I agree to have the vet or groomer do it. It is not a pleasant thing and is most definately worth any amount of money the anal gland emptier wants to charge. LOL! The vet tried to show me how to do it to my golden once and I politely told him he could keep the job for himself. Luckily he has only had to have it done that once. Dogs are supposed to be able to empty them themselves from bowel movements and licking, however sometimes they can not.

To express or not to express?
 

See I was wondering this for one of our friends had a poodle and she said something about this gland. I told her I don't think Yorkee's has to have it done. I'm taking Teddy to the groomer for the 1st time Tue. and she said she would do it with her fee to groom him (I groom him myself but he won't let me trim his paws) so I thought well we have to have his paws trimmed for we live in Indiana and get COLD & SNOWY weather here and I don't want that all over them or my floors when we take them out. Now on the other hand Tiffy will let me (They use to be vise versa...Teddy let me and Tiffy wouldn't...LOL but my husband would help hold her and she's bigger too, we we're afraid we'd hurt Teddy legs) and she said she would express Tiffy's for $5.00...I've notice Teddy scooting across the floor too & he has NO worms either and I've never seen Tiffy scoot. Do females have to be done? Should I have her done?? Teddy is now 13.5 months old and Tiffy is 11.5 months old NEITHER has ever had this done before for I had NO idea we had to do it on Yorkees...Until Friday when I called the groomer. I guess we all learn something new everyday! Hugs, Lee

I have heard conflicting things about how often and I do when needed. I recommend
going to a vet and have a woman vet with small fingers do it. She puts her fingers
at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock and if she has to go in her fingers are narrow enough not
to case problems in their little opening.

I agree, you do not need to have this done often and these pups , I don't think would
need it. Look at their anus and if it is protruding they may need it or if they skoot
on their bottom. Otherwise I wouldn't worry.

need to express anal glands
 

Not all dogs will need to have their anal glands expressed. If their feces are firm, then when the dog defecates, the glands are squeezed as the poop passes by the glands and some of the liquid is excreted. This is the way it is supposed to happen naturally. The key to keeping healthy anal glands is to keep the feces firm....

Small dogs especially do sometimes have problem with blocked glands. One time I noticed that Edie was licking a lot back there, and then I noticed a big red bump above and to the right of her anus. I knew exactly what it was. It was anal gland that had become abcessed. We went right to the vet.

The vet put Edie under with gas and opened up the gland so it could drain. She was on antibiotics for 10 days. Oh--here is the good part---I had to put warm compresses on the area 4X a day to keep things draining. :rolleyes: But it really did not have much to drain and there was no mess or blood like the vet told me there might be. Fortunately, Edie never really seemed to be slowed down by the whole experience. She was her normal feisty self the entire time, which is one reason it took me so long to notice the problem.

The area healed up fine, and there has been no recurrence (it has been a couple of years). Edie eats dry food, and her feces stay very firm. I keep an eye out for her licking that area but so far so good.

So---I think the answer is, if things are working right, you don't need to have the glands expressed. Some dogs are prone to this and have recurring problems. If you have an older dog that has never had a problem, then you might NEVER have a problem.....Just be aware of it.

I want to thank everyone who has replied to this thread. I hadn't planned on doing this often to my dogs, only if necessary. Whatever was bothering my little Jig must have "passed" because he hasn't been scooting or biting at his bottom anymore. Maybe the explanation that as long as they have a firm BM keeps things "moving" so to speak is the answer.

I feed my dogs a combo of dry food mixed with a bit of canned. They go once or twice a day, depending on how healthy their appetite has been that day.

I figured since I was a nurse and understood basic anatomy, I could do this if the need arose. Although, I can see how it could backfire and cause problems. Hopefully, my little ones will keep regular enough that it won't become necessary.

Thanks again,
Jig, Joy and Dawn

Anal gland problems!!!

These can certainly vary. Some dogs never have a problem. Some have problems occasionally. And, some dogs have chronic problems.

Ideally, just defecating will automatically keep the anal glands clean. If not, your little dog scooting his little butt around the ground is his way of trying to clean them (and this often works too).

If he can't keep his anal glands clean on his own and you notice that he is having a problem (you can tell by their scooting their little rear ends around on the ground) --- take him to a vet.

My dogs only have occasional problems - perhaps once every year or two - and they go to the vet. I prefer going to the vet because the vet also injects something into the glands -something that helps with healing and helps treat any infection. (Perhaps this helps them have only "occasional" problems.)

---- Diet is an important part of preventing these problems. When dogs have good firm stools, they more easily express and empty these glands when they go to the bathroom. If your dog's stools aren't firm most of the time, they may need a higher fiber diet.

Good luck - Carol Jean

PS: My daugter's poor dog suffered with chronic anal gland problems for years - had to go to the vet often and endure a lot of pain having them expressed. He finally had surgery and have his glands removed.

I used to do this on our Schnauzer when she got older and I must say it is SOO worth the money to have it done for you! The smell will make you gag!!! :thumbdown I would have taken her in for it, but I groomed her and when I was younger we lived in the country so I didn't want to go all the way into town just for that.