Should I learn how to drain my dog's anal glands myself or get them surgically removed?

Question

My super cool 45lb female dog feels discomfort in her rectal area until the glands just beneath that spot leak out about 1/4 cup of clear fluid. The liquid is mildly pungent but doesn't smell like feces. I don't know what the glands do. The vet says many dogs experience this and they can be surgically removed (very expensive) but I don't think surgery is good for an animal--it's very traumatic and difficult to prevent infection. The alternative is to learn how to drain them myself but that's kinda wierd to me--I didn't get her for that purpose lol. I like cuddling with my dog but not squeezing her butt. What would you do? Should I force my 9 year old step son to help out?

Answer 1

Learn to express them yourself and talk to your stepson about learning to assist you. Alternately, you can have a groomer or the vet do it for a price.

"Dog anal glands are two small glands located on either side of your dog's rectal opening. Each gland holds a small amount of a noxious smelling liquid brown substance that your pet uses as something of a doggie calling card."

"How Dog Anal Glands Are Used

Whenever your dog urinates or defecates, the anal glands receive a small amount of pressure, and a tiny bit of the fluid is released, along with your dog's custom blended scent. Your dog can also express a little of his personal essence when he meets a fellow canine. Have you ever noticed that when two dogs meet, they often raise their tails on high alert? This action applies the pressure to the dog anal glands, and this leads to the traditional butt sniffing we humans cannot seem to fathom. However, to our dogs this behavior is as normal as shaking hands when you meet someone new. By sniffing, the dogs learn to identify each other by their scents. Equate it with exchanging business cards, and you have the idea.

If you're alarmed at this point about all this expressing going on, don't be. Remember that a dog's sense of smell is light years beyond our own, so the amount of the actual expressions are minute, and you'll likely never smell anything yourself unless your dog develops an anal gland infection.
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Gland Problems and Diet

Many dogs never seem to have a problem with their anal glands, but the opportunity for infection to take hold is always there. When the anal glands are not sufficiently expressed, bacteria is given the chance to build up, and this can lead to numerous problems. Your dog can develop an infection, which if left untreated can progress into an abscess. The abscess can then rupture through the skin, leading to further complications.

It's believed that dog anal gland problems can be linked to the quality of pet food a dog receives. Inexpensive brands of dog food use a lot of cereal fillers, which tend to make soft stools. The soft stool isn't able to press firmly enough against the dog's anal glands to provide the necessary pressure to express them, and there the trouble begins. Higher quality dog foods that produce a firmer, more compact stool actually aid the expressing of dog anal glands and, therefore, may be a better food choice for your pet. "


How Dog Anal Glands Are Used

Whenever your dog urinates or defecates, the anal glands receive a small amount of pressure, and a tiny bit of the fluid is released, along with your dog's custom blended scent. Your dog can also express a little of his personal essence when he meets a fellow canine. Have you ever noticed that when two dogs meet, they often raise their tails on high alert? This action applies the pressure to the dog anal glands, and this leads to the traditional butt sniffing we humans cannot seem to fathom. However, to our dogs this behavior is as normal as shaking hands when you meet someone new. By sniffing, the dogs learn to identify each other by their scents. Equate it with exchanging business cards, and you have the idea.

If you're alarmed at this point about all this expressing going on, don't be. Remember that a dog's sense of smell is light years beyond our own, so the amount of the actual expressions are minute, and you'll likely never smell anything yourself unless your dog develops an anal gland infection.

Gland Problems and Diet

Many dogs never seem to have a problem with their anal glands, but the opportunity for infection to take hold is always there. When the anal glands are not sufficiently expressed, bacteria is given the chance to build up, and this can lead to numerous problems. Your dog can develop an infection, which if left untreated can progress into an abscess. The abscess can then rupture through the skin, leading to further complications.

It's believed that dog anal gland problems can be linked to the quality of pet food a dog receives. Inexpensive brands of dog food use a lot of cereal fillers, which tend to make soft stools. The soft stool isn't able to press firmly enough against the dog's anal glands to provide the necessary pressure to express them, and there the trouble begins. Higher quality dog foods that produce a firmer, more compact stool actually aid the expressing of dog anal glands and, therefore, may be a better food choice for your pet."

"Signs of Gland Problems

If your dog's anal glands fail to properly express, they may actually become impacted, making your dog very uncomfortable. Watch for these signs:

* Your dog begins scooting or dragging his rear across the floor.
* Your dog keeps licking or chewing near his rectum.
* Your dog's stools have become soft and mushy.

If you are noticing one or more of these signs, it may be a good idea to take your dog in for a check up with his vet. The dog anal glands may actually need to be manually expressed, a job best left to the professionals. Some professional dog groomers will also perform this procedure for you at your request.
For Die-Hard Do-It-Yourself Types

Many breeders and owners feel capable of expressing their dog's anal glands themselves. However, one should be prepared for the anal gland secretions to appear and smell quite disgusting. If you feel this is a task you are willing to perform, here are some basic directions. Please be advised, that you should only perform this procedure on your own dogs and never someone else's.

1. Prepare a warm moist washcloth.
2. Locate your dog's anal glands by raising his tail and using your other hand to feel for two lumps at approximately five and seven o'clock on either side of his anal opening.
3. Holding the cloth over his anal opening to prevent an unpleasant squirt, begin applying firm but gentle pressure to the sacs. This should cause some of the fluid to be expelled through the rectal opening, thereby emptying the glands. Wipe your dog's behind clean, and the job should be finished.

If you notice blood or pus in your dog's anal gland secretions, it is likely a sign of infection, and you should contact your vet for an appointment and treatment. "

Answer 2

All dogs (and cats) have anal glands. If her anal glands are not impacted, abcessed, etc...I wouldn't subject her to removing them. Surgery should be your last resort. Each dog is different when it comes to needing their anal glands expressed, the most common sign they show when they need it is the scooting. Some can go months, others can only go weeks before they are full. It's not a fun job doing it, but if you can get over the fact your fingers will be squeezing your dogs butt, have your vet show you :) Otherwise, your vet can do it for you whenever she needs it.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Should I learn how to drain my dog's anal glands myself or get them surgically removed?
My super cool 45lb female dog feels discomfort in her rectal area until the glands just beneath that spot leak out about 1/4 cup of clear fluid. The liquid is mildly pungent but doesn't smell like feces. I don't know what the glands do. The vet says many dogs experience this and they can be...

Answer 4

Anal glands in a dog no longer serve any purpose. It's presumed in the past it was for marking territory and such like when having a poo.
The glands usualy let out a bit of fluid when the dog pee's or poo's. Problems arise when this doesn't happen.
Does your dog show signs of discomfort? One of the main symptoms is the dog rubbing it's bum on the floor. Scooting I think it's called.
If there aren't any major problems with it's glands and the vet doesn't think surgery is necessary, then don't have it done.
You can ask the vet to show you how to do it, next time you go to get them squeezed.
Trust me, when they are being emptied, you will find the smell appalling. One of the main hates of being a vet is evacuating anal glands.

Answer 5

I wouldn't elect to have the surgery nor would I want to job of expressing her glands either.
If you don't want to do it what makes you think the 9 year would and I don't think I would trust a child to do that anyway.
Take her to the vet or groomer and have them do it.

Answer 6

Well in my opinion sometimes surgery is necessary. I think my dog has this gland aswell because he always rubs his bum on the ground to try and get rid of it. i took mine to the vet and they squeeze it. you only have to get it squeezed like every 6 months or something which your dog should be going to get its heartworm injection once a year, so your halfway there. i dont think they charge you for it. as for doing it yourself i wouldnt do it, it could endanger your dog and i think you should be more qualified and experienced with it.

all the best!

Answer 7

they do it alot of dog groomers, which will be cheaper than taking her to the vet. Just find a groomer who does it n you can get her bathed n trimmed at the same time.

Answer 8

Tell your vet to show you. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE FORCED BY A NON BLOOD RELETIVE TO SQUEEZE SOMETHINGS ANUS!