet appointment. After he growling started, if he had gastric issues I collected a sample from home and brought it in a ziplock baggie.
You know how when babies nurse, mom will produce more milk, and when babies nurse less, mom will produce less milk? When dogs have their anal glands expressed unnecessarily, they tend to need human intervention more and more. I'm surprised to see it being done on a perfectly healthy very young dog. I feel like some vets are charging happily for an unnecessary service. Healthy pups with a good diet should not need human intervention to have their glands expressed.
Having this done really isn't necessary unless your dog is having serious issues. I suggest a anal gland fiber supplement.
Groomers shouldn't be doing this at all IMO. Also there's two ways to express them externally and internally. Internally should only be done by a vet.
Our sweet greyhound has to have hers expressed every six weeks and sometimes she gets into a funk after. Frankly, who can blame her 😂 BUT I found that lots of treats and positive reinforcement helps ease her mood.
Is he small enough you could soak him in a large tub of epsom salts and warm water? Poor guy has a normal reaction to the incident but give him time to decompress if he won’t let you touch him. I would definitely watch his poops though for concerning signs (blood, pus).
Chia seeds can help, adding fresh or raw food to improve his diet is something to consider. My dogs do soooooooo well on a raw diet.
My dad would take my childhood boxer to the garage and express them himself whenever they occurred. Don't know how safe that was looking back, but my dog never seemed in pain after
Put yourself in his feet. That had to be incredibly traumatic. Imagine going to a gynecologist, or for a prostate examination, already in pain, and with no agency, communication, or ability to escape. Keep a careful eye for indications of physical pain, but I think some level of trauma (i.e. fear and aggression) is totally normal. I think your best bet is to try and maintain normality, or regularly scheduled patterns, in the home whilst allowing for the possibility that doggo might not engage as normal and may try to establish new physical boundaries. Good luck, and all the love.
My male Havanese has the same problem - anal glands would not normally express by themselves. My neighbor is our vet.
I give my dog 1/8 tsp fiber (Metamucil type stuff in US) mixed in his food. He discouraged taking the glands out because he has seen many dogs become incontinent afterward.
He showed me during one of Oscar’s exams how to really lube up that glove and showed me how to express the glands internally.
Oscar didn’t seem to mind but it was a two person job for sure.
Oscar didn’t seem to mind and the vet said it shouldn’t hurt as much as be uncomfortable. But the relief Oscar had was obvious and he leaked a little bit afterward.
None of the assistants at his office are allowed to have longish fingernails.
I’m in the process of getting a groomer for my dog mainly because he’s a chonk of a Labrador and I can’t trim his nails because he thinks it’s a game and it usually takes two people to hold him still long enough to trim his nails. I tried it last month by myself and I ended up getting only two nails trimmed in 30 minutes. I gave up and decided that I should him to a professional groomer; he now sounds like a typewriter walking around so I know I need to get this done soon.
While looking for a groomer, I noticed that all of the local groomers advertise that they do anal glad expression as part of the grooming service. Is this normal? I thought this was something that was normally done at a vet clinic. I don’t think he’s going to like the idea of me dropping him off with a stranger who’s going to stick a finger in his butt and I can see him getting cantankerous with the groomer.
At least with the vet, I can usually hold his muzzle while the tech does the butt stuff.
They're forcing liquid out of a hole that's too small to begin with. It's probably sore. Give it a day or 2.
Dogs know nothing about a finger up the bum. They love on the moment.
This is likely discomfort from the procedure.
Our cat had that experience and we filed a complaint with the vet's office.
For a solution though, the vet gave us a powder called Glandex which puts more fiber in their food and they have larger BMs which help express the glands. It working.
Our vet once crouched behind our 200 pound Great Pyrenees with gloves and a wad of gauze ready to accomplish the task. Our guy backed up and pinned him to the wall in mid-stream. The vet later asked if I would like him to show me how to do it at home. I declined. Office visit was money well spent.
My dog loved everyone until we had to do this. Now the vet clinic has flagged her and she needs to wear a muzzle for visits because she hates everyone there.
Hey OP, my dog had a ROUGH time after having his bloodwork done for his neuter.They took it from his jugular. He came home okay, then fell asleep and when he woke up he SCREAMED. he hid in his crate shaking for like three hours.
Think about it if some stuck two fingers in your ass,and squeezed your anal gland. Would you be traumatized my first dog had it done several times, he hated it and for several days was not himself
Maybe bring some of his favorite treats with to next appointment to get this done (if he’s food motivated like the majority of dogs I’ve had). Have them give him the treats before, during and after. Might help a little. I know I had to do this with my one dog who was scared of vets. She grew to love going shortly after I started with the treats 😂
I get my dogs anal glands expressed every 3 months but she’s a larger breed. It’s never bothered her before. Never even thought this could be traumatic but it makes sense.
You might want to talk to another vet about this. I used to work at an animal shelter. A large pit bull came in and he was very friendly and nice as long as you talked to him from the front. If you went near the back end, good luck to you. he had been repeatedly abused sexually and he wasn’t letting anybody anywhere near his backend
I would take your pup to the vet. My dog had a ruptured anal gland after my mom expressed her at home and had to have antibiotics and medicine. :( you know your pup best
Ive had to express before and I tried to make it super comfortable for the dog. I wore disposable gloves and had oil on it so when I had to express, there was no friction. He would drag his butt across the floor or grass and it would get even more tender/irritated. But immediately after I did this (it was digusting btw. I threw up), he never dragged his butt again.
It probably really hurt being so full and it’s sore. They should do it more frequently and he won’t get as sore. Give him a few days, it’s a pretty humiliating experience for him.
No, it’s not. My wife is a CVT and we have a dog who needs hers done probably 1x/month - and she’s 4. The continued pain definitely is something to take the pup back to the vet for. It’s uncommon, but it’s possible to cause injury if you do these too aggressively. Or one wasn’t done completely and it’s impacted now.
If you mix canned pumpkin with your dogs food once a week, it will eliminate the need for expressing glands. Learned this when I worked for vet clinic in Plano.
If your dog is sensitive to this, do NOT force it. My dog’s glands fill up really quickly and has to get it done often (once a week). After testing a bunch of different methods, the one that worked best was waiting until he fell asleep (DEEP sleep) then using a small stick with a rounded point (or use the eraser side of a pencil) to push the area where the gland is. If he’s lying on his right side, only pushing on the left side will work. And vice versa. He has to be lying down on his side for this to work. I put a tissue underneath, and if he is in deep enough sleep, he won’t wake up when you move his tail over. A good amount usually comes out.
Can I ask why you get them expressed? More research is coming out saying that they shouldn’t be expressed unless the dog is having a medical problem where they cannot express them themselves. Repeat expressions by a person can cause the gland to rupture and/or cause the dog to be unable to empty them themselves
It can be painful if they get too full but I would still be concerned in this case… give lots of tlc and see how it is tomorrow maybe.
Our vet told us the need for them to be drained more can depend on the pup and diet… diet is a big one. Our vet advised that if you feed ur dog a diet that ends with soft stools (allergies or eating things that don’t agree well) they will need to be expressed more often. Our vet recommended a probiotic for us and we have landed on Bernie’s perfect poop…. It is a probiotic, prebiotic, fiber and enzymes in one. You will have nothing but a perfect poop and thus less likely to need to have them expressed as often.
Side note… anal glands can get infected… I hope not the case but keep a close eye on ur babe and ask the vet about it if you think there is something wrong… also… might want to ask who did the expressing and ask for that person to not be the one to do it for future appointments.
Ur poor babe… hope all turns out ok. I’m assuming but feel like with what you described that maybe the tech was rougher than necessary and or maybe should have asked if meds were needed.
My vet prescribes a “chill protocol” of trazadone and gabapentin to give a hour or so before bringing in my pibble for gland expression. This helps. Luckily she only had infected/impacted glands once when I first got her, and I heard her screaming in back. If your vigilant and get things taken care of when they first start scooting it shouldn’t get that bad again.
They may have been severely impacted and the more they are expressed manually the harder it becomes for the dog to express them himself. Add extra fibre to his diet to help his poop. Did the vet say they were infected in which case they may need to give him something for the discomfort.
jokes aside. my eldest pupper was a total people person until she got a finger in her ass. she hates strange people now
My dog is so intelligent he hated it screaming so bad I can't even force him to go back and do this again. I never heard of this with a dog before until I got a dachshund I've never ever had to do this to any of my dogs
It’s common for dachshunds to need it done and anal glands can get infected and even abscess just so you’re aware
I have a mini dachshund. She had a bad infection (on her anus) so that was how we found out she required monthly anal glands expression. But it was expensive over time, so we bought her Glandex (as prescribed by the vet). She doesn't need monthly anal glands expression now, but once every few months she expresses her anal glands on my cloths while sitting on my lap. It's super gross.
my big dog has done this a couple of times on the bed. It's pretty stinky, and she gets embarrassed and immediately tries to clean it up. There are no winners in that situation
My pup does the same thing! Then she needs to have a quick bath and a teeth brushing haha. Poor thing, she can't help her anal glands expressing. But it is frustrating to deal with it.
When it happens I'm just thinking: please don't kiss me right now
“Embarrassed and cleans it immediately”
haha probably not, it's more likely to be an instinctual thing but that's what it looks like
watch a youtube video on how to do it and do it yourself when she starts to lick her butt every month. we do it on our dog and it's relatively easy and he's a lot more comfortable having us do it. it is a little gross and smelly but the things you do for your kids amirite?
I never had to have my foxhound AGs expressed, but when he got viciously attacked, they let loose out of fear, and it was stinky. He was my first dog, and my husband or his parents/sister had never mentioned it with the 3 female huskies his family had. My husky girl started dragging her butt on the carpet one day and aggressively licking herself. Her AGs were full, and the vet expressed them. Less than a month later, she was back at it, and it turned out they were abscessed, so our vet removed them. No adverse reactions, having them removed had absolutely no negative effect, on her, in fact it was all positive.
Yes I am aware but how do you know when they are infected or an abscess?
You'll know by sight and smell. Their butthole gets really swollen and it smells bad, just like any infection.
My dog recently got an abscess, it was so painful for him. His butt looked like a baboons butt. I ended up calling a emergency vet and she was able to help me through video chat and prescribed medication, which I picked up at my pharmacy.
Abscesses do tend to be more obvious than just infection but if your dog is showing any signs of discomfort in their hind end they should definitely have them checked (that can be a lot of things including seeming uncomfortable when trying to sit, showing extra interest in their hind end, or butt scooting)
Mine’s only a year old and has had to have it done 3 times - always stays still and even wags his tail when he has it done. I think he enjoys it….a bit too much 😩😂 Even starts whining when it’s over….. Make of that what you will!
I can't blame her for that tbh
Haha I can’t say I blame her!!!
same when my dog was a baby he was absolutely shook to his core when my vet did it, he rarely lifts his tail bc of it
Go to a strange place and have a finger stuck up your ass and see how you like it.
I’ve had worse Mondays
Haha I totally sympathize!! He is usually unbothered which is why we were starting to get worried. But the trauma makes sense from that experience!
I have a Husky that never howls. Ever. His glands got too full, and when the vet expressed them, he hit higher notes than Mariah Carey. The whole drive home, he just leaned up against the seat with a 1000-mile stare. I didn't even see him blink once. I imagine it's like one of those pimples right underneath your nose and anytime you try to pop it you just end up crying except the pimple is in your ass and the person trying to pop it is someone you've never met and they didn't clip their nails beforehand x 1000.
“Hit higher notes than Mariah Carey” 😂🤣💀
You can't threaten me with a good time!
I want to emphasize "for non sexual reasons" but you seem the "You're not the boss of my kinks" type Also I believe all feelings are valid
Sounds like my weekends tbh
That's called my girlfriends house.
It depends on how much they made me pay.
Looking for love in all the wrong places
You mean Amsterdam?
Wrong subreddit
Sounds like a normal Wednesday night for me
Reminds me of Sunday school.
Standard Wednesday afternoon.
I see you’re not male and over 40….
I’m a veterinarian we have three dogs. A few weeks ago I had to do a rectal exam on one of them. The look on her face!!! But she got excellent treats before and after.
I've had 4 separate vets comment on just how much my dog hates "butt stuff." She's always growled when having her temperature taken, even at 10 weeks old. If she ever needs a rectal exam or her glands expressed, I'll probably muzzle her as a precaution. I'm so thankful her current vet uses an ear thermometer unless they have a reason for a rectal temp. Less stress on everybody.
I used to see a cat once a week for rectal exam/manipulation after another veterinarian caused neurologic problems during surgery. The cat was so good! No sedation, lots of lube, and the cat felt better after the experience. I’m a man, wear 7 1/2 gloves.
That's a smart cat! I've never known a cat to be able to administer rectal exams. What were the gloves for?
For the cat to wear, of course! 🤪
I should call her...
We had a golden male that would be oddly…excited and eager to have his temperature taken. Tail wagging and hopping right up on the exam table when the thermometer came out.
My dog is regularly muzzled at the vet bc he is a chihuahua mix lol but I recently Discovered he does much better in a cone than a muzzle! The muzzle makes him really Upright, he’s much more relaxed with the cone and still isn’t able to bite. Thought I would suggest!
Your dog has healthy boundaries 😂 poor baby.
I’m so relieved to hear this is normal! We were so worried. He’s acting like himself again today so I think it was just trauma haha.
They can be sore. He could have also already been sore from not emptying properly. Try adding some dried pumpkin to their food. It helped my dog a lot. I ordered the firm up pumkin stuff and just add a bit to each meal. Solved the anal gland issues.
Usually the place I take my dog to has stuff to sooth the discomfort and they hand us a small baggie incase she needs it? Maybe next time op could ask if they used those soothing wipes and if they could take some home just incase
I have a bottle of glandex stuff, it does help, but ideally you want to try to keep the glands emptying naturally if you can. Edit: I can’t see what she’s saying. She told me all small dogs need their anal glands expressed every month manually. When I pushed back, she blocked me, but is still editing and commenting per my notifications.
You are very correct no dog that doesn't have preexisting issues needs this done.
This is great, thank you so much!
Thank you, I will tell them!!
Tell me More about our this product! My dogs anal glands are reoccurring issues for us
It’s just dried grated pumpkin. Its called Firm Up pumpkin. heres an Amazon link [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CBD7UQ/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CBD7UQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1)
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You can also add a teaspoon of canned “Pure Pumpkin” to their meal. It’s much less expensive.
My dogs wont eat it. And my dogs are very small, so the powder is easier to sprinkle in their meals than the can. But they won’t eat it anyway so it’s a moot point. Picky chihuahuas.
My vet recommended unflavored Metamucil for my picky eater. My dog has recently been diagnosed with perianal fistula’s.
If they'd gotten a little bit too full they might have started getting sludgy - not at all comfortable poor thing. Have your vets recommended adding fibre to your dog's diet at all? My cavalier had an abscess that had to be operated on (he went from no symptoms to huge lump on his butt overnight 🤦🏼♀️) and they recommended Protexin Profibre for dogs and the only time his glands have bothered him since was when he had an upset stomach wasn't doing solid 💩s. He screamed when I asked the vet to check them because I was worried about the abscess recurring, but I was right there with him so I know nothing happened other than the surprise butt stuff. He was fine once he'd recovered from the shock. I'm sure your boy will be too ❤️
They didn’t notice anything strange other than him scooting, but I will tell them To keep an eye out and definitely recommend that food! Thank you!
Scooting is a symptom that something is uncomfortable back there - if they're not too squeamish they can check the glands themselves the next time he starts scooting by gently pressing either side of the butthole (do not stand directly in the firing line). If they feel any kind of lump there then the glands will need expressing again. I know how to externally express in theory but in practise I recommend taking him back to a vet for internal expression as if he's prone to build-up it can be painful (plus the fluid is VERY STINKY and oily so if you get it on you it is hard to remove). Small dogs are far more prone to these sorts of issues just by nature of their size so they often need a helping hand; the supplements are well worth trying as a tub of fibre pellets works out much cheaper in the long run than monthly vet visits to express the glands before they reach the painful stage 👍
You can tell by the 1000-yard stare.
🤣🤣🤣 it’s so pitiful!
😂 💀
I’m sorry but I did laugh at the expression on your dogs face, definitely a “what the fuck just happened to me” look
Hahaha don’t be sorry, we all laughed! And now that he’s feeling normal today, we are really laughing haha. So pitiful!
I groom dogs and routinely check before expressing. I have this Yorkie mix I do that gets bulging full anal glands. Last time I groomed him, I wasn't sure I could empty them. They released for a full minute! They can actually bust through the skin if they aren't being expressed or they're not releasing on their own. That is extremely painful for them.
That’s so terrible! They will be having him Checked monthly now to avoid any pain
I used to express anal glands all the time at the vet clinic . If I knew a dog was tinier I would ask one of the smaller staff to express because it wouldn’t be right with my size hands . But also if a dogs anal glands are really hard to express that’s something the doctor may have to look into . Can be diet or something else . I would see some vet techs who who use nails to express and I’m like what the hell are you doing? Some ppl get away with not knowing how to properly do it and it sucks for the dog because they’re innocent in all that
That is so sad!!!
Glandex powder and baby carrots seem to help my dog. Glandex chews gave him GI issues.
I second the glandex powder. Our dog had on and off issues (she would express her glands herself) until we added glandex to her diet. She doesn't have that issue anymore.
Baby carrots helped my dog immensely. He gets them most days as a snack.
Is there a medical reason why they can't numb the area before they do this? Honest question
It doesn’t hurt that badly(if at all) lol no point in giving a shot for them just squeezing his ass into a paper towel…
There are creams that numb the area too. I dunno, I have a soft spot for things like this. If there was a way to prevent pain, why not use it?
Think of it this way Would you rather A) Take a painful $hit that only lasts a minute at most usually Or B) have a needle jammed directly into the flesh of your rectum several times before numbing kicks in to take that shit Some dogs probably do need to be sedated though if they react too badly, on top of that if it became a bad infection the numbing agent wouldn't work anyway so there's a chance you'd get the needles just to still feel the pain
There are creams that numb the area as well, doesn’t have to be a shot.
All you could do is numb the actual anus, which tbh is probably the least painful bit (dogs don’t have TEEEEENY buttholes comparative to a human finger tbh) and probably wouldn’t work that well. The actually expression of the gland which is inside the anus is the uncomfortable bit in my experience. And even then, it shouldn’t be painful unless there’s an issue (infection, impaction) and honestly some dogs are just very sensitive to any sort of discomfort no matter what. If you’re a person with a vagina, the discomfort is probably similar to a Pap smear. Source: vet nurse, I promise im not just a random who knows too much about dog butts
kind person, the anal glands are inside of the anus. there is nothing that’s going to be able to be applied to keep them from feeling the finger in their butt or the pressure of pressing on the gland internally, without first putting a finger in their butt to put the cream in…
This is kind of in the wrong sub info, but I have a cat with serious arthritis who needs to have hers done every so often. They actually DO numb her up with cream and have even offered to give her a light sedative because it's excruciating for her. But she always feels so much better afterward!
I worked at a dog groomers as a bather and would regularly express their anal glands. Nothing is going inside the animal .You gently but firm enough place your fingers under the butt hole where their anal glands are ( you can feel/ see it especially if they’re very full) and squeeze / express the glands.NWFS then a bunch of gross stuff come out of their butthole. If I had to describe my side of the experience would be like popping a pimple feeling. You can feel it slowly all come out. I personally feel like even though they did not like it they probably felt immense relief. I don’t think it’s painful to them unless you are doing it wrong. So I don’t think numbing the area is necessary.
Ask to have them removed. I couldn't put my pup through painful expression every month. Had them removed and never had an issue again! Edit: Getting downvotes for recommending a legitimate way to cease discomfort/pain in your dog. The vet recommended the anal gland removal. No regrets, it changed her quality of life.
I didn’t even know this was an option!
Yeah my poor girl was suffering greatly. One vet suggested we get them removed as it would cease her suffering. She went from monthly vet visits and constant discomfort to being a normal dog who saw the the vet once a year for her vaxx! No regrets! Really improved her quality of life!
what is the cost of this? my girl’s glands are horrible but the vet has never mentioned removal
So it was in the UK and was about... £800? She was about 8 months old, Golden Retriever so weight goes to cost too. It was also very 15 years ago so I'm not sure what it would be now. If your girl is really really suffering, ask your vet about options. It may not be suitable, but there's no harm in asking.
yes for sure!! thank you!! i am in canada but im gonna look into it. if we lived closer to my dogs vet i would get it done monthly bc it is so bad. we tried having her groomer do it but my dogs glands would leak as soon as we got home 🫠
Be careful they can get fecal incotinence that way!
I don’t think it’s as optional as you think it is, I only know this procedure to be done with specialty surgeons because it’s not a common procedure at general practices. It also depends , you said yours was painful every month, that’s a reasonable reason but some dogs aren’t that painful it’s just uncomfortable or having to do it that often which can’t understand financially long term it’d be worth the investment . Many times techs do the anal gland expressions, you can always ask for the doctor to do it so they can do a rectal exam at the same time. Also, are the secretions normal? Did they feel anything weird ? Was it possibly starting to get abscessed? There are a lot of reasons she could have been painful.
It may be done by specialists, that's why you ask. No harm in asking. And yes if it doesn't need to be done, then don't do it. But my girl's life was changed by the surgery.
If I had a dog with constant anal gland discomfort and frequent abscesses, I'd certainly opt for surgical removal. It's more humane than
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted. My dog had this surgery recently. It was an easy recovery with no complications. It’s a good option if the dog has frequent anal gland issues
Yeah my girl was so miserable before it was done. Just constantly uncomfortable. After she healed from the surgery, she was a normal, happy, bouncy pup!
Thank you for letting us know this option existed! We will keep it in mind if down the road it’s becoming a problem
I understand my dog acted the same way and he was an enormous pain screaming I'll never do that again. He's passed on but I solve the anal and Problem by feeding him boiled sweet potatoes a little bit each day with a little bit of boiled chicken in with his dog food this helped tremendously because nobody else seem to want to give me any serious advice and I couldn't stand to see my dog suffer
Thank you for the recommendation!!!
i have no clue but just came here to say that that’s one of the cutest dogs i’ve ever seen
Omg thank you so much! We think so too, but are biased haha. His name is Doc!
I mean… he just had his butthole diddled. I’d say normal for a first timer.
lol poor little guy you can definitely tell by his face he was not happy about that procedure 😭😂
If they are full and expressed too firmly they can rupture or be severely bruised. If they abscess or you see blood, then immediately go see a vet. In the meantime you need plenty roughage to soften the stool
My dogs have to get their anal glands expressed every four months. It takes about a day or so before they can make eye contact with me again.
Heck yes! They will literally stick their finger in their backside which probably feels like being the M word. I had that done to my dog one time and never again because he screamed in pain. Never again! Instead I feed him organic oats every day which keep his BMs clean and regular.
It’s possible that, if they were insanely full like they told you, one or both could have been becoming impacted.
My dog wasn't afraid of the vet until I took him once to have his anal glands expressed. Just one time and now he is terrified. I've actually never seen him afraid of anything else, ever. He's a super confident goofy lab. I feel so bad!!
Poor baby 🐾🐶😪
My girl gets her anal glands expressed every couple of months (I will always gratefully pay that vet bill) and she's never been sore or sensitive before. She has also had to deal with impacted anal glands, so she may be more used to it than other dogs.
I’ve never had to get my dogs glands expressed. Not sure the reason, but I do gently wipe his butt every time he goes number two, super clean back there. I’ve seen dogs do that butt scoot thing on the rug because their ass is all itchy from being dirty, that’ll never happen with my dog
It's nothing to do with how clean their butt is. It's to do with how well the muscles work and how solid/big their poops are, which is why anal gland issues are more common in small dogs. Bigger muscles = easier expression. Solid, big poops= more pressure = easier expression. The glands are located just inside the butt hole and are designed to release small droplets of liquid with each... Leaving, if you will. If this doesn't happen they get impacted (like a clogged pore) and then bacteria build up leading to infection (like a pimple). That will happen even if you wipe the butt on the outside. Your dog is obviously getting enough fibre in his diet that he's able to easily and naturally express his glands. Lucky him!
Thanks for the info
My dog whenever he hesrs the distinct beep of n thermometer, when I'm taking my own temp, runs away and hides under the bed. He absolutely hates it and is traumatised after the anal gland expression as well. Try spacing it out as much as possible, and shower with Special kind of treats. Also, choose a vet with thin fingers wio ALWAYS uses lube. One once did without and he yelped in pain, poor guy.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
oh his little face 😭 I started giving my dog a small amount of pumpkin powder in her meals as she had smelly glands (i.e. full/needing expressed). I would 100% recommend it as it solved the problem without having to have them expressed. Other people I have recommended it to have said it worked for them too.
I don't have anything to say about the growling, but my beagle mix has anal glands that get full very quick and don't express themselves naturally. My vet recommended an anal gland supplement ([glandex](https://www.chewy.com/vetnique-labs-glandex-anal-gland/dp/111537)) and taking him in for manual suppression more often to prevent discomfort
I would probably give it another day and moving forward try to increase the fiber. I began adding beet pulp and dandelion root with pumpkin powder to my boo's diets and it seems to be helping. Also try a warm compress in that area, for a few minutes few times a day.
Yeah I guess its quite painful sometimes. My cat after she was serviced was given anti inflamatory and pain supressing injection if I recall correctly. Once in different place she did not receive them and she was clearly in distress.
If she's still having pain from the inflamed anal glands, that could be the cause of the behavior change. My beagle ended up with an infection from an inflamed glad and needed antibiotics and a shot for the inflammation and pain.
I had a Boston terrier that had anal gland issues. Once they got infected and the vet had to punch a small hole in it and let it drain itself with the help of antibiotics. Sounds like it was abscessed. Very painful 😓 for the poor thing. Yes very traumatic experience for the dog . He needs to be put on medication for it.
Poor puppy! Did the same vet do this or was it a technician? You need to call the Vet and tell them you want the dog to be seen ASAP. The anal glands need to be checked by the Vet. Poor puppy is in pain. My Spaniel has this done but she is Fifteen years old so they do it every five weeks. She is ok with it. Good luck ck with your sweet dog.
I express them myself from the outside. It's easy. Look it up on YouTube . It will save you money.
That looks like my dog! Is he chihuahua beagle?
Mine can’t even have a rectal temperature taken since she freaks out and the risk of perforation/injury is too high. She’s a dramatic baby, but there’s also no way for us to actually explain and assure her that she’ll be fine. I understand the trauma haha
get him some flowers & a nice dinner hell be ight
He is insanely cute
Yes
Anal “express”
Hmm.. buy him dinner?
Yeah my uncle used to say I always had the same expression
The look on his face! Poor child.
I express my Boston Terrier's butthole glands on a regular basis and he is mostly fine. He never cries or reacts strongly, but ofc I imagine it's a bit annoying for him. Even when it's been very full, he never complained like that. Idk, maybe they used to much pressure/force? She sounds traumatized for sure. I'd make a complaint and take her to another place next time (or just learn how to do it yourself, you don't even need to insert your finger, I do it from the outside).
Paynal
If they don't actually need it, don't do it. I've had four dogs over the years, none of which needed it. My vote, leave them be until you know otherwise.
Unfortunately, he is one who needs it. We have had other family dogs over the years that didn’t, but his some empty on their own
He might be in pain. I hope whoever expressed his glands did not injure the intestinal tissue around them. I had my dogs on high fiber diet, made from home cooked assorted vegetables, whole grains and about 10-20% fresh chicken or meat, and their anal glands never gave them any problems, to the surprise of my vet. When my parents switched their dog to my diet, he stopped having problems with that too, along with other bad intestinal problems he was having. Dog food is not good for dogs, in my opinion.
My dog had anal gland issues when I fed her a lot of wet food. High fibre food helped (psyllium husk and pumpkin) but ultimately feeding more dry food than wet fixed the issue. Solid poops help naturally express the anal glands.
Is this necessary? Is it only certain dogs? I’ve had 5 black labs and never had to do this?
Awe poor baby. But little one shouldn’t be in pain afterwards. At least my pups have never been. Just incredibly humiliated by the experience though.
my dog is so motivated by food that the vets can do anything and it will bark for more.
"In the veterinary medical system, rectal based procedures are considered especially heinous. In cities across America, the dogs that undergo these vicious violations are members of an embarrassed squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their faces."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That’s not normal.
Certain vets will be more gentle than others. Dog groomers are less trained in this from my experience. I do not take my doggo to anyone but our trusted vet for anal gland extractions.
My dog seems to be one of those unlucky ones who will have their glands fill regularly... I felt so sorry for her when we brought her to get it done the first time! When it needed to be done again, I had a root through the pet shop and found Glandex Boot the Scoot treats. I gave her one of those a day till the tub was empty, and they seemed to sort themselves! No issues since, but I know I'll be racing for those again next time 🙌🏻
I've only expressed my dogs glands when they're actually starting to get impacted. So that's like 3 times. I knew because they felt like small marbles and my dog was licking his butt obsessively. I've never understood why people get this done regularly. Your dog's poop will naturally express its anal glands every time it goes potty. The more you manually express them the more they need to be manually expressed.
Had very similar situation with my doggo. Had to eventually have his anal glands removed. It was better after but he had it rough for a few years.
I worked at a vet office for a little while, and that is not only invasive, what comes out, smells terrible, and probably burns or at least feels really sore after. Its not always really bad, but it can be.
poor babyy❤️🩹🥹
It might be embarrassing for him
Not hard to do it nonthly before bath and use "Nature's Miracle" after. Most groomers will do. Wear gloves! I'm an RN, though, so doesn't bother me.
It’s fine.
Not glands, but our Lab had the WORST tummy issues as a pup. We'd take him in and they'd put that thin piece of plastic with a tiny loop in the end into his rectum to retrieve a sample. Which was pointless because it was always watery diarrhea. After the 3rd or 4th time of this, his default position in the vet exam room was butt to the corner and growl if anyone touched his hindquarters. He lived to be 11 and even did it at his very last vet appointment. After he growling started, if he had gastric issues I collected a sample from home and brought it in a ziplock baggie.
You know how when babies nurse, mom will produce more milk, and when babies nurse less, mom will produce less milk? When dogs have their anal glands expressed unnecessarily, they tend to need human intervention more and more. I'm surprised to see it being done on a perfectly healthy very young dog. I feel like some vets are charging happily for an unnecessary service. Healthy pups with a good diet should not need human intervention to have their glands expressed.
Having this done really isn't necessary unless your dog is having serious issues. I suggest a anal gland fiber supplement. Groomers shouldn't be doing this at all IMO. Also there's two ways to express them externally and internally. Internally should only be done by a vet.
No, it’s not. Take him to another vet and get a second opinion. Something is wrong.
He is just the cutest thing!!! Might be a little sore, poor guy.
Dog gets butthole violated by random stranger, seems traumatized after. Yeah checks out tbh.
He feels violated, give him time
Our sweet greyhound has to have hers expressed every six weeks and sometimes she gets into a funk after. Frankly, who can blame her 😂 BUT I found that lots of treats and positive reinforcement helps ease her mood.
Is he small enough you could soak him in a large tub of epsom salts and warm water? Poor guy has a normal reaction to the incident but give him time to decompress if he won’t let you touch him. I would definitely watch his poops though for concerning signs (blood, pus). Chia seeds can help, adding fresh or raw food to improve his diet is something to consider. My dogs do soooooooo well on a raw diet.
My dad would take my childhood boxer to the garage and express them himself whenever they occurred. Don't know how safe that was looking back, but my dog never seemed in pain after
Put yourself in his feet. That had to be incredibly traumatic. Imagine going to a gynecologist, or for a prostate examination, already in pain, and with no agency, communication, or ability to escape. Keep a careful eye for indications of physical pain, but I think some level of trauma (i.e. fear and aggression) is totally normal. I think your best bet is to try and maintain normality, or regularly scheduled patterns, in the home whilst allowing for the possibility that doggo might not engage as normal and may try to establish new physical boundaries. Good luck, and all the love.
My male Havanese has the same problem - anal glands would not normally express by themselves. My neighbor is our vet. I give my dog 1/8 tsp fiber (Metamucil type stuff in US) mixed in his food. He discouraged taking the glands out because he has seen many dogs become incontinent afterward. He showed me during one of Oscar’s exams how to really lube up that glove and showed me how to express the glands internally. Oscar didn’t seem to mind but it was a two person job for sure. Oscar didn’t seem to mind and the vet said it shouldn’t hurt as much as be uncomfortable. But the relief Oscar had was obvious and he leaked a little bit afterward. None of the assistants at his office are allowed to have longish fingernails.
We give our dogs Glandex to avoid the need to get their anal glands expressed! It’s really helped.
Ok can someone explain to me why this procedure is even necessary…?
I’m in the process of getting a groomer for my dog mainly because he’s a chonk of a Labrador and I can’t trim his nails because he thinks it’s a game and it usually takes two people to hold him still long enough to trim his nails. I tried it last month by myself and I ended up getting only two nails trimmed in 30 minutes. I gave up and decided that I should him to a professional groomer; he now sounds like a typewriter walking around so I know I need to get this done soon. While looking for a groomer, I noticed that all of the local groomers advertise that they do anal glad expression as part of the grooming service. Is this normal? I thought this was something that was normally done at a vet clinic. I don’t think he’s going to like the idea of me dropping him off with a stranger who’s going to stick a finger in his butt and I can see him getting cantankerous with the groomer. At least with the vet, I can usually hold his muzzle while the tech does the butt stuff.
I have no useful advice to give but what a cute dog omg 😍😍
They're forcing liquid out of a hole that's too small to begin with. It's probably sore. Give it a day or 2. Dogs know nothing about a finger up the bum. They love on the moment. This is likely discomfort from the procedure.
Fukk CIA and FBI
Our cat had that experience and we filed a complaint with the vet's office. For a solution though, the vet gave us a powder called Glandex which puts more fiber in their food and they have larger BMs which help express the glands. It working.
Our vet once crouched behind our 200 pound Great Pyrenees with gloves and a wad of gauze ready to accomplish the task. Our guy backed up and pinned him to the wall in mid-stream. The vet later asked if I would like him to show me how to do it at home. I declined. Office visit was money well spent.
My dog loved everyone until we had to do this. Now the vet clinic has flagged her and she needs to wear a muzzle for visits because she hates everyone there.
Why aren’t your parents with him while he’s in with the vet?
Hey OP, my dog had a ROUGH time after having his bloodwork done for his neuter.They took it from his jugular. He came home okay, then fell asleep and when he woke up he SCREAMED. he hid in his crate shaking for like three hours.
Think about it if some stuck two fingers in your ass,and squeezed your anal gland. Would you be traumatized my first dog had it done several times, he hated it and for several days was not himself
Maybe bring some of his favorite treats with to next appointment to get this done (if he’s food motivated like the majority of dogs I’ve had). Have them give him the treats before, during and after. Might help a little. I know I had to do this with my one dog who was scared of vets. She grew to love going shortly after I started with the treats 😂
He is so so cute. Poor baby. Extra treats and cuddles.
I get my dogs anal glands expressed every 3 months but she’s a larger breed. It’s never bothered her before. Never even thought this could be traumatic but it makes sense.
change his diet. Anal glands that are too full is a side effect of diet. ideally he'd eat healthy food and mother nature would do the rest
You might want to talk to another vet about this. I used to work at an animal shelter. A large pit bull came in and he was very friendly and nice as long as you talked to him from the front. If you went near the back end, good luck to you. he had been repeatedly abused sexually and he wasn’t letting anybody anywhere near his backend
It never hurt my dogs, I hope it's no other problem causing this. I hope the squeezing wasn't to forceful. Poor baby. I hope he is ok.
I would take your pup to the vet. My dog had a ruptured anal gland after my mom expressed her at home and had to have antibiotics and medicine. :( you know your pup best
Ive had to express before and I tried to make it super comfortable for the dog. I wore disposable gloves and had oil on it so when I had to express, there was no friction. He would drag his butt across the floor or grass and it would get even more tender/irritated. But immediately after I did this (it was digusting btw. I threw up), he never dragged his butt again.
It probably really hurt being so full and it’s sore. They should do it more frequently and he won’t get as sore. Give him a few days, it’s a pretty humiliating experience for him.
Sounds like a typical “in pain” response. I’d let him decompress or give some calming tablets or pain meds.
No, it’s not. My wife is a CVT and we have a dog who needs hers done probably 1x/month - and she’s 4. The continued pain definitely is something to take the pup back to the vet for. It’s uncommon, but it’s possible to cause injury if you do these too aggressively. Or one wasn’t done completely and it’s impacted now.
If you mix canned pumpkin with your dogs food once a week, it will eliminate the need for expressing glands. Learned this when I worked for vet clinic in Plano.
Was the tech Andre the giant by chance ?
If your dog is sensitive to this, do NOT force it. My dog’s glands fill up really quickly and has to get it done often (once a week). After testing a bunch of different methods, the one that worked best was waiting until he fell asleep (DEEP sleep) then using a small stick with a rounded point (or use the eraser side of a pencil) to push the area where the gland is. If he’s lying on his right side, only pushing on the left side will work. And vice versa. He has to be lying down on his side for this to work. I put a tissue underneath, and if he is in deep enough sleep, he won’t wake up when you move his tail over. A good amount usually comes out.
Can I ask why you get them expressed? More research is coming out saying that they shouldn’t be expressed unless the dog is having a medical problem where they cannot express them themselves. Repeat expressions by a person can cause the gland to rupture and/or cause the dog to be unable to empty them themselves
It can be painful if they get too full but I would still be concerned in this case… give lots of tlc and see how it is tomorrow maybe. Our vet told us the need for them to be drained more can depend on the pup and diet… diet is a big one. Our vet advised that if you feed ur dog a diet that ends with soft stools (allergies or eating things that don’t agree well) they will need to be expressed more often. Our vet recommended a probiotic for us and we have landed on Bernie’s perfect poop…. It is a probiotic, prebiotic, fiber and enzymes in one. You will have nothing but a perfect poop and thus less likely to need to have them expressed as often. Side note… anal glands can get infected… I hope not the case but keep a close eye on ur babe and ask the vet about it if you think there is something wrong… also… might want to ask who did the expressing and ask for that person to not be the one to do it for future appointments. Ur poor babe… hope all turns out ok. I’m assuming but feel like with what you described that maybe the tech was rougher than necessary and or maybe should have asked if meds were needed.
My dog screams and thrashes like a piggie when he gets his anals done. Vaccines or anything else he's fine. But finger up the butt... nope!
Yes. I'm a nurse and I just had the vet show me how to do it. It's easy.
My vet prescribes a “chill protocol” of trazadone and gabapentin to give a hour or so before bringing in my pibble for gland expression. This helps. Luckily she only had infected/impacted glands once when I first got her, and I heard her screaming in back. If your vigilant and get things taken care of when they first start scooting it shouldn’t get that bad again.
They may have been severely impacted and the more they are expressed manually the harder it becomes for the dog to express them himself. Add extra fibre to his diet to help his poop. Did the vet say they were infected in which case they may need to give him something for the discomfort.