Question about Anal Glands

Hi, We have 2 corgis Mazzy (2 yrs) & Harry (10 months) and both seem to have some issues with their anal glands not being able to drain normally. No issues with becoming impacted- really they'll just be sitting around & you'll smell that foul/fishy odor.

We've changed their food from Iams to Canidae ALS & add pumpkin or rice regularly - both corgis stool is normal. The stool was normal even on Iams but we wanted to change to a better food w/o all the grain & that is what our breeder recommended. We've taken Mazzy to the vet for this & he has shown us how to express the glands at home if needed and he told us about the surgery to remove them but we don't want to put either dog through that as it sounds pretty painful for them.

I just feel it's strange that both dogs seem to have the same problem & wonder what we might be able to do to help the issue. I'd appreciate any suggestions...thanks!

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Einstein Batista on December 24, 2010 at 6:00pm

I like the really dry cookie recipe. I hope it works.I think that dryer food helps. Since Sophie started eating dryer food, I did not see her scoot as often.

The fishy problem usually happens when the muscles that push up the anal sacs do not have something hard to push against, or are not strong
enough. This problem happens to smaller breeds( like Sophie, the other
dog in my picture).

If the diet change doesn't work then there are other techniques you can use to express the anal glands. I usually express them by pressing on the outside of them in the tub, then use shampoo on the spot as quick as
possible. I make sure that I use latex gloves and a paper towel when I do this.

I really want to hear your results.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane Burda on December 24, 2010 at 11:28pm

Ok I will let you know the next time he is due to have the gland expresses...I just had the vet tech do it last week...she gave us a freebee for the holidays...probably felt sorry for us becasue we paid almost $200 for xrays and meds and glucosimine suppliments....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Pinkerton on December 26, 2010 at 8:52am

Sorry to hear that you are having to deal with this. My Trixie has regular issues with this and I've gotten some good info here, so I appreciate the post. I will say that I have mixed results with both internal and external expression when I do it myself - in part because it makes her so unhappy for me to lift her tail and even go there. But I watched a video online with a groomer, who suggested that for external expression, you put your thumb and forefinger at about 5 and 7 o'clock and press in and up (god bless the internet!). This technique has been most successful for us, but she still goes to the vet occasionally, when I can't do the trick.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by B. Murphy on December 28, 2010 at 8:27am

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We have had some luck with the external expressions- our vet had showed us how to do them in hope that we wouldn't need our older dog up every month. It is extremely gross but my husband is okay with doing it & I hold the dog up so it works out for the most part! Our breeder said they might grow out of it...we're hoping. But thanks for all the input & I will definetly try the cookie recipe.