Bowel Issues - Need Advice

[candie429]

We have a 9 1/2 year old yellow lab who is having quite an embarassing issue lately!  Every time he goes out and has a bowel movement, a little bit of feces remains on his "bum."  Therefore, it unfortunately ends up inside our house whereever he decides to sit next.  It doesn't seem to bother him, it's not like he comes in and purposely wipes his bum on our floor.  I've heard people talk about anal glands before, but apparently the fluid that comes out of them have an unbearable odor.

Hopefully this is not TMI, but I'm quite worried about him since he's never had a problem with this before.  I can certainly wipe his bum when he comes inside (that's what furbaby moms are for!), but I just wanted to make sure it's not indicative of a more serious issue.

Thanks so much for your help!  :)  

[candie429]

Ginger - Well, it looks like he is going to be OK!  The vet did check the glands, and drain them (yuk!) and said they weren't infected.  He is prone to skin allergies, so the vet felt it was just another way that the allergies were manifesting themselves, by flaring up that "area."  So he gave him a shot of benadryl and we need to follow up with benadryl pills for a few days.  I hated putting him through that, but we're better off making sure that he didn't have an infection!  Thanks again for your help.

By the way, your little Misty is adorable!  :)

[ginger899]

Well the food sounds ok, so it can't be that.
So you are back to the anal gland question.
I don't have much experience with this, as my dog never gets any anal gland problems. But they are very common, and the usual treatment for this is simple draining. This is a smelly procedure (pity your vet!) but a simple one, nothing to worry about and usually the problem is solved. But if he is inclined to an anal gland problem, it will need doing on a fairly regular basis. The vet might show you how to do this, so you won't have to go to him every time ....(rather you than me! ;-/)

[candie429]

Thank you both so much for your replies!  

ginger - We have given him the same food his whole life, it's specially formulated for large breed dogs (extra nutrients for joints, etc).  He did have loose stools for a day which seems to be when all of this started, but they have been back to normal the past few weeks.  He hasn't had any behavior changes, so that's a good thing.  

flmagi - That's a good thought.  I didn't think of that.  It doesn't seem like he's changed his stance, but I'll keep an eye on that and see if he seems to be struggling.  We walk him a lot and he's always full of energy and doesn't seem to be in any type of pain, but I know you always have to be careful of that with large breed dogs.

The more I looked at him last night, it seemed like his area "back there" was a little inflamed and I did notice that after he sat one time, there was an oily discharge on the carpet.  This made me concerned about the whole anal gland thing, so I called his vet and they want to see him today just to be safe.  Hopefully he'll be OK.  He's our baby!  :)

Thanks again for your help.  

[flmagi]

Another possibility could be with your Pups hind legs or hips. Perhaps some discomfort issues which may cause him to stoop to low when pooping or not go down low enough, allowing for some of the poop to get on his bum.  Your dog is at an age where arthritis may be starting and making it just a little uncomfortable to take his normal position when doing his business.

[ginger899]

It could be the consistency of his stools which have changed slightly, and that might make this problem a new one. Any change in his stool consistency will most likely have to do with food he has eaten. Firm, (but not too hard)well shaped stools are ideal. Make sure he gets good high-quality healthy-option dog food (of one brand or another)

I have an excellent supplier of healthy-option dog food! But it's a pity because they are in the UK where I live, and shipping to US would be too much. But my dog's bowel movements are naturally healthy on this food. (It is based on Rabbit and brown rice, with omega oils and a couple of antioxidant herbs which are healthy for dogs to eat regularly.)

If he is well and fit, does not have runny stools, with mucus or blood, is eating well, has good energy generally, and no behavior changes which might mean he's not feeling good, then I would say it doesn't sound like any health problem. Just a hygiene problem.