Instructions for expressing a dog's anal glands?

[benburch]

Does anybody have a link for instructions on how to do this, and how you know when it needs to be done?

And do all breeds need this done, or just some? (We have a dachshund.)

[Samurai_Writer]

1. I always had my vet do it

For $10, it was worth it. Believe me, that is one of the nastiest jobs ever when it comes to taking care of a dog. EW.

[Beaverhausen]

4. I agree. When my vet did it for my cat the whole place stunk

I felt really bad...but Geneva felt better!

[livetohike]

2. I only had one dog have to have this done and only one time

in his 16 years of life. He was a lab/shepherd mix and was scooting around on the floor and constantly licking back there. I had the vet do it.

[oregonjen]

3. Can you Google it? I believe there is a video floating around

I let my Vet do it because it is so stinky and icky. We have a Cavalier and it tends to be the smaller dogs that need expressing the glands the most.

[hippiechick]

5. You know it needs to be done when ...

... they start biting/licking at their butt area ALL THE TIME, they may have trouble pooping, and in Hank's case, he started eating grass, string, carpet, anything to make himself vomit to empty his stomach (it only happened to him once in 6 years so far - and he doesn't butt scoot).

My question is ... why do dogs lick it up after they scoot ?? EWWWWW!!
(Ray the Beagle does it and it gives both me and Hank the creeps!!):wow:


And yeah, FWIW, it's waaay worth the $10-15 to have your vet do it than to do it yourself. :puke:

[driver8]

6. Have your vet do it. Man, that stuff stinks!!! n/t

[radfringe]

7. have vet or groomer do it

stinky and messy....

if it's not done right you could cause more problems than you solve.

some dogs need it more often than others - it's not a "breed" specific problem...

[roguevalley]

8. wear gloves and know what you're doing if you do it. it really

really hurts the dog if its impacted. Its the best few bucks you'll ever pay your vet.

[egadsbrain]

9. DOUBLE exam gloves, a helper and a strong...

constitution! If you have a generous "pad" of paper towels in hand and isopropyl alcohol for cleanup it's tolerable. Tip: Stretch and pull the gloves off and over the stinky paper towels and toss them out immediately! Here's a great site with lots of good info about procedures and commonly prescribed meds:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/anal_sacs.html

ps: how cool to learn The White Rose Society has a resident dachsund!
http://www.whiterosesociety.org/

:thumbsup:

[benburch]

10. Thanks for the information, folks!

I think I'll be seeing the vet for this one, in spite of my usual "fix it yourself" mentality that has me disassembling dishwashers and stuff...