Well Said Maximo;
I just wanted to add a few things as per my own experience.
Roxy had to get glands expressed every four months when I first got her. She was 15mnths old.
Every time her glands were full. I started adding a tich of oat bran to her food in the mornings.
This made a difference. For the next while, when she would be in to get her glands done, there was less. Good Thing.
and
I only added a little tich, each morning. I found that her thirst would increase. I felt it was the uncooked raw oat bran that caused this but not 100% sure.
As of late, I have totally cut out all high glycemic vegetables from Roxy's Home Cooke Diet. I also let her feed on at least 50% kibble to home cooked because I do not supplement her diet with Clacium or any other minerals or vitamins (Which is necessary if a dog is eating over 50% home cooked diet with kibble or 100% and no kibble at all)
It is important to keep the vegetable to protein ration at about 25% vegetable and 75% animal protein.
I cut out all carrots, peas and sweet potatoes. I also put Roxy on a lower glycemic kibble.
When I cook Roxy's vegetables to mix with her ground animal protein, I boil them and then I mash them. I do use measuring spoons to dole out her kibble and home cooked foods. It is crucial to get the ratios right as well as more kibble than home cooked if you are not supplementing.
Okay so the bottom line is that, since cutting out the high glycvemic vegies and increasing the animal protein, as well as the lower glycemic kibble, Roxy has not had to have her glands done. They have not even filled up and since she is typically due,. I am checking and nadda. I have NOT been feeding her any oat bran since I have switched up her diet with not more high glycemic vegies and absolutely No Grains. No brown rice and no stone ground oatmeal.
makea A Huge difference for Roxy.
I would like to add a word of precaution: Do Not Microwave your dogs Food.
Boil and drain it, well. Always mash the vegetables well before feeding.
The reason you seen whole food in the dogs elimination is because when dogs eat, they typically don;t chew, they just swallow. (Important to grind up or mash people food so to avoid choking hazard)
If you mash the peas after boiling and draining, the dog will be able to utilize the food better because through cooking and mashing, it helps with the digestion process.
Peas may be okay for your dog but not for mine since I do not feed her anymore high glycemic vegetables. Peas included.
I have never had a problem with Roxy leaking glands. Thank Goodness. If she had showed this problem I would take her in for a check up so to avoid any complications.
It is said however, that a dog will express their own glands in fear..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximo  I am an advocate of using proper diet to express glands naturally and saving manual expressing for only when it is absolutely necessary. I would discontinue manually expressing her glands after each bath. Try adding green beans or baby sweet peas to her diet to ensure firm stools with enough bulk to naturally express the glands.
Use frozen, no added salt veggies. I microwave peas in a little water and cool them down with cool water. My 7 and 8 pound boys have about half a teaspoon of peas a day. They never need their glands expressed. |