Sign in or Register
Search Forums
Recent Topics
-
FREEZE DRIED RAW AND ZERO REASONABLE STORE BOUGHT OPTIONS
by Sara Smith
20 hours, 27 minutes ago
-
Can Yucca Control Dog Poop Odor?
by eva
2 days, 9 hours ago
-
Homemade dog food questions
by Melissa Francis
7 hours, 52 minutes ago
-
Second opinion
by Erik Burgher
3 days, 5 hours ago
-
What’s the Best Food Option?
by Mobassir Ahmed
3 days, 11 hours ago
Recent Replies
- Melissa Francis on Homemade dog food questions
- Melissa Francis on Homemade dog food questions
- David Carter on best multivitamin?
- Erik Burgher on Search for Great Quality, Small sized dry kibble.
- Odie Kessler on Search for Great Quality, Small sized dry kibble.
- Jose Swain on can’t view Next level food Review
- Jez Doh on Treat reviews/ratings?
- Jez Doh on Small breed for a cocker
- Jez Doh on FREE 1lb Prime100 SPD Fresh Roll
- Jez Doh on What’s the Best Food Option?
- Dominic Cormier on Supplement recommendations for Cushing’s Disease?
- nathaniel reid on Orijen Senior
- nathaniel reid on FREE 1lb Prime100 SPD Fresh Roll
- nathaniel reid on Something’s Wrong at Wellness or Amazon
- Wewe Re on Ration balancing software
- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by anonymous.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Jennifer HMember
Hi. My dog is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and she’s had to have her anal glands exoressed a few times a year. Recently, I noticed she was smelling and I took her to the vet. Her anal glands were very full and she had an abscess in one side. The vet tech drained her and they put her in an antibiotic for ten days. It’s been six days since they were drained and the smell is still there. I bathed her the same day they were expressed so she wouldn’t have that smell on her. I don’t know why she still smells after they expressed her anal glands and she’s been on an antibiotic. There doesn’t appear to be any swelling and she looks normal. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!anonymousMemberI would take her back to the vet for a quick check, they may not have gotten it all out or it built up again, or maybe the abscess is still draining?. If impacted anal glands is a chronic issue vs acute, discuss treatment options with your vet. In extreme cases the anal glands are removed and the problem is solved.
From a previous post of mine per the search engine here:
Excerpts (out of context) from article below: https://www.vetsecure.com/veterinarymedicalclinic.com/articles/136
Overview:
Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dogâs anus, at approximately four and eight oâclock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease.
Transmission or Cause:
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Prevention:
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese.anonymousMemberHope this helps: http://www.michigananimalhospital.com/page/421552054
Anal Sac Disease in Dogs
What are the anal sacs?
Commonly called ‘anal glands’, the anal sacs are two small pouches located on either side of the anus at approximately the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions. Numerous specialized sebaceous (sweat) glands that produce a foul smelling secretion line the walls of the sacs. Each sac is connected to the outside by a small duct that opens just inside the anus.
Â
What is their function?
The secretion acts as a territorial marker – a dog’s ‘calling card’. The sacs are present in both male and female dogs and some of the secretion is squeezed out onto the feces by muscular contractions when the dog defecates. This is why dogs are so interested in smelling one another’s feces.Why are the anal sacs causing a problem in my dog?
Anal sac disease is very common in dogs. The sacs frequently become impacted, usually due to inflammation of the ducts. The secretion within the impacted sacs will thicken and the sacs will become swollen and distended. It is then painful for your dog to pass feces. The secreted material within the anal sacs is an ideal medium for bacterial growth, allowing abscesses to form. The abscess will appear as a painful, red, hot swelling on one or both sides of the anus. If the abscess bursts, it will release a quantity of greenish yellow or bloody pus. If left untreated, the infection can quickly spread and cause severe damage to the anus and rectum.
Â
Â
How will I know if my dog has anal sac problems?
“The first sign is often scooting or dragging the rear along the ground.”
The first sign is often scooting or dragging the rear along the ground. There may be excessive licking or biting, often at the root of the tail rather than the anal area. Anal sac disease is very painful. Even normally gentle dogs may snap or growl if you touch the tail or anus when they have anal sac disease. If the anal sac ruptures, you may see blood or pus draining from the rectum.
In some cases, the dog had an episode of diarrhea or digestive upset a week or two before the clinical signs of anal sac disease became evident.
Â
How is anal sac disease treated?
Problems with the anal sacs are common in all dogs, regardless of size or breed. If you are concerned that your pet may have an anal sac problem, call your veterinarian at once. Treatment for impaction involves expressing or emptying the sacs. If the impaction is severe or if there is an infection, it may be necessary to flush out the affected sac to remove the solidified material. Since these conditions are painful, many pets will require a sedative or an anesthetic for this treatment. Antibiotics are often prescribed and sometimes may need to be instilled into the sacs over a period of several days. In advanced or severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Most dogs will require pain relief medications for several days until the swelling and inflammation have subsided.
Â
Is the condition likely to recur?
Some dogs will have recurrent anal sac impactions or abscesses.
“Overweight dogs tend to have chronic anal sac problems because their anal sacs do not empty well.”
Overweight dogs tend to have chronic anal sac problems because their anal sacs do not empty well. Each impaction may cause further scarring and narrowing of the ducts, leading to recurrences that are even more frequent. If this condition recurs frequently, surgical removal of the sacs is indicated.
Â
Are anal sacs necessary for my dog? Will removal have any adverse effects?Â
Anal glands produce the pungent smelling secretion that allows the dog to mark his or her territory. For our domesticated dogs, this is an unnecessary behavior and removal will not adversely affect your pet.
Â
Are there any risks associated with surgical removal of the anal sacs?
“Removal of the anal sacs is a delicate and specialized surgery.”
Removal of the anal sacs is a delicate and specialized surgery. Some veterinarians perform this procedure routinely; however, in severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend referral to a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Some dogs will experience loose stools or lack of bowel control for one to three weeks following surgery. This occurs because the nerves controlling the anal sphincters (muscles that close the rectum) run through the soft tissues near the anal sacs. If the infection is deep and extensive it can be impossible to avoid damaging the nerves during the surgery. This damage resolves without further treatment in the majority of pets. In rare cases, the nerve damage is permanent, and e, it can result in fecal incontinence or the inability to control bowel movements, with constant leakage of feces from your dog’s anus.
As with any surgery, general anesthesia is required, this always carries some degree of risk. Advances in anesthesia drugs and monitoring continue to decrease these risks. For dogs suffering from chronic or recurrent anal sac infection or impaction, surgical removal is the best option to relieve the pet’s pain.ÂMy dog is very nervous and sometimes seems to express his own glands. Is this normal?
“It is common for dogs to release the contents of their anal sacs, particularly if frightened.”
It is common for dogs to release the contents of their anal sacs, particularly if frightened. Some dogs even appear to lack control of the anus or anal sac ducts so that small quantities of fluid will drain out when they are resting, leaving an unpleasant lingering odor in the home. If your dog has this problem, you may elect to remove the anal sacs. -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Sign in or Register
Search Forums
Recent Topics
-
FREEZE DRIED RAW AND ZERO REASONABLE STORE BOUGHT OPTIONS
by Sara Smith
20 hours, 27 minutes ago
-
Can Yucca Control Dog Poop Odor?
by eva
2 days, 9 hours ago
-
Homemade dog food questions
by Melissa Francis
7 hours, 52 minutes ago
-
Second opinion
by Erik Burgher
3 days, 5 hours ago
-
What’s the Best Food Option?
by Mobassir Ahmed
3 days, 11 hours ago
Recent Replies
- Melissa Francis on Homemade dog food questions
- Melissa Francis on Homemade dog food questions
- David Carter on best multivitamin?
- Erik Burgher on Search for Great Quality, Small sized dry kibble.
- Odie Kessler on Search for Great Quality, Small sized dry kibble.
- Jose Swain on can’t view Next level food Review
- Jez Doh on Treat reviews/ratings?
- Jez Doh on Small breed for a cocker
- Jez Doh on FREE 1lb Prime100 SPD Fresh Roll
- Jez Doh on What’s the Best Food Option?
- Dominic Cormier on Supplement recommendations for Cushing’s Disease?
- nathaniel reid on Orijen Senior
- nathaniel reid on FREE 1lb Prime100 SPD Fresh Roll
- nathaniel reid on Something’s Wrong at Wellness or Amazon
- Wewe Re on Ration balancing software