Youtube has a whole bunch of “how to” videos, some dogs need this done about once a week, some may need it once a month, some may need it once in a great while…or not at all.
It’s not the food, although you do want to avoid a diet that will tend to give the dog loose stools, it has to do with their anatomy, especially small breeds (but not every dog has these issues). Sedentary lifestyle can contribute too.
Now that he has an infection/abscess, don’t try this. The vet will have to take care of it, it may even need to be lanced. The vet may put your dog on antibiotics for a few days.
Talk to your vet about how often your dog’s anal glands need to be expressed, if you can’t learn to do it yourself, you may have to bring him in, maybe the vet tech can do it or a groomer.
If routine anal expression doesn’t do the trick (it should), your vet may recommend anal gland removal if Blacky has a chronic problem.
PS: I have owned dogs for 30 years, out of about 7 small dogs, 3 needed their anal glands expressed routinely and I was able to avoid surgery. I would take your dog to a vet asap….the condition you describe is very painful, the longer it goes on the more likely he will have to be lanced or be put under anesthesia to open up the pus pocket.
I work in healthcare.
