Anal glands

[Ash]

Hi Traci ... this time it's about my dog.

Both my dogs had been repeatedly sliding their behind on the floor (starting about 10 days ago), so three days ago the vet emptied their anal glands. It was successful with Lassie, the male one, but Shida the female is continuing to rub her bottom on the floors ... looking very uncomfortable, mostly after she just had a stool.

The problem with her is that she is an extremely nervous dog as soon as something is 'done' to her (we suspect she had been handled roughly before she came to us years ago). She simply freakes out, looses bladder control and struggles a lot. I and my husband were both holding her down (she's a heavy dog, about 30 kilo) during the procedure but she still managed to struggle so much (and screamed!) that vet couldn't get it all out from one of the glands, he said. But he said it doesn't look inflamed.

So I called him today and he'll try again tomorrow. He was suggesting to use an oral sedative - but I'm apprehensive, Shida is approximately 11 years old. He also mentioned a local anastetic, and a jelly (lubricant?) ...

So I guess my question is (before he drugs her unnessessarily!) what would be the best course of action in this case? Are there any oral medications (other than sedatives) that would help the gland to empty?

I would also like to know how to prevent this in future. Why do they get blocked? The vet says he sees this more with dogs that eat a lot of dry food. Ours get Pedigree dry food and sometimes we cook fresh meat for them. Can I give them something that helps with this problem? Or leave out certain things?

Thanks!

[Traci]

Adding a small amount of canned food to the diet might help, do you have canned available? Most anal gland problems are caused by straining and hard stools, so if you have seen hard stools, etc, then add moisture to the diet, either through canned food or more water.

I wouldn't recommend sedation, given your vet's lack of knowledge on them, gentle and appropriate restraint is best. This is best done when the dog is standing on a table (but an assistant needs to steady the dog and keep them from wiggling off the table -- may need to muzzle the dog in case she's a biter), and if the vet is quick about it.

Most dogs don't mind the procedure, and most are so relieved after it's done. Your vet should look for not only redness and swelling, but inflammation, infection or masses. If he suspects an infection, amoxicillin or clavamox might be prescribed.

[Ash]

Thank you Traci!

We will try it again today (without sedation).

No, we don't get canned dog food here. Should I soak her dry food? But she usually drinks a lot, she likes water. She does sometimes strain though.

Last time we had done it with her lying down, simply because then she's easier to restrain. Yes, she will snap, so my husband was holding her mouth and head while I was almost lying on top of her body (no assistents here, vets mostly work alone).

Funny, my former vet had explained to me that it is too soft stools that cause this, not too hard stools. She said soft stool won't put enough pressure on the glands when passing and so they cannot empty. (I sometimes wonder where and how long she studied???)

Well, we'll try. I'll report later!

[Traci]

I wouldn't soak the food with water. Instead, try offering her cooked vegetables, such as green beans, mash them with a bit of water and add to her dry food. (no salt or spices though)

The restraint needs to be as gentle as possible so that she is not fearful, stressed or physcially harmed. Either have her on a table (securely of course) or have the vet sit on the floor with her standing. If the vet has a muzzle, this would be best temporarily, as opposed to someone restraining her jaws and neck without a muzzle, this approach is stressful for the dog. The neck should be gently restrained, but by holding the neck in the crook of your elbow, and close to your body (this requires muzzling) The other person could stand over the dog with the dog's hips securely between the person's knees, but only with enough pressure to restrain, not hurt.

The vet needs to check for potential infection from the anal gland secretions.

[Ash]

We had it done. It went better than the last time. We tied her mouth with a strip of cloth, my husband was holding her head and I held her body up (otherwise she would simply sit down). She was pretty good, she struggled but nevertheless allowed the procedure. I gave her lots of praise!

He said there was still a tiny bit left in one gland that wouldn't come out though. He gave us an antiseptic powder to put on her anus for a few days (especially should she slide again) and also a dewormer, because they grap rubbish outside and might very well have worms and therefore itch, he said. If she still continues to rub herself on the floor he wants to give her an anti-inflammatary (prednison, I suspect) and an antibiotic.

I think if I put veggies together with her dry food, she'll pick them out. But I could mix some in the (minced) meat I boil for them sometimes.

[Ash]

Oh, and here's another snippet of info about Indian veterinary practice that might have you squirm!

He is actually the first vet I saw using rubber gloves. (My previous vet last year emptied their glands without gloves, and she - the vet - was pregnant at the time!) Well, the current vet does use ONE rubber glove. I was impressed. BUT: afterwards he proceeded to wash the glove with soap, disinfect it and put it back into his case!

That's India.

[Traci]

Sounds par for the course

[slvrwhispr]

AGH. Are you KIDDING me? He washed it and put it away?

Ugh. UGH! At least he washed it, I guess, but... good grief. I don't even want to know how he managed to come across ONE rubber glove. Ugh.

[k9Karen]

I understand. The supplies they need are not readily available, and are most likely extremely expensive. (I suspect vets in India aren't high paid). Rather than judge, we should be commend them for trying to do their best despite severe handicaps. Those of us who live in first-world countries shouldn't condemn those in second and third-world countries who are just doing the best they can with what they have available to them (which, most often, isn't much).

[slvrwhispr]

I really don't mean to judge, and I certainly don't mean to look down on anyone... but the idea of reusing a glove, sterilized or not, strikes me as terrifying. I know they have little to work with, but for whatever reason, I'd rather have someone use their bare hands than reuse a glove. Maybe it's silly of me, but that's just what my brain thinks.