anal gland problem

[eric29]

My 3 year old lab has been fighting a gland problem for about a month and a half now. Ive been in for 3 vet visits for it. She has had 3 ruptures during that time. The vet has presribed Primor and rimadyl the first visit, clavamox and prednisone the second, and another cycle of clavamox on the third visit along with fortiflora. To this day it still seems to be bothering her. I can still see the rupture wounds on the outside of her behind. She has had runny scat since the first medication and today i notice blood in it. Ive also been soaking her bottim in epsum salt.

The vet has been emptying my pockets every time i go, its been about 140 bucks for each visit and it hasnt seemed to get any better.

Any one had this problem before, any advice? Do i bite the bullet again and take her back in or take her to a different vet and get a second opinion.

also she eats hollistic select for three years now and never had a problem with runny scat.

[TooTallTom]

After three visits and no solution, you might want to think about a different vet.

For some reason I think anal glands might be able to be removed, but I really can't say that with a lot of certainty. It might cost more for the surgery, but that should solve the problem if it's possible.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'd go to a different vet. They certainly can remove them, but I have no idea what that surgery costs. There's obviously an underlying issue here--a fresh opinion seems warranted.

Anal glands--the absolute worst part of dog ownership!

[xedge2002]

My girlfriends Bulldog had the same problem last October. Our vet said to put a piece of carpet in her kennel so she can scratch her butt on it to get them opened up. She said that you want them draining out to get the infection out and they will heal with time. It took about a month for them to completely heal up. We never had to do any meds with it though. I would suggest a new vet. I can give you the name of our vet but if you are in the metro it will be about a 2 hour drive to see her.

[verg]

A good vet would have taught you how to express those glands yourself. My first lab kept having this problem so my old vet (old timer) showed me how to properly pinch, squeeze the glands on both sides. I did this about once a every couple days for a month and it went away and never came back.

If they won't show you pm me and I'll try to explain how. Not hard.

[Ralph Wiggum]

If they won't show you pm me and I'll try to explain how. Not hard.

They should show you. If not, you can find it on Youtube. It is awful, though

[TooTallTom]

Well, you know, some people have Tupperware parties, other have this sort of thing...

[RumRiverRat]

Well, you know, some people have Tupperware parties, other have this sort of thing...

Anal Glad Expression Parties would be a total gas!

LOL!

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've got a pretty strong stomach, and expressing our Dane makes me gag and nearly vomit every time. Unfortunately, he's about due

[Scott M]

Lordy lordy, I know I'll be sorry I asked and drug this thread up...Getting tired of the dog licking her hind end. She scoots on her butt every once in a while. It's a recent development, figured out it was anal glands, watched the youtube videos, give it the old college try. Nothing. 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, a small squeeze, nothing. Next vet checkup is about a month off, if he doesn't show me, we may just have to have one of those those anal gland expression parties. Any advice?

[Bueford27]

hahaha here i thought i was the only one!! Its not bad...

Step1 Drink 2 beers while you talk to your dog on how this is going to change your relationship with him or her.

Step 2 Grab some rubber gloves and some lubrication, KY lube works good.

Step 3 Grab a dryer sheet and cut a small chunk of it and tape it over your nose, it works to kill the smell..trust me.

Step 4 go somewhere outside where the neighbors wont see you and i stand over my lab and use my forearm to hold his tail over then place only my index finger (lubed) inside him. The glad will be about the size of a grape or alittle smaller right inside and to the left or right whichever you pick first. Just feel for it. Index inside thumb outside is the approach i use and it works fine. When you have one, just firmly squeze it and it shoud start to squirt out. Do both sides and have a few paper towels on had to wipe any residue that comes out and goes on the dog. Once you do it, it isnt that bad, and the dog is very relieved. It has saved us alot of money instead of going to the vet everytime.

[island guy]

I used to do my last dog myself. My new one is too hard to do myself so i take her in to the vet. I've never paid more than $12 to have it done.

[harvey lee]

Boy, $140 to express the gland.

My groomer does it for my pooch and it's $25 to shampoo, cut the hair, clean the ears and anal gland.

Dude's taking you to the cleaners.

My local Vet did it once for $12. Now that was the charge to do it, not the $20 office visit charge for the real reason she was at the vet.

I have had the dog's teeth cleaned, they have to put her under and that runs $90.

[DaSwede]

Our secretary at work had her dogs glands removed. I believe it cost about $500, but now it's done and shouldn't be a problem for them anymore.

[LABS4ME]

I must be the luckiest buggar alive! I have never with any of my dogs had to have this done or do it...

I remember my Mom had to have her terrier done once or twice at the vet, it was like 10 bucks.

Whatever I'm doing, I hope it keeps working cause I have no desire to start expressing glands!

Good Luck!

Ken

[nofishfisherman]

Some things are worth paying for. This falls firmly into that category.

[Ufatz]

Life is too short to have to do this on TOP of everything else we have to do! Pay it!

And Labs, you are right: you gotta be the luckiest man alive. Ha Ha HA!

[nonteepical]

whenever we had gus's done it was $140