Please help me understand what I did wrong?
 

Yesterday while getting ready for work, Kodak wasn't up and ready to go out as usual. He was sulking around and when I called him to go out he hesistated. Once he finished outside, I noticed he kept trying to lick/scratch his rear end. When we came back in, I picked him up and noticed a round pink patch. Now, last year he was scooting his butt on the floor which created a similiar pink patch. I took him to the vet and they told me his glands needed squeezing. I read about this in my yorkie book, and it suggested the groomer squeeze them before cleaning him. My groomer told me that she doesn't do that because she feels it is not needed. :confused: So on her advice, I never got it done, but once the vet explained it to me, I understood a little better. That healed and now this time it is a large patch almost like a ringworm.
I had my daughter take him to the vet as I had to go to work. She called me and said they gave him a antibiotic shot and to give him a 1/2 tablet of Lincocin(?) 2x's a day. The also said to press a warm compress daily. The vet said if it didn't clear up in a week, he may have a gland infection and surgery may be needed. I tear up when I look at him, because he just lays down and looks so sad. What did I do wrong to create this, and what do you all suggest so it won't happen again. He eats Royal Canin, he won't eat any soft food, and he has treats. Is this something he's eating, please help me understand more. I am on my way to speak to the vet as I am off today. I will be back to check your replies later. Thanks for any advice.

I am so sorry he is not feeling well. I don't think you did anything wrong some dogs just nee there glands done and others don't I hope he is feeling better soon.:(

I'm so sorry to hear that your baby isn't feeling well. I sure do hope he gets well soon! Another YT member was talking the other day about anal gland problems her yorkie was having. Look at this thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...highlight=Joey

Hope it is helpful! You can PM the person who started the thread and ask her more questions if you have any that you think she may be able to answer. Please let us know what the vet says when you get back!

This happened with my mom's maltese. SHe had a huge hard knot. My mom had me take her to do the care on her since she worked such long days. I put warm compresses on several times a day and that made it fester up. It looked like a huge pimple (YUCK sorry) and then it popped, drained a bit and healed up. It took about 3 days for it to fester up and then about two weeks before the bump was all gone. I'm sorry this happened but you are not a bad mommy. Small breed dogs can have problems cleaning out their anal glands on their own.

While your groomer was partially right, (usually dogs can empty their anal glands on their own mainly while going number two) some smaller dogs have more trouble with this especially if they have softer stool and do require help expressing their anal glands. When the glands arent expressed they can become compacted and infection can occur. My groomer always checks Pete's anal glands when we take him in, their's also alot of info on the web about how to do it yourself. I hope your baby feels better soon:)

I feel so sorry for your baby, It seems like your dog is going to have to have his glands checked more often and you might ask the vet to teach you how to empty them yourself. Your groomer should have done this for you but this is something you can take responsibility for and do yourself. Some dogs need this done every week and some never need it done, but now you know your dog has a problem with its glands, so it is up to you to make sure you keep an eye on them. If it gets to be to much there is a surgery the vets can do to take them out , but I can tell you the vets hate to do this surgery. I am not sure why, but I will ask the next time I talk to my vet. I am thinking the space and the place makes this a difficult operation.

I have found this only gets worse with age, so I suggest you learn how to empty the glands yourself, it is not hard at all.

Owner
Best Friends Pet Salon
Salem Oregon

You did absolutely nothing wrong! Some dogs are just prone to this.

Knowing now that your pup has problems with this, you can do a couple of things in the future - 1) ask your vet if you should bring Kodak in regularly to have his glands checked. If so, how often? 2) as soon as you see Kodak scooting or excessively licking his rearend, you can take him to the vet.

I expect your groomer doesn't think it's necessary because she dislikes doing it (the smell is pretty awful).

Please check out my previous thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...highlight=Joey
like RCL suggested. My Vet gave me some great information. You are lucky that he gives you a sign, scooting, noticeable. I didn't have any signs at all and I always check Joey since the very first time it burst. IF you should have to have them removed, be sure your Vet is experienced in this type of surgery. They have to be very careful not to get into the muscle, or there can be serious problems when they have to "go." The muscles are what helps push it out and you don't want them damaged.

Thank you for the replies, everyone on this site is so helpful and it's comforting gaining so much information. I went in and read yorkie3's thread and it was very informative with a lot of the same things the vet told me this morning. I wish your lil Joey well after surgery. Kodak goes back in a week to see if the spot softens and there's no serious infection. They told me to keep giving him the tablets until gone. He keeps chewing this tiny pill, then when I think he's swallowed it, it's hanging off the hair on his mouth. I had to literally stick it in his mouth so it would go down with him spitting it out:( He didn't fight me, but it was hard to open his mouth. I don't want him to think I am trying to hurt him.

Any suggestions on how to get him to take this pill? And he keeps licking the bald spot where they gave him the shot. Can I cover that with something or just leave it?

When I give a ill to mine I wrap it up in american cheese and they always take it

we do this too

yep us too works lke a charm :)

Hmm, cheese you say?
 

Ok, the american cheese is something I can handle, but now my mother is saying that's a dairy product. She says dogs can't have milk, cheese or eggs. I am still going to try the cheese and not tell her. I will take a tiny piece and stick the pill on it. Thanks for the tip.

They can definately have a little cheese and eggs. I wouldn't give milk though.

That's how we do it!!:)

i havent read all the replies so far, but i do know that if you add a little pumpkin to their diet it will firm up the stool. regular canned plain pumpkin not the kids you put in pie, but plain, this is the reason anal glads get like that, their stool isnt firm enough to express them.i add yogurt to max and sams food everynight and this also helps. id try the pupkin for a few days after he gets done with the meds. ive had to do this with max once and i expect i will have to do it again. its a easy cheap solution to the problem.

also cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese are all actually good for dogs. yogurt helps alot with the intestines, it breaks down food. both of my dogs get it every morning for breakfast with their kibble. they both get sliced cheese as a treat after a bath. it will not hurt them unless they are alergic to dairy!

It sounds like you didn’t do anything wrong. You did the best you could with the information you had. I know people who never mess with their dog’s glands and they’re fine. Some dogs are more prone to certain things.

I agree with the other TYer. It sounds like your groomer would rather not empty the glands so said it wasn’t necessary. I imagine it’s not the most pleasant job. Ginger gets hers done at the groomers every 6 weeks, whether she needs it or not.

I hope your baby is better soon. And if the cheese thing doesn’t work, try a glob of peanut butter. It’s a little easier to hide it in there. :)

Just this afternoon I took our new addition Kenzi to the vet because she was scratching and scooting across the floor. Well, it was her anal glands that needed expressing. Vet simply put on a pair of gloves, squeezed the behind area, and gasped when he saw how much they need this. He suggested that dogs that don't have enough fibre in their diet sometimes have trouble with the glands and suggested the canned pumpkin or even sprinkling a little Metamusil on their food. What a coincidence I read this thread.
Hope your little baby is feeling better soon.

My dog will be five and she is a little one at three pounds too. She has never had hers expressed. I have never taken her to a groomer either, so I know this has never been done for her.

You did nothing wrong. No one can generalize. Some yorkies need this done and some never will. Why do some people develop hemmorhoids? I wouldn't have a groomer do it anyway. Some of them can't even give a dog a decent haircut. Why would you risk something this important? You need to consult with your vet and don't feel guilty. Now you know what to watch for and how to handle it. I hope little Kodak feels better and doesn't run into this again.

There is no doubt that some little dogs have more problems with their anal glands than others.

I have never had a dog with bad problems and only took mine to the vet if I noticed that they might be having problems --- which was probably not even once a year.

It hurts to have their anal glands expressed, and I have never approved of letting groomers do this prophylactically.

As far as diet - dry dog food and a high fiber diet is best. These form more solid stools - and these are what continuously keep the anal glands secreted naturally.

My vet told me that some dogs have almost continuous problems and other dogs almost never have any problems at all. So - you'll just have to treat your dog accordingly. If he/she ever starts dragging his little behind on the grass or floor - it's time to get him checked. Sometimes, a dog can express their own anal glands by doing this.

My dogs rarely have a problem - but I keep a watchful eye on them.

PS: You didn't do anything wrong. This is just one of those things we learn more about as we go along....


Carol Jean

We put our pills in a spoonful of peanut butter, they never even realize the pill was there....and they love it1

Actually some dairy products are okay to give them. I give Ferdinand cottage cheese every day for the protein as the Natural/Wholesome food I give him suggest the extra protein until 9 months of age.

I don't know that I'd do the peanut butter as it's high in fat, and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis - but maybe I'm just paranoid.

Our Vet recommended the peanut butter.

I'm sorry, but I don't think your groomer is very well versed on toy dogs. It is not her call if the dogs need it or not, it is your vets. It is true that some do not need it all the time, but if they appear to be swollen, they do need it, and a good groomer should be aware of that. I have one that needs it every time I bathe him, and another that only has it done once every few years, but not all are the same, and if let go too long they can become impacted and require surgery. Your vet should check them every time you take your baby in for a check up.

Thanks for the info....
 

Thank you all for the replies, and concerns, I thought It was something I was feeding or not feeding him. My mind is at ease knowing I did not do anything wrong. What type of yogart do I need to feed him, and the cheese has been working when the pill. He likes peanut butter but I was told by "grandma" that would clog him up, so I stopped giving it to him. I would put a little on my finger for him to lick off, and she would start with the old wives tales.:rolleyes:
I thank you all and I'm glad I was browsing one day and found the link to this yorkietalk site. :animal36