Anal Gland Expressing

[Badger's Mom]

Hi all. Badger(smooth black and tan) is now five months old and he has an anal gland problem. First off, there is a sorta embarrasing story to tell.
About a month ago, I took Badger to a store that my fiance works at and while a fellow co-worker was holding him, a loud noise spooked him and he expressed all over the arm of the poor girl.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm26.gif" border=0> It was slightly mortifying, but we hoped it was a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing.
Lately, for about a week Badger has been expressing his glands just enough to make his backside stinky (even if I'm holding him it coesn't get on my clothes). In fact, sometimes the only way you can smell it is if you sniff back there. Other times, you can smell it around him, like a haol of stink. Anyway, he's been doing it almost every day for a week with no apparent reason. Is there something wrong with him? Should I contact the vet. if anyone can help that would be great. Thanks.

[Wienergal]

Have you had Badger's anal glands drained by your vet or groomer? I couldn't quite tell from your post. The fact that he is "leaking" indicates that the glands are full. Once full, they can become infected rather easily, so plese don't wait to have this done!

Like many dachsies, Badger may have to have his glands expressed by a professional on a regular basis. It's real uncomfortable for the dog when the glands are full.

Did I read your message correctly?

[Little Freddie]

Oh no, the poor girl's arm!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm26.gif" border=0> I would definately take Badger to either your Vet or a Groomer ASAP to take care of this problem, as it sounds like his sacs are very full. I take Freddie to his Groomer about every 6 weeks and have his glands expressed, which are always just a little bit filled. I think he's due again now, as he's been doin a lot of licking, and come to think of it, he's been lettin out a lot of stink lately, I just thought it was gas? <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm24.gif" border=0> I'd better make the appt.!

Susan

[Badger's Mom]

I'll make an appointment for a draining. About a month ago I had the vet drain him because he was scooting alot. Maybe he is full again, but I haven't really seen him scoot at all, he just seems to be "leaking" as you say. Thanks for your replies. I'll let you know if it improves or not.

[twix0699]

I read somewhere that having them drained too often could cause problems. Is that true? I have also read that you can have them removed. Is that also true? Twix has this problem and the first time it happened she was seeming to have some sort of seizure. She was swaying back and forth and then couldn't sit or stand up and she was not with us--meaning she was off in the distance somewhere. I took her to the emergency vet clinic as it seemed to be getting worse and I was afraid she had eaten something poisenous (sp?). Once we got there then of course she kinda came to and acted more normal. When the vet came in Twix pooped the biggest poop you could ever imagine coming from her little behind. I paid them $50 to tell me that she must of been constipated!!!!! When I took her to my regular vet the next day, they said her anal glands were very full, full enough to cause her severe pain and that was probably what the seizure like actions were from. Since the subject came up I thought I would share that story but has anyone else experienced something like that?

Teresa and Twix

[Cindi]

Having had 2 dogs that did have seizures (each one had different 'types') and lived for years and years with them, I never had one that had seizures because it had to poop!!!! Odd diagnosis. I would watch your child for another episode as your description is classic and you caught the 'not there in the eyes' exactly.
I would also watch the bowel movements to make sure they do not become quite that 'difficult' again if possible http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif What are you feeding? Maybe something that would soften the stool a little would help - nothing medicinal, just a small amount of additional food source that would do that. Unfortunately, I seem to always have the other problem with my dogs and they are always getting canned pumpkin <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm5.gif" border=0>
As for he anal gland expression, normally they express themselves when the dog poops. If that doesn't happen, they can fill up. Expression is normally easy to do, stinky but easy (I'm a groomer, also, but I do my own dogs every other week. That should answer the question of too much being harmful. Done properly there should be no damage done unless there is already something wrong.)

[Badger's Mom]

Teresa, anal glands can be surgically removed, but that seems a bit drastic for now. My little boy is only five months old and hopefully he'll be okay once I have him drained. However, if things get worse, that is an option.

[twix0699]

Cindi,
I am sorry to have misled you but the vet said that the seizure type actions were from pain not constipation!!! Thanks for the chuckle though!!

Teresa

[Badger's Mom]

Hmmmmm, I took Badger to get drained today and get his nails clipped. He did NOT like it one bit and kept yelping and howling like we were killing him. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm36.gif" border=0> Anyway, his glands weren't full at all, in fact barely any came out. I don't know what is causing his constant expressing of his glands, but hopefully it will stop. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm25.gif" border=0> If anyone else has any idea, please tell me. Thanks all.

[Cindi]

So glad to lighten your day<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0> . Glad to know it wasn't from what I thought!!!!

[Penny's Aunt]

What did Badger's vet say about the leaking?

The vet I worked for was of the opinion that too-often gland squeezing COULD be harmful over the years. He ran into this with a lot of poodles that were groomed frequently, & the groomers were emptying the anal glands every time, whether they really needed it or not.

Does your boy get really exited a lot, that this could be simply a kind of lack of control?

That "seizure" really could have been caused by pain. The dog is concentrating so hard on the pain, that they are kind of "looking inward" -- like people who are just staring off into space. The difference (usually) with a seizure is that if you touch them or speak to them, there is no reaction. With pain, usually they will at least focus or roll their eyes toward you, even if they don't respond much.