i know this sounds disguisting but does anyone know how to drain a dogs anal glands?

Question

my vet showed me how a couple months ago but i just kinda want a refresher course lol i know the general idea but i just want confirmation. the vet said it was perfectly safe for me to do it and since she has been my pugs vet since they were born i trust her.

Answer 1

There are 2 ways to express anal glands, internally and externally. Leave the internal procedure to your veterinarian. This is dangerous and painful.

External cleansing of the gland is easy. Check the anal area as follows, before the bath.
(I always look when clipping the anal area with a #10 blade)

1.Have someone hold the dog's head or restrain with a loop on your grooming table or tub.
2.With the dog standing, lift upward on the base of the tail firmly.
3.Examine the anal area. Below the rectum at 5 and 7 o'clock are the 2 glands. Feel this area with the tips of you index finger and thumb. If they are swollen, they can be expelled.
4.Place a paper towel, tissue or baby wipe covering the area to catch the secretion.
5.Gently press below this swelling, inward and upward toward the rectum. You should see anal fluid excrete from the rectum. You can increase pressure until nothing comes out.

This fluid can be white, tan, brown, black or bloody. It can be watery, granular, like pudding or dough. Guaranteed it will smell horrible. Also be warned that it can ooze out slowly or expel explosively on you and your surroundings.

Signs that the dog needs to see a veterinarian:

1.Blood in the secretion
2.A hole in the skin from one of the glands. This is an abscessed anal gland that has ruptured.

In the second case, don't groom the dog, call the owner and refer them to a vet immediately.

When should you expel the gland?

1.The customer says the dog's been scooting (dragging is rear)
2.When you notice very swollen glands.

When asked by a client to routinely express the gland, I reply that I will check it. Routine cleansing is not effective and can actual cause problems. (Also see explanation below)

When I've found it necessary to express the glands, I tell the client to expect the dog to lick or scoot for a day or so. If the irritation lasts longer, it may need a second cleaning.

Good luck and good grooming.
Peggy

http://dogcarebasics.com/dog_grooming_anal_glands.shtml

Answer 2

I would let the vet do it, I used to have a dog that had an anal gland problem and we just took a quick trip to the vet. I ended up correcting the problem completely by switching dog food. The one we had been feeding her was too rich and causing her anal glands to fill up. I don't know if your problem is the same, but you could try switching foods, then no one has to drain the glands.

Answer 3

I always do it when they are in the tub getting a bath. I take their tail and raise it up pointing AWAY from me! then I place my thumb and fore finger on each side of the anus. Squeeze gently and the stuff will squirt out. Then I wash the butt area with soap and water and rinse. Tada...it's done.

Oh...and I usually hold my breath when I do it cause it doesn't smell very good at all!!

Answer 4

make sure you get some gloves as this can be messy, and do it outside on the grass where you can spray it down afterwords. It always works best wtih two people because dogs can wriggle around. it is gross but necessary and you can do it yourself without the vet, at least we always did.

Answer 5

We have our Vet. do it since the results are awful if it is done wrong. You can rupture the glands. Our groomer doesn't do it since they have had to pay too many customers for the ruptures.

Answer 6

typically you place your fingers outside the rectum at approx. 4 and 7'oclock positions and gently squeeze. sometimes they need to be drained by a vet though, they will go internally and do it

Answer 7

yes, but if you have never done it before and dont know what your doing, for the first time take baby to vet, he will show you how it is done correctly and safely, if you do it wrong, you can permantley harm the dogs rectum.....

Answer 8

Here you go. Bookmark this and you will have your refresher whenever you need it.

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/dog-grooming-basics-glands.htm