Anal Glands in Springer health and feeding Forum

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Heather P

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Posts: 4118

Mar 25 12 5:45 AM

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Has anyone got any good tips for helping with anal glands without actually touching the dog?

I think Bella's anal glands could becoming a problem, they aren't bothering her yet but she was a bit smelly last night and I'm beginning to panic that a vets trip could be necessary.

Bella has a severe phobia of the vets and having her tail touched - I am not sure that the vet, me or Bella would survive her having them emptied and if we did there would be no way on this earth I would get her to set paw in the vets ever again (its a struggle now).

So I was wondering if anyone could recommend anything to give her to eat that might help her empty them naturally.

Heather
& Jack & Bella (my supurb Springers)
& Ginger & Kitty (my perfect pussy cats)
& Andy (OH)

www.syessr.co.uk
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue

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jaynedogs

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Posts: 2893

Mar 25 12 6:16 AM

Pops my springy, has had anal gland problems ( full) Would a groomer be able to help? My vet nurse has checked Poppys before now, and would empty them if needed. I don't think my vet deals with this.

GillyB

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Mar 25 12 8:14 AM

Raw bones I'd say, firms up the poop and then the extra pressure as it comes out empties the glands naturally .... Or so I'm told

AmyG

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Posts: 3386

Mar 25 12 10:02 AM

Bones, or some bran to bulk up her food and hope she can empty them. Gross though it is, perhaps don't stop her scooting if she does because she might manage to do them herself.

penderyn

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Mar 25 12 10:58 AM

yes its the roughage that bulks up the poo and then the secretions from the anal glands are used to help the poo slide out (had your lunch yet?), so if she's been a bit loose or runny, anal glands nor doing their job and become impacted...thats the problem, being impacted and then infected

Groomers do the job

, but the only other way wld be mild sedative OR if it gets really bad, cld vettie come to you, bit more expensive but less anxiety provoking along with the sedative to calm her.
The main thing is to get the job done gently so the poor little girl is ok but also them being impacted is painful, so try roughage first and plenty of water to flush system through, if poss...good luck

Izzie

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Posts: 5383

Mar 25 12 11:22 AM

You can try a numb e of things

bones
bran
cabbage/sprouts/etc

Harvey123

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Posts: 1103

Mar 25 12 12:36 PM

Its interesting that Win needs his anal glands emptied every 2 months and yet his poo is lovely(!)

It is never sloppy or soft and is easy to pick up, just the perfect sort of poo really!

In fact, my family think I am batty because I study poo! You can tell a lot from poo.....

spaniel fan

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Springaholic

Posts: 84

Mar 25 12 4:09 PM

one of mine struggles with it, he has good poos but clearly not good enough and I have tried allsorts to no avail.
I am lucky that he is ok having them to be emptied, it doesn't hurt him. He is the first dog I've had with this problem but the vet seems to think it is just one of those things. sorry I'm not being very helpful but trying to get her used to being 'messed with' at the backend could be very useful.

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Heather P

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Posts: 4118

Mar 25 12 4:23 PM

Will try more bones, she does have chicken wings/legs as treats but will give her a few more.

She is really odd about her back end and I have spent hours trying to get her used to it but to no avail. She doesn't really like being touched at all, she will let you fuss her but only if your hands are moving as soon as you slow down or pause she either runs of or if she can't gets a worried look on her face and then will begin panting etc. This applies to brushing, picking bits out of her coat, looking in her ears etc but the absolute no no is touching her tail and to lift if up to empty her glands would send her into orbit. The last time she was ill (and she was really ill, laying around, no energy to walk etc etc) the vet couldn't even take her temperature as she turned into a wild thing (he decided that if she couldn't move about that much she wasn't about to pop her clogs).

Heather
& Jack & Bella (my supurb Springers)
& Ginger & Kitty (my perfect pussy cats)
& Andy (OH)

www.syessr.co.uk
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue

user posted image

jennifer

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Springaholic

Posts: 131

Mar 25 12 8:35 PM

i have had a lot of trouble with my girls annal glands,she was constantly emptying them,on the furniture,the vet managed to empty them totally and then she had antibiotics as they were infected,she has large solid poo,and has raw chicken wings for her breakfast,but it made no difference to her glands.the vet suggested hot clothes placed just under the tail frequently during the day can help them empty themselves,

Harvey123

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Mar 25 12 10:21 PM

Oooh er hot cloths under the tail! The mind boggles

Win loves the vets but still clamps his tail (what there is of it) over his bot when we get to that moment!!!

That's awful emptying them on the furniture

How do you manage?

Heather P

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Posts: 4118

Mar 25 12 11:14 PM

QUOTE (Harvey123 @ March 25, 2012 10:21 pm)

Oooh er hot cloths under the tail! The mind boggles

Bella would completely freak out.

Luckily she hasn't been emptying them on furniture

Heather
& Jack & Bella (my supurb Springers)
& Ginger & Kitty (my perfect pussy cats)
& Andy (OH)

www.syessr.co.uk
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue

user posted image

jennifer

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Springaholic

Posts: 131

Mar 26 12 1:58 PM

we have washable covers with throws over them,and it has been a case of constantly putting them in washer,the antibiotics seem to have done the trick ,4 weeks without a problem,and Mae didn't mind a hot cloth on her bum,just gave me a look of she is doing it again

Harvey123

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Mar 26 12 6:44 PM

That is priceless! I think I know that look

I do wonder they are so very patient with us

jude

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Posts: 547

Apr 3 12 2:19 PM

We've just returned from yet another visit to the vets to have Buffy's glands done! So hope the following helps!

Buffy's had anal gland problems from about 1 year, I think. She's been on RMB/Barf diet since 5 months as she was allergic to commercial dog food.

She doesn't scoot like a lot of other dogs do, so the only sign I get that we have a problem is persistent licking.

Whilst the problem doesn't seem to go away, she gets a longer time between episodes by ...

1. A spoonful of porridge (soaked in water) every day. The vet's just suggested we up this to twice a day.
2. Greens. She has broccoli or spinach etc every day.
3. After every expressing, she has silica for a week to help the healing.

Also my vet told me this morning, watch out for diarrhea. She said that this can sometimes be a clue to the onset of the problem.

Hope this helps

Jude & Buffy
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