The Dreaded Anal Gland

[riverinthewoods]

My dachshund will be 6 this year. He’s a tweenie (in between a miniature and standard), about 20 or so pounds. He could stand to lose a few pounds but mostly because of the winter/not as much outdoor exercise. He only eats once per day and right now we are feeding him and my other dachshund Taste of the Wild.

For the past year or so we’ve had some serious anal gland issues. He will release it while sleeping :no: …in bed with us. It results in washing not only the sheets, but usually the comforter and any blankets as well and sometimes the mattress cover. He has released it during the day too occasionally and we always have to bathe him to get the smell off. We can typically avoid the ‘in bed’ issue as long as he goes to the bathroom before we go to sleep but lately even that hasn’t been working.

The vet hasn’t said a thing in regards to these issues because he doesn’t scoot, lick at it, etc. and they just end up expressing it there (which he usually does on his own, since he hates the vet!). I’m thinking about getting a second opinion though.

From what I’ve read about these issues, the only thing that it could be in my mind would be that his stool isn’t ‘hard’ enough to always express it or that there are possible back issues. I’ve always been worried about back issues, especially because of his breed but again - the vet hasn’t said a thing. I’m always paranoid about his back and have been trying to maintain his weight/exercise a bit more. He shows zero discomfort.

I’ve tried different foods and thought it was associated to the wet food he had been eating and him not getting enough fiber. He’s done well on the TOTW dry food and we’ve added a little cooked chicken/rice in hopes to make his stool more firm (also the Prince does not eat just dry food by itself). He did well for awhile (about two weeks) but now we’ve been having some problems again.

Anyone have any similar issues? What do you suggest? We’re at the point where I almost want him to wear a diaper to bed to avoid changing my sheets in the middle of the night, almost every night. I will most likely consult with the vet, but I’m nervous with how much testing ($$$) and what not will go on since they have never been concerned about the issues and just tell us to get it expressed once a month or so.

[CanadianTrotter]

I wish I could offer you some advice on how to deal with it, but none of my dogs ever had a problem.

In the interim do you have an old thick blanket/comforter that you can put on the spot on your bed where your dog sleeps? That would at least catch any secretions and stop it from landing on your comforter/sheets. Then just wash it each time it gets soiled.

Hope you get some answers, good luck!

[Foxtrot_s]

First off I’d have him off the bed! Our daschund was a very poor sport when he was banished, but after I saw how grubby the sheets became so quickly, I left him downstairs at night. No other advice since I’ve not had the problem. Get a second opinion?

[Brnord]

More often than not, anal gland issues are the result of loose stools. I have two dogs in the house who occasionally have this problem. Contrary to popular belief, high fiber diets often have the opposite effect and contribute to loose stools rather than hard ones. Wet food can be awful rich and cause irritation, too.

Maybe switch to a hard kibble that’s high in protein (put warm water in it to make it more enticing if he’s too used to wet food), but make sure to transition slowly. You can also supplement with foods that are binding like rice, applesauce and bananas for a while to get things under control. Finally, a little bit of yogurt that’s high in probiotics for a while can help firm things up too.

My guess is that if you get your dog pooping some nice big turds, the anal gland issue will go away. And, even though you’ve tried some of these things, it can take a long time for an enflamed gut to calm down - give it some time.

[Brnord]

Alternatively, suck it up and express them yourself…gross and uncomfortable, yes - but better than stinky sheets and a $15+ vet bill every time it needs to happen.

I’d be keeping that dog off my bed until it’s solved no matter what sad eyes it makes, too. Dogs are dogs and if they’re going to soil the bed, they don’t belong on it…if at all, but that’s another story.

[yankeeclipper]

Doggy diapers.

[Sswor]

To bulk up and firm up poops, feed baby carrots. They go through pretty much as-is, really no digestion of the carrot at all, so will definitely help express the glands more naturally.

I went through YEARS of anal gland issues with my female, but never had this problem. Hers would get impacted and burst. She had basically a birth defect where the natural opening was too small to express the natural manner, so eventually the worst one had to be surgically removed. Thought we were good but the “good” one quickly started to go south and 2 years later it also had to be removed. No more anal gland issues, but now she’s incontinent #2 from time to time. Still better quality of life for her.

But she always chose to sleep under the bed so I’m lucky there. Maybe try letting him sleep on an old towel in the bed with you. I’m with you–on dogs in the bed, btw

Good luck, try the carrots.

[S1969]

If your dog’s anal glands were normal to begin with, I agree that diet should be addressed.

When we had this issue with our older dog, the vet recommended bran. It worked immediately and really well. Any type, rice/wheat, etc. He recommended whatever we could buy the cheapest and that was usually something for horses versus in the grocery store.

If you’re against feeding grain, some people find that canned pumpkin will work just as well and most dogs like it. (not pumpkin pie filling, just plain canned pumpkin).

Obviously, other things would work to bulk up stool as well if you’re feeding grain free; but all things considered, I’d probably go for the rice bran to start out and see if it works.

If you express your dogs glands yourself, please have the vet help you learn how. Some dogs end up with gland issues because they have been injured by owners or groomers expressing them.

[Foxtrot_s]

Don’t worry OP, re sleeping on the bed — some time back the question was asked and it seems I am the meanie on the board - I am possibly the only one who did not let my dog (Boxer) on the bed, but then I never have let any of them on except for that little dachsund and he got banned eventually.

[riverinthewoods]

I like the dog’s in the bed - they sleep under the covers :yes: No issues last night.

We actually used pumpkin but didn’t see much improvement. I will definitely try the carrots and maybe rice bran. I’m worried though that rice bran is fatty though? I used it on a gelding I used to own to bulk him up so not sure it’d be good for my dog.

No expressing the gland myself, I leave that to the vet if we absolutely have to go that route. No thanks! haha

[beowulf]

Switch the food – all of my animals both cat & dog had horrible stools on TOW. The cats especially; it was awful. Switched to a different brand and haven’t looked back.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=riverinthewoods;9020585]
I like the dog’s in the bed - they sleep under the covers :yes: No issues last night.

We actually used pumpkin but didn’t see much improvement. I will definitely try the carrots and maybe rice bran. I’m worried though that rice bran is fatty though? I used it on a gelding I used to own to bulk him up so not sure it’d be good for my dog.

No expressing the gland myself, I leave that to the vet if we absolutely have to go that route. No thanks! haha[/QUOTE]

Bob’s Red Mill rice bran has 60 calories per 2 Tbsp and 23 of that from fat. The wheat bran has 50 calories per 1/4 cup and only 5 calories from fat.

So you would be better off getting wheat bran if you’re concerned about calories or fat. As for the amount; I think when we used it for my 40lb dog we gave him 1 Tbsp per meal so 2 Tbsp per day.

https://www.caloriecount.com/calories-bobs-red-rice-bran-i234918
http://www.bobsredmill.com/wheat-bran.html

[horsenut_8700]

I would use canned pumpkin- low in calories and high in fiber along with a better food. My dogs never had nice firm stool on TOTW. Losing weight may help too, his glands may not be expressing normally because there are extra fat deposits in the way!

[Nezzy]

we adopted a female dog that would leak all the time. After a few trips to the vet i asked about surgical removal. we took her to s specialist who removed them for about $2000. For the first 66 months, she did not have full control over her sphincter. i had to wipe her butt a lot. we were starting to thenk she never would. but after 8 sessions of accupuncture, she did get better. this was about 7 yrs ago. she is still ok.

[Kyrabee]

My Mom & Dad’s cocker spaniel needs expressing every 2-4 weeks. I just do it myself. It really isn’t hard and she is so thankful. She has never been impacted or infected…just full. Changing her diet did help some but it didn’t get rid of the issue.

I take her out in the yard, point her butt away from the house and express away:).

Susan

[Nezzy]

My above post should have said 6 months, not 66 months.

My vet has said no one should be expressing anal glands at home. the more you do it, the worse it gets for the dog and you damage the tissue. If the dog has a problem, the vet should be seen.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=riverinthewoods;9020585]
I like the dog’s in the bed - they sleep under the covers :yes: No issues last night.

We actually used pumpkin but didn’t see much improvement. I will definitely try the carrots and maybe rice bran. I’m worried though that rice bran is fatty though? I used it on a gelding I used to own to bulk him up so not sure it’d be good for my dog.

No expressing the gland myself, I leave that to the vet if we absolutely have to go that route. No thanks! haha[/QUOTE]

Pretty sure dogs cannot digest the bran so they can’t get fat from it. That’s why it helps with the gland issue–it travels along undigested and bulks up the stools, not the critter

[riverinthewoods]

Just a quick update in case anyone else sees this thread and finds it useful.

We had been trying a new dog food but decided to go back to Natural Balance. We went to the dog store to pick some up and a rep happened to be there. She recommended that we add yogurt to his food (just a spoonful, the plain no additives kind) and let me tell you - IT WORKS! We have gone weeks without an issue.