Anal glands in corgi - Update!

[Guin]

My 7-year-old corgi has, over the past nine months or so, started to have blocked anal glands. I have to take her to the vet about every five or six weeks to have them expressed.

She gets canned pumpkin once a day, and green beans in the morning mixed in with her kibble (Wellness Core Reduced Fat.) I thought the pumpkin was supposed to clear up the glands, but that is defnitely not happening. Does anyone have any recommendations - diet or anything else - to prevent this nasty problem? It’s gross and obviously uncomfortable for her!

[S1969]

When our dog had this same problem we were advised to add bran flakes to his diet. Any kind, doesn’t matter (rice or wheat) from the baking section - not bran cereal. The goal is to bulk up their stool and help them express their glands. You do want to make sure they don’t have an ongoing infection, though, because it might need other treatment – our vet had to infuse my dog’s glands with an antibiotic ointment once a week for several weeks before his infection was totally cleared up.

Once that was all sorted out, though, the bran worked very well for us, and if we ever got lax and ran out…we knew about it pretty quick. (Never the same horrible infection, but we could tell he wasn’t quite right).

I think we added about 1/8 cup to his food twice a day…he was a brittany that weighed about 40lbs. So for a corgi I might say 1 Tb. in the morning and night? I don’t think you can give too much…but you don’t want him to have to go too often.

Good luck!

[CobJockey]

My Grandma’s dog, which is maybe a Lhasa mix of some sort, not sure, has to have his anal glands expressed every month. They’ve tried everything, and nothing has worked, so they just have them expressed regularly.

[Guin]

That’s a good suggestion. I’ll pick up some bran. It’s getting so I might as well just make my own food, what with all these additions I stick in there.

[Nezzy]

My Polly had to have her glands removed. she leaked all the time all over. She was only 2 at the time. She is a Chinese Crested Powder puff, and 10 lbs. It was $2000. But since then, she is happy and healthy. i would def. do it all over again.

[Leprechaun]

We have a JRT that has good hard poops, super healthy. He still needs his glands done every 6-8 wks or is caught dragging his tail side across my carpet. Not a big deal - I do it myself in about 5 seconds. I wouldn’t worry if you’ve got good poops, good food, no infection and an otherwise happy, healthy pup. We’ve all got our physical “issues” right?! Good Luck.

[MsM]

I know how to express anal glands and have expressed my male’s. My female, however, is another story. Twice she has abcessed! So when she started scooting, I tried again with no luck and then took her to the vet. He felt on the outside and didnt feel anything. But when he put a finger inside, she was clogged. Instead of the oily gunk, hers was semi-solid :eek: He got it out and used some liquid to flush the glands. Said this was really unusual in how solid it was and that she had deep glands that couldnt accurately be felt or expressed from the outside. I had tried the pumpkin before this, so it didnt work for her. Vet said just to watch her and bring her in at the first sign. I think I will likely bring her in again in a few weeks just for a check. Abcessed glands are nasty!

[appychik]

I’ve (unfortunately) learned how to express them myself. I worked for a vet who charged an arm and leg to express anal glands and figured I wouldn’t be working forever at the vet, so I should learn to do it myself.

Disgusting job, but takes just seconds to do and it’s free (except for the gloves and wet wipes :winkgrin:). My one boy lets me know when they need to be done. The other dog is still quite young and has never had issues.

I don’t feed or do anything special with my boy. He’s got enough issues already.

[Pancakes]

Metamucil can help add fiber (try 1/2 tsp per meal to start, then alter to get the right consistency), but if you’re constantly having to express them, you might consider surgery to remove them and save yourself and your dog many more years of discomfort!

[Guin]

@S1969;5595197

When our dog had this same problem we were advised to add bran flakes to his diet. Any kind, doesn’t matter (rice or wheat) from the baking section - not bran cereal.

Good luck!

I wanted to thank you for the suggestion! On Monday I went to Whole Foods and found a box of “Oat Bran Hot Cereal.” The only ingredient in it is oat bran, and it looks sort of like those steel-cut oats - not flakes, but little solid chunks. I’ve been adding a little less than a teaspoon breakfast and dinner, and she has STOPPED scooting! Thank you so much for the idea!

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Guin;5601903]
I wanted to thank you for the suggestion! On Monday I went to Whole Foods and found a box of “Oat Bran Hot Cereal.” The only ingredient in it is oat bran, and it looks sort of like those steel-cut oats - not flakes, but little solid chunks. I’ve been adding a little less than a teaspoon breakfast and dinner, and she has STOPPED scooting! Thank you so much for the idea![/QUOTE]

Terrific! Yes - that “cereal” is fine…I just meant that “raisin bran” type flakes might not be bulky enough. Who knows…but usually the kind in the bakery area is cheaper anyway!

[Guin]

@S1969;5601989

Terrific! Yes - that “cereal” is fine…I just meant that “raisin bran” type flakes might not be bulky enough. Who knows…but usually the kind in the bakery area is cheaper anyway!

My regular grocery store didn’t have any “baking” bran. Neither did WF, oddly.

[TheHorseProblem]

We have a new dog, a chihuahua who scoots all the time. Does that mean he needs his glands expressed?

[Nezzy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA9SeHAEyQ4

[Guin]

@TheHorseProblem;5603037

We have a new dog, a chihuahua who scoots all the time. Does that mean he needs his glands expressed?

Yes. And/or worms.

[The_Shadow]

[QUOTE=Guin;5604945]
Yes. And/or worms.[/QUOTE]
Hopefully it’s this benign. I lost a chi mix to an anal gland carcinoma. Have it checked asap.