Edie had an abcessed anal gland when she was young--about 7 years ago. I caught it before it ruptured because I noticed she was licking it....it was just a big red bump when I found it, and it would have ruptured soon. The vet lanced it, drained it, and gave her antibiotics. She was fine through the whole experience, but I could tell she was having some discomfort before we went to the vet....it must have hurt.

Luckily, we never had a recurrence. Some dogs have a chronic problem with anal glands.

Sending prayers that Nikki feels better soon.

That was the reason that Truman had problems. My vet told me that it was caused by not being neutered until late in his life and was hormone driven. He had hope that the problem with possibly correct itself after his neutered but it never did and he had issues the entire time he was with me. I'm so sorry Patti that he is in so much pain. When I took Truman and they expressed his anal glands it was just so hard to watch. :( He also bled for a few days the second time it happened~not horribly but spotting for days afterward. With him the vet said that he had a tumor/growth on the gland and they were not working properly. He did really well the first time but it was worse the second time it happened. It was shortly after that he passed away. :( The gland issue was not the reason when he did but he was not comfortable is final week because of his issues. I hope that Nikki will be feeling better after his visit today.

I had a westie who had this problem they would express them, give them antibiotics. But after it happened a couple of time we removed them. This was rather brutal but did end the cylcle of them getting abcessed. Very miserable for any little one, sorry yours is not feeling his best.

Thanks. Nikki does have an anal abscess. I got a new vet as I was only able to get a cancelled appt. She was so kind and thorough. She explained everything. She took Nikki in the back and was able to flush his glands twice and put in an antibiotic. He is on a Baytril for 10 days and metacam for 4-5 for pain. No tumors were felt.He pooped just before going in so I took it in for a fecal. The whole visit was only 70.00. I thought that was pretty reasonable for all she did. Hopefully this will clear up and not happen again. Thanks for all the concern and information.

Glad to hear it was nothing more serious and that Nikki is just fine. This forum truly has an incredible amount of information.

Yes it does and that's why it's the best!!! Thanks everyone.

Wow! Very good! So glad she was able to work on him without putting him under. Good vet.

I bet Nikki feels much better now! It's so scary when these seniors get sick.

Yes, she said that when they do this if the dog gets to stressed they abort mission and use an anesthetic. With Nikki's age she said she wouldn't put him out she would just try the oral antibiotics if he couldn't tolerate the flushings. So glad she was able to. She said Nikki was so brave. She fed him a treat and broke it up in to pieces for him. I am so happy to have another great vet where I go.

I'm so glad that Nikki will be okay. It's so scary when medical issues happen with our babies. I bet he will heal very quickly. Also glad to hear you like this new vet. It's always good to have a back up vet to turn to! Hugs to you...try to relax today and have a nice day!

Patti, I'm so sorry you and Nikki had to experience this, but grateful you shared as my 5 y/o boy Bijou just had the same thing happen to him. He never dragged his butt and I just bathed him last night and all seemed well. This afternoon I came home and his butt felt like it had poo on it so I shampooed the hair on his backside. When I dried under his tail he screamed! I looked and the area was red and swollen and was draining! I was mortfied and called my vet. It was 5:00 pm, but they said to bring him in and they would work him in. The vet looked and said that she would take him to the treatment room and shave the area so she could better inspect. When she came back with him she said that the abscess was open so half her job was already done. She irrigated the area with an antiseptic solution and sent him home on oral antibiotic and pain medicine. I was charge 85.00 which I thought was reasonable, being seen on an emergent basis and all. I can't believe he didn't complain until it was to the point of bursting. Like I said, I bathed him last night, butt and all. I didn't feel anything unusual and he didn't cry when I did it. I hope he starts feeling better soon....I can't STAND knowing he's in pain. It looks awful and he's just laying around looking pitiful. :(