Anal gland issue - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BlueBelle · 01-13-2011, 05:38 PM

I have taken in a year old female who was not purchased from the breeder as she has pretty bad conformation issues. She looks like a dachsund in a Yorkie suit. She is very sweet and a happy girl. I have just 1 complaint- she seems to release her anal glands all the time. I always express them with her bath and just very little comes out. Within about 24 hrs of a bath she is kind of greasy on her butt and she smells like that icky gland smell.
It is not real pleasant to have her sit on my lap which is her spot of choice.

I think there really isn't anything can be done about it, but I was just hoping someone here might have a suggestion. HELP

Britster · 01-13-2011, 06:24 PM

I don't really have any suggestions and am actually curious about this. Jackson does not release anything all the time but whenever he is really scared (i.e. sitting on Santa's lap at Petsmart), his anal glands leak and it smells! This is all started when I took him to Petsmart to get his nails done and I will never do that again. He FLIPPED out and expressed his glands... and now in any situation where he is super scared like that, he will express them! So I'm curious. He has no troubles otherwise.

I've heard that if the poop is very firm and hard, it can help, so sometimes diet comes into play. I don't have any other suggestions.

brendarash · 01-13-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britster

I don't really have any suggestions and am actually curious about this. Jackson does not release anything all the time but whenever he is really scared (i.e. sitting on Santa's lap at Petsmart), his anal glands leak and it smells! This is all started when I took him to Petsmart to get his nails done and I will never do that again. He FLIPPED out and expressed his glands... and now in any situation where he is super scared like that, he will express them! So I'm curious. He has no troubles otherwise.

I've heard that if the poop is very firm and hard, it can help, so sometimes diet comes into play. I don't have any other suggestions.

I do not have any problems with them releasing them but not being able to and they have to be done for them. My julie has a terrable time and has to have them done every few months. Britt, I can understand poor Jackson getting scared about that Santa.LOL

Maximo · 01-13-2011, 07:41 PM

I am an advocate of using proper diet to express glands naturally and saving manual expressing for only when it is absolutely necessary. I would discontinue manually expressing her glands after each bath. Try adding green beans or baby sweet peas to her diet to ensure firm stools with enough bulk to naturally express the glands.

Use frozen, no added salt veggies. I microwave peas in a little water and cool them down with cool water. My 7 and 8 pound boys have about half a teaspoon of peas a day. They never need their glands expressed.

lillymae · 01-13-2011, 07:52 PM

Sometimes they will fill up quickly after they are expressed if they are infected. I have one with seasonal allergies who does this during allergy season and I can empty them in the A.M. and by night they are full again so it can also be allergy related.

BlueBelle · 01-14-2011, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

I am an advocate of using proper diet to express glands naturally and saving manual expressing for only when it is absolutely necessary. I would discontinue manually expressing her glands after each bath. Try adding green beans or baby sweet peas to her diet to ensure firm stools with enough bulk to naturally express the glands.

Use frozen, no added salt veggies. I microwave peas in a little water and cool them down with cool water. My 7 and 8 pound boys have about half a teaspoon of peas a day. They never need their glands expressed.

I will try the veggies, Bellas stools are quite firm as I feed Orijen, so maybe they are too firm. I can understand the fear factor in releasing the glands and she is a bit wary around kids as she has never had any experience with them at the breeders. She and my other girl, Sophie, play wild and crazy chasing & wrestling games but they are equally matched and Bella is usually coming out on top.
Thanks for the input.

LaurenPatrice · 01-14-2011, 07:37 AM

My remy had a lot of problems as a young pup with his anal glands. He went to the vet because his anal glands were very full and he could not express them. The vet said to express them manually every other day for a week then stop. He said you do not want to make it a habit to express them manually on a regular basis. Because it will stop the natural process of the dog expressing them with their stools. Like stated above, a change in diet so the stools are harder helps. I've never heard of one "leaking" all the time like that, it may be because she is getting her glands expressed manually too much. I hope this problem clears up for you.

Maximo · 01-14-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBelle

I will try the veggies, Bellas stools are quite firm as I feed Orijen, so maybe they are too firm. I can understand the fear factor in releasing the glands and she is a bit wary around kids as she has never had any experience with them at the breeders. She and my other girl, Sophie, play wild and crazy chasing & wrestling games but they are equally matched and Bella is usually coming out on top.
Thanks for the input.

With Orijen, I'm sure the stools are firm enough, but probably not large enough to express the glands. Try the veggies. Doesn't take much of either the beans or the peas to bulk up the stools.

BlueBelle · 01-14-2011, 03:36 PM

I gave them some peas tonight and I tossed them like treats and they both love, loved, loved them. They actually got competitive trying to get them. We will see if they help the situation. Thanks for all the good advice.

Ellie May · 01-14-2011, 09:19 PM

If it only happens the day after you express them, then just stop unless there is a problem. For those who can't take the issue anymore (if they are getting infected or constantly emptying at bad times), removal is an option (although I know most people on YT wouldn't be big fans of that).

kjc · 01-15-2011, 07:22 AM

This is so odd... I describe Tinkerbell as a dachshund in a Yorkie suit too! On her card at the Humane Society it was stated she had Anal Gland issues... ??? When I inquired about her, they said she had been adopted out twice and returned

and that she would need to have her glands expressed 2x week.

We took her to the vet, before going home, and lucked out as the previous owner used the same vet so we were able to piece some of her history together. She had been recently spayed, and the vet recalled the lady had called her numerous times complaining (and crying) about the anal glands leaking, and was at her wits end. Hence her return to the HS.

We took her home and let her settle in. I began to evaluate her behavior, as I knew animals involuntarily release their anal glands as a response to fear or sudden excitement, in addition to when they have a BM. She was previously in a home with 5 children, ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old.
Tink was very active, actually too active. All she wanted to do was play. I played with her for a bit, and noticed her level of excitement kept escalating, and she knew to bite the hand that held the toy to get it. I was beginning to get an idea of what I was up against. So far though, no anal gland issues.

First, I needed to work on her excitement and biting issues. At the level of excitement she was reaching, I would expect the glands to release. So I began teaching her that down time was good too. Just holding her in my lap and having her be calm. It took a few months, but now she'll come to either one of us seeking to be held and cuddled with. The biting came under control and she practices bite inhibition while playing now, but the most effective thing I did with her was to cut off the playtime before her excitement became so elevated that she would lose control.

We have had her now for close to 2 years, and I have only had to express her anals 2 times, and never witnessed hers leaking or self expressed. Possibly behavior modification (limiting playtime), exercise (walks) and diet changes could have helped, IDK. I do add string beans for additional fiber to their food. I wonder also if it was something that occured bc of her spay surgery and then resolved on it's own. She also had two courses of antibiotics for UTIs and I put her on probiotics and a better diet early on (within two months of getting her).

I don't know if any of this helps you in your situation, I hope it does. Also, a tip: Dental solution on a cotton ball can be used as a quick cleanup for anal gland juice... it will kill the smell. Also, I check her glands regularly but never express them unless they are really full, I don't try to express them to see how much I can get to come out.

kjc · 01-15-2011, 07:45 AM

One more thing to try: a little bit of Panalog/Animax ointment up the butt can help if a minor infection is the cause... Doesn't have to be alot or way far up as the gland openings are just on the inside of the opening of the anus...

And maybe a diaper for lap time???

BlueBelle · 01-16-2011, 09:15 AM

It is so funny that they both are dachhunds in Yorkie suits with the same "issue". She is pretty easily excited I must say. Her favorite posture is with both head and tail erect and any noise at home sets her off in a hail of barking. She generally goes to work with me where she is quite calm and rarely barks and I rarely get the "smell". Perhaps it is just a behavioral problem. I did read where you can get the anal glands removed but often loss of bowel control is a side effect so that sounds like a worse problem.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess for the time geing she will remain "Bella the smella".

Maximo · 01-16-2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBelle

It is so funny that they both are dachhunds in Yorkie suits with the same "issue". She is pretty easily excited I must say. Her favorite posture is with both head and tail erect and any noise at home sets her off in a hail of barking. She generally goes to work with me where she is quite calm and rarely barks and I rarely get the "smell". Perhaps it is just a behavioral problem. I did read where you can get the anal glands removed but often loss of bowel control is a side effect so that sounds like a worse problem.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess for the time geing she will remain "Bella the smella".

LOL. It may take a little time for things to regulate/normalize if you stop manually expressing and keep using peas. I hope this does work for her and you.

Glad your kiddies enjoyed the pea treats.

candigirl · 02-05-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

With Orijen, I'm sure the stools are firm enough, but probably not large enough to express the glands. Try the veggies. Doesn't take much of either the beans or the peas to bulk up the stools.

hi Maximo,how long do you cook the peas for?. I started adding peas to Lexie's dinner i boil them from frozen for 5mins , this morning i saw some whole peas in her poop so i'm not sure if i'm cooking them long enough

01-13-2011, 05:38 PM	#1
BlueBelle Donating YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA Posts: 1,190	Anal gland issue I have taken in a year old female who was not purchased from the breeder as she has pretty bad conformation issues. She looks like a dachsund in a Yorkie suit. She is very sweet and a happy girl. I have just 1 complaint- she seems to release her anal glands all the time. I always express them with her bath and just very little comes out. Within about 24 hrs of a bath she is kind of greasy on her butt and she smells like that icky gland smell. It is not real pleasant to have her sit on my lap which is her spot of choice. I think there really isn't anything can be done about it, but I was just hoping someone here might have a suggestion. HELP

01-13-2011, 06:24 PM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	I don't really have any suggestions and am actually curious about this. Jackson does not release anything all the time but whenever he is really scared (i.e. sitting on Santa's lap at Petsmart), his anal glands leak and it smells! This is all started when I took him to Petsmart to get his nails done and I will never do that again. He FLIPPED out and expressed his glands... and now in any situation where he is super scared like that, he will express them! So I'm curious. He has no troubles otherwise. I've heard that if the poop is very firm and hard, it can help, so sometimes diet comes into play. I don't have any other suggestions. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

01-13-2011, 07:41 PM	#4
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,041	I am an advocate of using proper diet to express glands naturally and saving manual expressing for only when it is absolutely necessary. I would discontinue manually expressing her glands after each bath. Try adding green beans or baby sweet peas to her diet to ensure firm stools with enough bulk to naturally express the glands. Use frozen, no added salt veggies. I microwave peas in a little water and cool them down with cool water. My 7 and 8 pound boys have about half a teaspoon of peas a day. They never need their glands expressed. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

01-14-2011, 07:37 AM	#7
LaurenPatrice YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 555	My remy had a lot of problems as a young pup with his anal glands. He went to the vet because his anal glands were very full and he could not express them. The vet said to express them manually every other day for a week then stop. He said you do not want to make it a habit to express them manually on a regular basis. Because it will stop the natural process of the dog expressing them with their stools. Like stated above, a change in diet so the stools are harder helps. I've never heard of one "leaking" all the time like that, it may be because she is getting her glands expressed manually too much. I hope this problem clears up for you. __________________ Mommy to Remy and Winston

01-14-2011, 03:36 PM	#9
BlueBelle Donating YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA Posts: 1,190	Loved the peas! I gave them some peas tonight and I tossed them like treats and they both love, loved, loved them. They actually got competitive trying to get them. We will see if they help the situation. Thanks for all the good advice.

01-13-2011, 07:52 PM	#5
lillymae YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,544	Sometimes they will fill up quickly after they are expressed if they are infected. I have one with seasonal allergies who does this during allergy season and I can empty them in the A.M. and by night they are full again so it can also be allergy related.

01-14-2011, 09:19 PM	#10
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	If it only happens the day after you express them, then just stop unless there is a problem. For those who can't take the issue anymore (if they are getting infected or constantly emptying at bad times), removal is an option (although I know most people on YT wouldn't be big fans of that). __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

01-15-2011, 07:22 AM	#11
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	This is so odd... I describe Tinkerbell as a dachshund in a Yorkie suit too! On her card at the Humane Society it was stated she had Anal Gland issues... ??? When I inquired about her, they said she had been adopted out twice and returned and that she would need to have her glands expressed 2x week. We took her to the vet, before going home, and lucked out as the previous owner used the same vet so we were able to piece some of her history together. She had been recently spayed, and the vet recalled the lady had called her numerous times complaining (and crying) about the anal glands leaking, and was at her wits end. Hence her return to the HS. We took her home and let her settle in. I began to evaluate her behavior, as I knew animals involuntarily release their anal glands as a response to fear or sudden excitement, in addition to when they have a BM. She was previously in a home with 5 children, ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. Tink was very active, actually too active. All she wanted to do was play. I played with her for a bit, and noticed her level of excitement kept escalating, and she knew to bite the hand that held the toy to get it. I was beginning to get an idea of what I was up against. So far though, no anal gland issues. First, I needed to work on her excitement and biting issues. At the level of excitement she was reaching, I would expect the glands to release. So I began teaching her that down time was good too. Just holding her in my lap and having her be calm. It took a few months, but now she'll come to either one of us seeking to be held and cuddled with. The biting came under control and she practices bite inhibition while playing now, but the most effective thing I did with her was to cut off the playtime before her excitement became so elevated that she would lose control. We have had her now for close to 2 years, and I have only had to express her anals 2 times, and never witnessed hers leaking or self expressed. Possibly behavior modification (limiting playtime), exercise (walks) and diet changes could have helped, IDK. I do add string beans for additional fiber to their food. I wonder also if it was something that occured bc of her spay surgery and then resolved on it's own. She also had two courses of antibiotics for UTIs and I put her on probiotics and a better diet early on (within two months of getting her). I don't know if any of this helps you in your situation, I hope it does. Also, a tip: Dental solution on a cotton ball can be used as a quick cleanup for anal gland juice... it will kill the smell. Also, I check her glands regularly but never express them unless they are really full, I don't try to express them to see how much I can get to come out. __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

01-15-2011, 07:45 AM	#12
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	One more thing to try: a little bit of Panalog/Animax ointment up the butt can help if a minor infection is the cause... Doesn't have to be alot or way far up as the gland openings are just on the inside of the opening of the anus... And maybe a diaper for lap time??? __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity Last edited by kjc; 01-15-2011 at 07:47 AM.

01-16-2011, 09:15 AM	#13
BlueBelle Donating YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA Posts: 1,190	How funny It is so funny that they both are dachhunds in Yorkie suits with the same "issue". She is pretty easily excited I must say. Her favorite posture is with both head and tail erect and any noise at home sets her off in a hail of barking. She generally goes to work with me where she is quite calm and rarely barks and I rarely get the "smell". Perhaps it is just a behavioral problem. I did read where you can get the anal glands removed but often loss of bowel control is a side effect so that sounds like a worse problem. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess for the time geing she will remain "Bella the smella".