Anal gland issues Hi. I am asking this question about a small Yorkie, about three to four pounds who belongs to a neighbor. She is around eight years old. About two weeks ago I saw the dog trying to poop many times in the local park. I talked to the owner and said I thought he should take her to the vet. He said the dog had been like this for two days. He did so and we was told to give her food with more fiber in it. The vet did examine the dog and express the anals. This he did, but after another day or two, still the same problem. The dog seemed her normal self and was eating!! But I suggested he see the vet again. After about a week the vet gave the dog antibiotics. After a week on them, I saw this morning that the dog could still not poop. Although again, she seemed well! I talked with the owner and he said he was waiting for the ABs to work but would take the dog back to the vet soon. I feel that there must be something wrong with the dog and wonder if anyone here can comment and perhaps suggest what might be going on? I hope that the owner is not doing what is needed perhaps due to cost, but hope not. He seemed resigned to the fact that the dog was probably going to die!!! I asked if the vet said that, but he said no, it was his thought! I am amazed that the poor little dog seems so well and not in pain etc. Thank you. |
Below is the link to an article about constipation in this angelic breed. Yorkie Constipation | Yorkshire Terrier Information Center I'm not a vet and haven't seen the dog, but I did have a vet express the glands of my late little Katy girl a few times in the last year of her life. Katy never had impacted glands but she did swing between periods of mushy-pooh-pooh and borderline constipation a couple of times. At the suggestion of Katy's vet, we did add pumpkin* to her diet. This is also a recommendation in the linked article. Hope this helps. *NOT pie filling! Use just plain, unsweetened canned pumpkin. |
Thank you for the reply, link and pumpkin advice. I will inform the owner. I am so concerned as it has been so long now. It is possible that the dog is pooping and isn’t seen. But I have observed the poor dog trying to poop many times without success. I wonder if it has some kind of growth in or near the anals? If so, the ABs might not help. |
Again, I'm not a vet, etc., etc. Assuming the vet there expressed the glands the same way as Katy's vet, it was done internally--a very "hands on" procedure. At least I would suspect that a growth nearby would have been detected. After each procedure, I was always given a run down (usually in great detail). Katy was never impacted, nor was there ever any indication of a related infection that might have triggered the prescription for antibiotics. |
Anals Thanks again. I think it was an internal expression as well, so hopefully there was no growth. It is a mystery to me that the dog is still not able to go and yet seems so normal in other ways! Being so small I am concerned for her though. When her owner said she was going to die, that really upset me. I certainly will keep an eye on her from now on. Sorry you lost your little Katy. |
Sounds like constipation not anal glads and the vet should be looking at that not just the anal glads. If the dog doesn't poo though then death could happen. |
Rear end issue! Thanks Taylor, the dog sure is constipated, and it could be just that or something else. I thought an enema would be in order as it would be in humans for severe and lengthy constipation? The good news is that the dog seems ok in other ways. |
Wow. If this poor dog really *cannot* poop, then yes - eventually it will progress to very serious trouble bc the feces will back up further and further into the intestine - and I mean it can and will back WAY up...as far as it needs to go. And when it sits up there for an extended time, it becomes very dry and very hard -- and eventually an enema cannot reach it. It will become an impaction. If this dog cannot poop, there is most definitely something wrong here. Poor, poor baby :(. My guess is that the Vet is probably suggesting way more be done here (like a scope..?) and perhaps the owner doesn't want to pursue it....? |
Thank you Ann. I agree with your thoughts. I have a feeling that your last sentence is probably correct and the owner may not have wished to pursue it. I know he was complaining about vet costs!!! We shall see! I do so hate to see the poor little mite trying to go poop over and over again. I am still amazed how cheerful the dog seems in spite of all this. So different from we humans! |
Update on anals I saw the dog this am and she looks her normal self. Owner said the dog is on prescription food and is pooping now, but only in small amounts so far. All tests were normal and the dog seems to be doing well. The owner did not know the reason for the issue, so I guess we will never know. I am writing so that all interested will know the dog survived and is well. Thanks for all your help and comments. |
Good news. Thanks. |
Thanks for the update. |
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