Impacted/Infected Anal Gland
 

Today was Brody's day to get surgery, not something I could even fret or worry about . . .I'm not even sure how this all came about . . he's pooping fine and has never had a problem . . .he even had a bath on Sunday and there was nothing there . . .

We got up this morning and when I went to lift Brody out of bed he yelped when I touched his butt. After inspection, he had a very swollen, very painful looking anal gland . . .:eek: My first thought was . . .where the heck did that come from . . .I'm always inspecting for any poop that might of become stuck . . .it just shocked me to see it . . .then I was like . .. ok, when was the last time prior to his bath I looked at his butt . . .:confused: So needless to say, I called the vet and they had me come in . . while we were waiting, the gland ruptured . . .when the vet came in he said that Brody would have to stay and have it lanced and drained . . .:eek:

Now we are back home and he has a cream, an antibiotic and a pain relief and I have to use a warm compress and antiseptic on it as well . . .

So now I have two babies that had surgery this week . . .I've had a really bad week! :( I'm still trying to figure out how in the world does a lancing of an anal gland cost more than a spay? It just doesn't make any kind of sense . . .:confused:

My poor Brody . . .:(

I am sorry to hear this, I am glad that you got poor Brody in when you did. It sounds like he will be ok. I was suprised when you said the anal gland lance cost more then a spay:eek:.

Do you regularly express the anal glands, this use to be thought to be a needed grooming procedure, but many groomers and vets are rethinking this practice. If not done properly, expressing the anal glands may push the contents further up the canal causing an impaction. Although some dogs have a problem that've never had the glands expressed. Some people suggest adding a little more fiber to the diet can help with natural empting of the glands. So sorry your baby went through this, but you are so lucky to have caught this in time, I've read other threads where the dog had to have very invasive surgery after glands became impacted, and glands had to be removed.

Yeah, me too! I figured about $150 tops . . .but it was $376.00 with all the meds and they charged me $60 for the vet visit and $30 for a cage . . Rhianna's spay was $254.00 and that included her pre-op blood work and pain meds and everything . . .

Unless they charged me for an emergency (the bill doesn't reflect that) or maybe it's because it wasn't a scheduled surgery . . .I have no idea . . .:confused:

But hopefully he'll be ok . . .now it's just an open wound . . .:(

Thank you.

I've never done it . . .it's best, IMO, for a professional to do it . . .I couldn't imagine doing that . .. just hearing him this morning practically scream was enough for me . . .the poor guy was in pain . . .:(

So how does it look now?

The Same thing happen to my Keanu but didn't need surgery because it was draining out and was send home just like you with those med and instruction. The only thing the vet said in was going to be draining for 1 wk so to follow up in 2 wks. It all healed up fine.

It looks like an open wound . . .smaller than a pencil eraser . . .and he's not too happy about it . . .he's still kind of weirded out from the local anesthetic . . .he keeps giving me the evil eye. . .;) Not sure why it was lanced after it was already ruptured, but the vet said it had to be done, and since I trust him fully (he's been our family vet for 22 years) I signed my life away on it . . .so hopefully it'll heal well . . .we are going back in on Thursday so they can see how it looks . . .

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry about Brody! Poor guy, I'm sure he's sore! I'm glad he's going to be ok though. I've never had anything like that!
This hasn't been the best week for us has it! Thank goodness it's just about over!
Wow, you are close to what Camden's hernia surgery, dental clean & all the meds cost us if u combine Brody & Rhianna's bills!
So it's been a bad & expensive week!
Keep us posted about him!!

Poor baby, that had to hurt!! Hope you have a better week coming up!!

Awww....poor guy....OUCH!

Don't beat up yourself though, this very thing happened with a friend's Maltese. Same thing, she didn't notice until one morning...Boom!...there it was. Her dog had to have surgery also, she didn't say and I didn't ask how much, but I'm sure it wasn't cheap, she lives in the Houston area.

POOR little guy ! That must have really freaked you out - knock on wood I've never even had to do my 2 but know from my cocker expressing the glands sometimes has to be done ....I only let my vet do it - and only the one time but it wasn't fun....

but to be infected is a different story - he really must be in pain - I'm so glad he's back home on on the mend

All the best with both of them - I hope each starts to feel better quickly

Thank you! I hope he recovers as quickly as Rhianna has. He's still in pain, and I've warm compressed with the antiseptic twice already . . .he's due for his pain meds soon . . .I feel so bad for him . . .when I was doing the compress he actually tried to bite me which is not like him at all! He's giving me the dirtiest looks as if to say "go ahead lady, try it and see what happens" :eek:

Right now, he's being babied . . .hand fed, little dixie cups of water . . .he doesn't really want to walk around much . . .he actually whimpered for me to come and get him from off the couch . . .I'm hoping tomorrow he'll be feeling better . . .

Poor Brody. We are so sorry you are in so much pain. Maybe Mommy can have a little treat in her hand when she puts the compress on you. We really hope that you feel better soon. :(

OMG, the poor baby, he must really hurt. I hope he feels better real soon. May next week be uneventful at your house.

I am hoping for the same!!