Quote:
Originally Posted by MyFairLacy  Groomers regularly express anal glands, but I really wish they didn't. Most dogs express their anal glands naturally when they poop. I have never had Lacy's anal glands expressed, and she has never had any problems with them (she is 3 1/2 years). Anal glands should only be expressed if they become a problem...if they are full and dog can't express themselves or they become impacted. You'll notice your dog scooting it's butt if this happens. Once you start expressing them regularly, you will have to continue...and I think its dangerous...you can cause the anal sphincter to start losing tone. Plus, groomers usually do it the wrong way...squeezing from the outside. The correct way is the express from the inside. If my dog ever develops a problem with her anal glands, it will be expressed by a vet the correct way. |
Exactly.
I wouldn't let a groomer do it as part of their program.
Ellie's vet was saying that the dogs she sees with anal gland problems are the small ones the go to the groomer and get them expressed. There are always exceptions and reasons to express them but not just because it is on the list of things to do.
We even take this a step further with Ellie. Ellie scoots sometimes and she can even smell like the stuff sometimes (by her tail). The vet felt them and said they aren't that big and she wouldn't do it right now. There is a fine line between not doing it and doing it because their is a risk for impaction. So really it is between you and your vet and sadly too many vets think it's a good idea to do it routinely. They are glands. Glands want to be full. They are just going to fill right back up again anyway.