I have two dogs who are mixed breed who are secreting from their anal glands often what causes this?

Question

One of the dogs has secreted on a more regular basis, but the second one never did before. What causes this and what can i do to help them? I see that manually expressing the glands is not recommended. Could it be their dog food? they both eat dry food. The smell is awful and since the smaller one sleeps next to me at night the smell gets on my clothes.

Answer 1

It is very likely the dog food. I would recommend a premium quality kibble, that you will find at any pet supply shop, but never at the grocer's. It is the best investment that you can make for your dog's longevity and health, and your own comfort!
The stool needs to be at the right consistency to express the fluid when they poop. Dog foods with fillers, leave the poop too soft.
You will find Canidae, Innova, Wysong, Wellness, Solid gold, or Natural Balance at most local pet supply shops or feed stores.
Premium kibbles actually cost more per bag, but less per month to feed, as the dogs eat less and waste (poop) less, so you are not paying for poop by the pound.

Answer 2

Some dogs just naturally have more trouble with this than others, unfortunately, but sometimes it's caused by diet. The natural way that their anal glands stay empty is by pressure created by passing stools while they poop. If their stools aren't firm enough, the glands won't get emptied. Try feeding them a different or higher quality dog food, don't give them canned food or table scraps that might upset their stomach, etc. Giving them pumpkin adds some fiber without adding many calories; buy a can of pumpkin pie filling but be sure it doesn't have any spices in it. You can feed them raw meat or chicken bones, never cooked, which will not only produce some firm, chalky white stools, it will add calcium to the dogs' diets, clean their teeth, and they will LOVE it.

Have you talked to your vet about it? She might have more recommendations specific for your dogs. Our beagle has his anal glands manually expressed once in a while and does fine. There is a surgery available if the condition is bad enough, but that's pretty extreme.

Answer 3

When a dog does a number 2 it pushes against the anal glands in order to put scent on the poop. This is a way for dogs to mark their spot. Some dogs have a really strong smell and some hardly any smell at all. The vet can express them so they are not too full. The second dog may need more fiber in his / her food to make the poop bigger so it will express the gland. I have my dog done by the vet every 4 weeks.

Answer 4

Anal glands can become compacted and infected. The secretion in the gland is what give the dog its signature scent. (This scent is what dogs "sniff for" when they greet each otehr.)

Diet has little effect on this problem as its not a digestive issue. (Except for the fact the "solidity" of the dog's stools effects the force exerted against the glands when the dog poops.)

The only way to treat them effectively is to get your dog to a vet and get the glands expressed. (For some dogs this is a chronic problem, so be prepared to have to go back to the vet every so often to have the issue re-addressed.) You CAN empty the gland yourself but, as you say, the smell is awful and if you get any of the secretion on you it's a devil to wash off. Emptying the glands also will not alleviate any infection. Get your dogs to a vet, and have the dogs taken care of properly -- you'll all be happier for it.

Answer 5

Are they smaller dogs? Large dogs can have this too but it is most common in smaller dogs. The smaller dogs at those anal glands do not have enough push to clean them out when they do thier business. If you take your dogs to a groomer and request they pinch the anal glands they will. It is pretty disgusting and the smell is horrid. But if left unattended, the dogs can actually have for lack of a better term, a blow out. They will literally burst at that area. Then infection very bad. Really though, its not that big of an issue to take care of.

Answer 6

It IS okay to manually express them, the vet will even do it for you. It is possible for them to get infected. These glands being irritated are the reason why dogs will drag their butt on the floor.

Next time they're at the vet's office, have the vet manually express the glands with a paper towel.

Answer 7

i've got self belief for you. I had a Beagle that alter into 2 or 3 as quickly as we would all quickly smell a bad smell and from time to time we would detect a niche under her like espresso grounds. It exchange into her anal glands. We had our vet show them and then the groomer (purely discover one that would not ideas) besides the undeniable fact that it did get fairly costly fairly at once. (say that 5 cases quickly. . .ha ha) It did guard the subject yet we discovered it had to be executed countless cases a month. (if I submit to in ideas properly, this transformation right into some years returned) I did slightly examine online and tried show them myself alongside with including a tablespoon of pumpkin to each meal. Which "bulked" up her stools. to empty them I positioned a paper towel scrunched up over her rear and slightly below her anus there are 2 "bumps" those are the glands, purely press in (not too stressful) and up so the liquid, not a large quantity, comes out the opening into the towel. it is going to look like moist espresso grounds. it ought to take 2 human beings considering which you have a miles better canines yet mine in no way gave me any hassle. i think of she knew i could make her experience better. possibly you ought to ask your vet/groomer in the event that they might coach you the thank you to do it because of the fact it is going to probally not bypass away. there's a surgical operation that is performed yet there are actually not any gaurantees that it will artwork and there's a solid hazard the canines ought to alter into incontienent. We in no way enjoyed the sound of that. Doing it your self fairly isn't that undesirable and it fairly is definatley properly well worth the low value fees. solid luck!!! OH, one greater element it fairly is not BREED particular. . .it purely happens. be conscious: attempt finding instruction manual expression of canines anal glands.

Answer 8

I don't know why you think that manually expressing the glands is not recommended, because it "is" actually better for them, and can prevent them from getting cancer back there. If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself, take them to a groomer and they "will" do this for you, okay?

Answer 9

I used to work in a groomers and we always emptied that gland before we gave them a bath. I would assume all groomers do that. Next time you take it to the vet or groomers have them do it.

Answer 10

Manual expression is needed sometimes. I have a Saint Bernard which I didnt catch in time and it became infected and ruptured through his skin. A very painful and bloody mess. Here is info on how to do it or if you prefer you can always go to your vet. I hope this helps you.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anal_sacs.html