I'm really not sure that his anal glands are the problem.
Ellie's vet felt Ellie's to ell me whether she thought they needed expressing.
They were somewhat full but not enough to worry about a problem.
They both stay about 1/3-1/2 the size of a small grape.
I can never get them to express externally (because sometimes they do smell and I know something isn't right) and I've never tried it internally.
If he did it internally and very little came out and it didn't look like infection, there may be something else going on...

And you don't sound like an idiot either.:)
You are an educated Yorkie owner who wants to learn more to help her furkids and so are the rest of us.;)

How is the constipation issue?
Next time Stedman goes to the vet, he/she would probably show you how to express the glands if you are having trouble and think there is a problem.

Brooke, I didn't read through the entire thread so you may have told what I am about to tell you.

Put your fingers at two o'clock and ten o'clock (the spot you will most likely have luck) There are times I cannot do it either and when I go to the vet, I always ask for the woman vet since they usually use their finger to go up in them to see if there is more and I would want thin fingers for these little guys.

Hi Brooke - I'm just back from vacation and catching up :). Poor Steady :(!

I totally agree with Crystal here. I don't know how this came to be in the dog world, but a lot of folks have come to think that dogs automatically need their glands expressed and they definitely don't (automatically, that is). But, they can set their dogs up for a lifetime of needing it once the vets/groomers start doing it without it being necessary (MANY groomers do it every time, without it being necessary).

Unless there is something physically wrong in the anal area -or- if they are on the wrong diet, there really is no reason the glands should not empty on their own (and/or barely fill at all really).

Isn't Steady on NV Raw? If so, his poos should be nice and hard and small - so the poo should be "pushing" against the gland and emptying them naturally. If he is on the raw and this isn't happening - then there might be something structurally going on there. If he is eating something else and his poos are a bit less than firm, then that is probably your issue there. How does his stool appear to you (if you don't mind going there)?

Anyway, don't know if any of that helped. I do hope you find something that works. We love us our Steady and I hate to think of his little tushy bothering him - you know how Marcel's tushy suffered so much as a puppy, so I feel your pain. Let me know if I can help at all. If his area is irritated (the skin red), you can always put some diaper cream on it. Give him a kiss.

this is so true. if it ain't broke, don't fix it! :D

unless there is a problem, you shouldn't just express the anal glands by hand. Dogs can do it themselves. i always tell the groomer not to do it because a lot of them will just automatically do it without asking.

I'm sorry if I missed it somewhere in this thread - but how often do the anal glands need to be....squeezed? :confused:

They *don't* - please read the 2 preceding posts. :D

omg - my groomer totally did this to darwin today, I was hesitant, but she says she does it for all the dogs. did i create a problem here, will he need to have it done all the time now? can you stop expressing them after doing it just once?

It should be fine. One time shouldn't hurt anything but unless your vet thinks it is necessary, I wouldn't let the groomer do it anymore.

Maybe it would be a good idea to call the Vet's office & have the Vet return yr call if needed. I do this all the time. They are happy to return yr call if busy with patient @the time. Since sweet Stedman may have these blockages, I would be afraid to make things worse?? Hope things get better!!

so sorry.....should have noticed the date it was posted! Thought this was going on today after taking little Stedman to the vet.

Stedman's anal glands and constipation aren't related.

In animals these glands can be expressed voluntarily and were used to "mark" their territory. Dogs have lost the ability to express them voluntarily. They get expressed by the movement of feces through their bowels. Some dogs do have problems with their glands emptying in that manner. Those dogs need to have their glands expressed.

More power to you and your hubbie... because I am scared to death as well to do this!

I have not had to do this for my yorkie but our beagle (who is very old 17) has had to have it done a few times. I don't do it though. either the vet or the groomer will do it for me. it is too :eek:scarry.

BTW Stedman's mommy I love your myspace page very cute...

Diesel has this same buldge. He doesn't scoot his butt on the floor or act like it bothers him at all. He doesn't even mess with his hinny. Just curious are your little ones fixed? Diesel isn't fixed so I wonder if this has anything to do with that buldge. I wonder if it was from him getting excited! LOL:o