Question:
I have a mixed breed female dog that is 1.5 years old. She is spayed.
60 days ago I was told by a vet that her reoccuring problem with a swolen anus was due to Bowel glands that didn't "work right" and they need to be expressed by hand every 30 days or so. I have never owned an animal that had such a problem! Is there a diet or a surgical procedure that can stop this issue???? I'm puzzled and discusted at having to preform this task. Help???

Answer:
My Motzi just had this done at the vets. But for her its hard for me to tell where the glands are as there is alot of scare tissue there, from when they actually burst.

Does the dog have a blockage? Or do they fill up with the hard goop?

I do the other 2 dogs no problem. To have the anal glands removed is quite an ordeal and costly. It can also cause a complication where the anas will loose the muscle and then the dog can't control their poops.

The vet charges me 19.00 each time. Might be a good investment for you too?

Answer:
Oh my gosh...they can burst? No, she doesn't have a blockage, although she eats everything in sight...pinecones, wood...real crazy. Thank you for your reply, I had a feeling that surgery could cause the problems you noted.
Oh boy...for the love of a crazy dog......guess I'll get busy expressin'!!!
And you have three??? Whoopee!

Answer:
I have to agree it is not one of those things you usually look forward to however it is part of raising these fur babies. I have one dog (resuce) who had problems with these nasty little glands. They would fill up and then she would scoot on the floor trying o express them herself. I took her to the vet and for $95.00 he used a procedure where he opened the front of the gland and pinned the tissue open (stiches so it healed that way)so the first month or so the gland drained a little bit then dried up and has been nothing to worrry about for either of us. The vet said it was an experimental procedure developed recently. It seems to work and that was 5 years ago. No anal muscle control problems.
I have another dog we rescued from a hell hole after she was abandonded when the family moved out. The puppy had Parvo so right off the bat we had big time expense and hospitalization with her. She continues to have a host of minor problems including ear canal infections. They still require weekly cleaning and medications years after surgery. Her ear canal surgery was experimental at the time they did it and it turned out to give her so much relief - I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Keep in mind while it may be annoying to you the conditions are usually painful and distressing to your pet. Relieving or lessening that condition for them has great value.
Jim
I would recommend trying surgeries even if they are experimental if your vet is confident it gives your pet a chance at a better quality of life.

Answer:
Heavens to Mergatroid-I can only imagine the poor llittle critter must have an upset tummy 90% of the time. I am not lambasting you for diet mismanagement and it may be alright but I go into conniption fits when one of mine chews up a pine cone.
I keep their 1/2 acre kennel runs cleaned up from all sort of debris that blows in out here. Including pine cones, birds,whatever the west winds finds scattered in the fields and forests and heads our way.
I admit my guys & Gals seem to like chewing on all sorts of thigs they shouldn't but I work extra hard at patroling their area for woody things.
Jim

Answer:
It seems alarming that this 85 lb (bull terrier/ ridgeback mix) eats everything....but she always has. I have a pretty large yard surrounded by numerous 100 ft pine trees.....If I spent every day doing it, I could still NEVER get all the pine cones, needles or twigs out of that yard. No upset stomachs.....lots of hitch hickers in her poops tho!
Thanks for your concern.

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