I know it's a gross question, but my puppy is 3 months old and I'm getting him groomed for the first time in a couple of weeks and wondered if he was old enough to get this done also. I heard that it makes them feel better :)
2006-12-03 13:17:38 · 7 answers · asked by nicolehh11 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Most dogs can express their own glands when they defecate. Unless he is having a problem with them (and at 3 months of age, I wouldn't think he is) then I would just leave them alone.
If you notice a bad smell, or him scootching across the carpet, then they would need expressed. Other than that...I personally wouldn't mess with them.
I'm a groomer and I don't do anal glands at all. I just don't feel it is necessary to express them at each grooming visit. And if they are impacted..then I send them to the vet to have them done. I feel this is a vet's job, not the groomers. Not to mention that if a groomer is not experienced in expressing the glands...they can seriously harm the dog. So...if you are going to have your groomer do this..be sure they know what they are doing!
But like I mentioned...if he isn't having any trouble with them..leave them alone.
2006-12-03 14:12:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the others. An experienced groomer will be able to express the anal sacks before his bath.
The anal sacks usually express themselves when the dog defecates. This is a way for the dog to mark its territory with its own scent. Some dogs have a problem with the sacks and they can get impacted and that can lead to infection etc.
Expressing the sacks isn't gross necessarily just smelly. There are a couple of ways to do it. I prefer to squeeze from the outside but others prefer to put a gloved finger in the rectum and express them that way. Either way it works.
My black male schnauzer has leaky anal sacks from time to time. He will get so relaxed while sitting on my lap that he will leak anal fluid. It's smelly and that is when I know that he needs to have his expressed. I don't know what causes it and neither does the vet but it happens...
2006-12-03 21:28:08 · answer #2 · answered by josiegirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs only need this done if their anal glands get impacted. It doesn't matter how old they are, if they are old enough to have impacted anal glands they need them expressed. Some dogs never need this, and doing it does not make them feel better unless they have this problem.
2006-12-03 21:25:42 · answer #3 · answered by irongrama 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It won't hurt him to have it done at 3 mo's. Just ask the groomer to do it, or better, get a vet or a vet tech to show you how to yourself.
Some dogs' anal glands tend to get impacted, and expressing them occasionally helps that. Some dogs never have an issue, or need it done. But doing it at the groomers will never hurt - she just won't get much out.
2006-12-03 21:20:25 · answer #4 · answered by Mac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't something that 's routinely done - only if they're clogged. No groomer should be doing it for no reason. In over 30 years of owning dozens of dogs, I've never had one dog who ever needed his anal glands expressed.
2006-12-03 21:48:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs never need their anal glads expressed. I've never had a dog that had to have it done ... thank goodness :-)
2006-12-03 21:22:47 · answer #6 · answered by HDB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what that means. But you have a really cute beagle pup! I have a beagle also.
2006-12-03 21:25:18 · answer #7 · answered by SG 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋