Expelling anal glands

[harleyyorkie]

I have never had to do this. My 6 yr year old female is dragging her hiny on the carpet and when she's sitiing tossing head from side to side like she's trying to reach her bottom, is it anal glands. How do I expel them?

[Bellaandhelen]

I don't know how to do this. Mine don't usually have a problem- but the one time Bella did, my vet did it. Also, I think groomers can do it- you might either call your vet or your groomer for advice.

[jaac]

yes its her anal glands I take mine to the vet or groomer

[harleyyorkie]

Originally Posted by jaac

yes its her anal glands I take mine to the vet or groomer

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, but does anyone actually do it themselves? I really need to learn how as with five it can get pretty costly having a vet do it all the time. I groom them myself so having the groomer do it isn't an option. Anyone?

[jaac]

Your vet can show you how to do it.

[vlccairo]

I watched the vet do it to Samantha the first time and now I just do it. Fortunately, for our small babies the smell is not really too bad. Big dogs are awful! I found this description on the web. It is more or less what I do except I just use a kleenex and throw it in the toilet.

Prepare a warm moist washcloth.
Locate your dog's anal glands by raising his tail and using your other hand to feel for two lumps at approximately five and seven o'clock on either side of his anal opening.
Holding the cloth over his anal opening to prevent an unpleasant squirt, begin applying firm but gentle pressure to the sacs. This should cause some of the fluid to be expelled through the rectal opening, thereby emptying the glands. Wipe your dog's behind clean, and the job should be finished.
If you notice blood or pus in your dog's anal gland secretions, it is likely a sign of infection, and you should contact your vet for an appointment and treatment.

Vivian

[kwaymon]

Good post. I was just about to ask the same question. Thanks

[harleyyorkie]

Thank you so much, I'm going to give it a shot, hopefully they (glands) won't give me a shot!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by harleyyorkie

Thank you so much, I'm going to give it a shot, hopefully they (glands) won't give me a shot!

Be careful! I use to be a vet tech..it is not the easiest to do. Esp if it your first time.. Make sure your fingers are really really lubed up!!

[harleyyorkie]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

Be careful! I use to be a vet tech..it is not the easiest to do. Esp if it your first time.. Make sure your fingers are really really lubed up!!

Okay, what am I missing here? Why do you need fingers lubed up?

[Gigi485]

Originally Posted by harleyyorkie

Okay, what am I missing here? Why do you need fingers lubed up?

My pup has had 2 anal gland infections in the past 3 months and my vet expelled by "lubing his pointer finger" with vasoline. He then does one side at a time by inserting his finger into pups behind so that he now has one finger in and the other on the outside, then he squeezed gently and all this gross green stuff came out. I asked him if he could show me how to do it and he recommended that I leave it to the professionals cause sometimes people try doing it themselves and end up causing more damage. I didn't put up a fight, cause in my opinion, it's pretty gross anyway.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by harleyyorkie

Okay, what am I missing here? Why do you need fingers lubed up?

Well I believe you can do it without sticking your pointer finger in..but when I worked at the vet I would always use my pointer finger. Let me try to explain how I did it..

Put on gloves
lub up pointer finger- really well
stick pointer finger in bum
(I usually only have to stick it in to the first bend in finger)
once in pull the finger to the left side take thumb put thumb against bum..around where your finger is in the inside...feel for a little sack...kind of feels like a little blister size rasin..touch with pointer finger and push thumb on the outside..so your pointer inside is touching it and the thumb is touching it on the outside..then push...it should pop with a gentle push.. and watch out sometimes it will squirt you!!

Thats how I did it..if they are full they will release. If this is your first time I would highly reccomend going to the vet or groomer to have them show you the correct way. Usually a vet will show you how to do it the way I did. Most groomers will not stick fingers in!!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Gigi485

My pup has had 2 anal gland infections in the past 3 months and my vet expelled by "lubing his pointer finger" with vasoline. He then does one side at a time by inserting his finger into pups behind so that he now has one finger in and the other on the outside, then he squeezed gently and all this gross green stuff came out. I asked him if he could show me how to do it and he recommended that I leave it to the professionals cause sometimes people try doing it themselves and end up causing more damage. I didn't put up a fight, cause in my opinion, it's pretty gross anyway.

That is very true! If you don't know how to do it..you can hurt them..and if you try and they get stressed out..you can make it worse for them so when they do go to the vet to get it done they are stressed out for the tech's. Trust me a stressed out dog is hard to deal with when you are trying to stick fingers in the bum!

[Gigi485]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

That is very true! If you don't know how to do it..you can hurt them..and if you try and they get stressed out..you can make it worse for them so when they do go to the vet to get it done they are stressed out for the tech's. Trust me a stressed out dog is hard to deal with when you are trying to stick fingers in the bum!

What's your opinion on the other posters suggestion to use a warm washcloth and push from the outside only? Do you think it works just as well?

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Gigi485

What's your opinion on the other posters suggestion to use a warm washcloth and push from the outside only? Do you think it works just as well?

hmm its hard for me to say. I have never used that way. I know my groomer doesn't go inside the bum she pushes from the outside and he doesn't have any problems so I guess it works, but my honest opinion is going inside and extracting them that way.I thin it is better. I mush rather have the vet do it once a month by going inside then doing it on the outside. I will take him to the vet where I use to work and have them do it, he wont let me touch his bum and I dont want to stress him out by doing it on him, its not worth the fight. I can't even trim his nails lol I let them do it