Can anyone here express their dog's anal glands?

[Jaybay]

I've had 2 of 4 dogs in my life with chronic anal gland issues.  If not expressed monthly, they explode in the house.  Peeee-yuuuuu!!!  My vet showed me the external method by cupping a wad of paper towels in your hand, and placing your fingers at about 10 and 2 o'clock around the dog's anus, then reach in and squeeze hard.  I can't do it!  I refuse to put on a glove and do it internally.  One, it grosses me out, and two, it looks really uncomfortable for the poor dog.  

Have any of you lay peeps out there been successful at doing this on your own?

[Fla305]

I read in a Dog Training Book put your thumb at 8 o'clock and your forefinger at 4 o'clock and squeeze into the paper towel covering the anus. I have a dog at my work that was scooting for a week straight, the poor guy. By the time I researched it and I was going to relieve him, the owners must have took him to his Vet... Good info here. I think the owner can do it depending on the breed. This dog was  a Lab mix and I always had Dobermans. I never had to do my dobies, but this Labrador needed help big time.

[harkep]

Hi my partner has just emptied my 6 week old puppies glands for the first time but don't know if he did it enough as only a little bit came out. Do You know how to tell ?

[Tsuki]

Well I haven't had it done to my dogs personally but a lady came into the grooming salon that I work at who had to get her dog's glands removed. Aparently her vet said they were fine and the dog ended up getting a fissure I think, and had to have his tail amputated as well. Beautiful dog. But dogs can survive and thrive without the glands. They just don't have to worry about other dogs coming up to sniff their butts.

[Jaybay]

I always wondered about the purpose of anal glands Tsuki!  Have you ever had to have them removed on your dogs?  I imagine it would be necessary if a fissure or fistula developed or kept returning in spite of regular expression.  

[Tsuki]

Oh also the glands are why the other dogs sniff butts. That is really what they are smelling of. And yes they can be removed and cause absolutely no problem for the dog.

[Tsuki]

The bath and brush has no cutting of the hair whatsoever except sanitary. Plus we clip the nails, bathe and brush away all the excess hair, and do the anal glands while bathing.

[Jaybay]

So far, Maggie's glands haven't exploded like our old dog's did.  Thank you God!!  :-D  But the poor little girl is obviously miserable when they're impacted - doing the butt-scootin'-boogie and licking constantly.  I asked the vet to show me (again!) how to express them, and even he said she's a tough case just because of her build. Maggie is a Dal x Lab mix, so her coat is very soft and extremely low-maintenance meaning she's never had to see a pro groomer.  Matter of fact, over the years that's been the only "requirement" we've ever had in a dog: no special grooming requirements!

I guess I may as well just give it another try next time she starts scooting again.  I've tried and failed countless times with both dogs, so maybe practice will eventually result in success.  LOL!

[Tsuki]

Ok if you can find a Petsmart or other grooming salon in your area, they will do it with a simple bath and brush. Depending on the dog, the prices can range some but it is much less expensive than going to the vet every time.Also, you say the bones block you from being able to express them right? Have you tried movin as close to the anus as possible? Even if you express only a little at a time it will save you the hassle of them exploding on you.

[Jaybay]

LOL!  Yeah, I get the whole external technique with the paper towels, and honestly I'm way past the smell bothering me.  Maggie's problem is that her glands are so far inside, that her butt bones block you from using that technique.  Obviously this is a big problem for many dog owners judging from the response to this thread.  :-)

[eyow]

I am one that can do it i have a mini dachound and it is awful if i dont do it. I just take paper towels and squeeze you can kida feel where they are. You better have a bunch of paper towels on hand. LOL

[Tsuki]

I work at a grooming salon and have to do it on a regular basis. I am almost at the point where the smell doesn't even bother me anymore. The important thing to remember is to push in on both sides of the anus, until you feel the little knots and then squeeze them. Sometimes I have had a few dogs come in and their anal glands were so inflammed that you honestly couldn't express them. That's when we have to recommend a vet to possibly have them removed. Whatever the case, it is best to have it done somewhere else you dog could get boils and an infection. Which means your dog could end up having to have it's tail removed. We had a customer come in whose dog had that problem .Anyways I hope I helped a little.

[yobuddie]

YES!! I use a plastic bag. It smells realy bad but it needs to be done. It is posion. If left alone it can be harmfull to your dog as well as harmfull to anything he/she squirts.Yuk! Pee -Yew! Groomers as well as vet will be more than happy to do it for you for a price. :)

[pennst8r]

When I used to groom in a shop, we did anal glands on all the dogs. Try a groomer

Penn

[Jaybay]

Oh yeah, the old "butt-scootin'-boogie"!   That's the final sign I look for to determine when to head for the vet.  Maggie will generally obsess over licking her rear-end first.  The bad thing about Maggie is her build.  Her glands are so far inside that her butt-bones block you from doing the external method of expression.  THAT I would attempt, but internal?  It's not so much the mess and smell that I worry about, it's the possibility of damaging sensitive tissues inside.  Sometimes those glands can turn into an abscess, and I wouldn't know it because I wouldn't know what I'm supposed to feel.  Guess I'm stuck with the vet.  :-\

[pj6k]

My 12 year old Maltese has had to have er glands cleaned frequently.  As soon as he scoots across the floor I know there is a need.  Sure enough - I learned to do it rather then the vet.
If you have diapered a baby, you can do this.
Simply take a kleenex, hold the dog firmly and squeeze the anal glands - out comes the green gunk and I catch it with the kleenex.  Works every time.  Have patience, love your dog, and care for him when he has this need.  Saves mega $$$$$.
pj6k

[NewLeaf]

Our groomer does our dog when we take her in for a "full groom" as opposed to jusat a bath/brush.  This cuts out a vet visit and any groomer worth their dog biscuits should know and do this as a part of normal grooming.

Now several of my male cats, that's another thing - pet em too "good" anfd they musk as we call it all over yoy/the bed/the couch and man, it is gross and stinks to high herven. Cass for an immediate shower and bed change!

[Jaybay]

LOL!  That's not a bad idea.  I'm sure if I added up the costs of the numerous butt-squeezings, it probably tops what a surgery would run.  Then again, I'm sure they have those glands for a reason.... don't they?  Oh wait, I just answered my own question: the glands exist to aggravate owners and keep cleaning product companies and veterinarians in business.  Yeah!  That's it!

[Fourpaws]

What about getting them removed???? Just a thought? Maybe they can't remove them or maybe they can?? Don't mind me, I have pregnancy brain!!!!!!

[puppy_boo]

I don't think I could ever do it myself...too gross.  I do know that the food actually has a lot to do with the the buildup of, um, excess poo.  If the stool is too soft, then some of it won't completely come out during potty.  Too hard isn't good either.  But then, there are some dogs that will always have anal issues, not matter what type of food is fed.  Poor little things.

[Jaybay]

No - lose/lose!!  He positively gags in the presence of anything having to do with poo.  He can't even do Poo Patrol in the yard without gagging - the big fat baby.  I'd be left with two messes to clean up.  LOL!

[peekawho]

Get your husband to do it!

Win/win.

[Jaybay]

Yeah, that's the way I understand it's supposed to work.  The stool keeps those glands emptied out with no assistance.  Old Chica never once in her 14 years had to have her glands expressed. But  Maggie?  Ugh!  The poor little girl has been plagued with this problem since we adopted her at 3 months of age, and she's almost 5 now.  Her stools are absolutely normal and I hesitate to do anything to change that.  To make it even more difficult, the way her butt bones are constructed forces a person to resort to the internal method.  Bless her heart, she's gotten so used to it now that she's fully cooperative with the vet and actually seems grateful when it's over.  The problem is that the glands just fill right back up again, and it sure would save us some badly needed money if I could do it myself.  Again - UGH!  :-D

Our first dog, Travis, had this problem almost as bad as Maggie.  My neighbors never did understand what I meant when I said, "Travis blew a butt gland last night and woke us up with the stench."  LOL!  They finally got to experience it first hand when they were at our house one evening.  Travis got to barking really hard at something and... you guessed it.  POW!  All over the carpet.  There just aren't any words to describe the stink...   :-O

[peekawho]

I can't do it either, but we don't seem to have much problems with it.  Perhaps once a year, one of them will seem to let it out on their own IN the house, usually on the couch.  God almighty, the stench.  

Do your dogs have firm enough stools?  Supposedly if they do, the stool passage should get the anal glands emptied out on its own.  

[Fourpaws]

Ugh!! I won't do it either! I just can't! My best friend does it, but she also works at a dog boarding place so they taught her and she does it all the time like it's nothing. I know the dog's yelp when it's done and with that and the fact that my finger is in their butt, no way!!!!