10 Year Old Lab Acting Very Strange

[dell111]

Hey I have a 10yr old Lab. Amazing dog very gentle and loving. Anyway he is super laid back. Recently he has been acting very weird. He kept chewing his anal glands which got infected so we had to take him to a vet. He got cream and that has stopped. When he lies down for a long time he also has trouble walking with his back legs, but once he walks around for couple minutes its goes away. I was told that many labs have anal gland cancer, but when the vet was checking that out, they would be able to tell if there was a tumor in there or bring it up correct? Also about his behavior he usually just sits around and does nothing all day sleeping, but recently he is always up and looking for attention. He will not go to sleep until I go to sleep with him. When im watching tv he just stands there looking at me. He seems to be just as active though and still loves going for walks and eating and what not. Any idea what this is? He has a couple lumps on him on his stomach as well and some moles but I read that that is just from being old. Thanks

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Peekawho has given you correct information as always!  Thanks Peekawho!

It might be a good idea for your vet to get a culture and sensitivity of your dogs anal gland secretions, especially if clogged anal glands becomes a chronic problem.  

If, after rectal exam your dog's vet did not think that the anal glands, rectum,  or perianal area had any evidance of cancer (no obvious masses, pigment changes, or swelling) than it would be very difficult to impossible to find a cancerous area to biopsy.  In other words, no masses, or unusual changes = a non-diagnostic biopsy.  However, if there is anything unusual than it should be biopsied.  

The masses on the abdomen should have FNA's (fine needle aspirates) performed, and if the results show anything unusual they should be biopsied.

At age 10 degenerative joint diesease is a strong possibility, and if your dog is not on a Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplement, than he should be.  A NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory) may also be necessary if your dog's liver function is normal.

I suggest you do have bloodwork performed: Complete blood work, Heartworm, Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, urinalysis, culture and sensitivity or anal gland secretion, X-Rays of joints, especially hips and knees, and anything else your vet deems necessary.

Lastly, food allergies can cause anal gland problems, along with other problems, which can be very vague, and food allergies can develop at any time in a dog's life.

[peekawho]

It sounds like a good check up is in order asap, if you haven't had one for him recently.  He's getting up there in years, and may need a senior dog workup done (bloodwork checking for different disorders) if one hasn't been done already.  

The lumps on his stomach also need to be evaluated, I would think, unless your vet has already done so.  

Hopefully, Dr. Cheng will have some good suggestions for you.