If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

My female has been biting and licking her tail (underside) for a few weeks. I thought she was getting bitten by a bug (mosquito, gnat or flea) but never find anything.

Went to vet yesterday and he expressed an anal gland (my dogs never have needed this done). Said that could have been why.

So just curious, if your dogs had blocked anal glands, what were their symptoms?

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

I just found out one of my dogs has issues too at their last visit. He expressed them! I had no idea.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

My friend's dog would scoot his butt on the ground and was sensitive to being touched in that area.

Not sure if your dogs have tails that curl up, and I know this is gross, but I'd look at her anus now, to see what it looks like "healthy". If she starts to pay more attention to it, I'd see if it looked different.

I really don't have any experience with this though, so I could just be talking out of my @ss. Pun intended.

Message edited 7/20/2011 12:23:54 PM.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

My one dog has recurring problems with his anal glands, and he licks there like crazy when it starts to bother him. Also sometimes we can start to smell the fluid stuff But that's really the only way we'd know - it's never looked any different to the naked eye and he doesn't do the butt-scoot thing.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

They scoot.

One one occassion it was so bad, he was wimpering and crying while trying to go to the bathroom. It was like trying to push a watermelon through a pea size hole. I had to pull it out. I know totally gross but, he was in pain. I then rushed him to the ER to have his glands expressed.

I know that it's common in smaller breeds. My groomer does this for me every 6 weeks.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

my dog licks the area and sometimes it smells fishy :P

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

Thank you everybody.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

egh maggie has this and it's gross. She constantly like lick her butt. Sometimes she'll be walking and stop quickly to bite at it...then there's always the lovely fish smell

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

This is my expertise

I have created a MONSTER.

I express my dogs glands myself every 2 weeks or so plus she gets them expressed at the groomer every 6 weeks.

I have lowered my dogs comfort level. She licks her but alot and runs quickly and sits down and gives me a look. She drags her but only sometimes .. My dog would let me do this every day if I wanted to. She LOVES IT! She hates even the smallest bit of back up.. My vet taught me how to do it.

Now all I have to say is "Loley want mommy to wipe your coolie"? And she runs up and right to the downsatirs bathroom door. Its un believable. but this is the truth.. HTH.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

Posted by Diana712

This is my expertise

I have created a MONSTER.

Now all I have to say is "Loley want mommy to wipe your coolie"? And she runs up and right to the downsatirs bathroom door. Its un believable. but this is the truth.. HTH.

Re: If your dogs anal glands were causing a problem, what were the signs/symptoms?

the smell
the scoot
licking
when we get her groomed they usually do it. she needs it done around 2-3 months
i also found a few things that she ate made it worse. like peanut butter

Message edited 7/24/2011 7:37:49 PM.