surgery for anal glands

[Oscar's Mom]

Hi, I’d like your opinions. For a while now we’ve been considering having Oscar’s anal glands removed. My vet gave me an estimate for about $700 for the surgery and he does about 6 a year. I posted this on the acmepet health board and they thought that was an insane amount and that I should find a more experienced vet for this.
Has anyone had this surgery done?

[Tanya]

I don't know about the price, but I would surely get a more experienced vet. Our vet tells us that this surgery is painful and can cause some other problems. He tries to avoid the surgery if at all possible because of the pain and how delicate the surgery is. I'd ask around. Does Oscar have a lot of infections? We have to express Josie's anal glands every 3 weeks or so, but the vet says it is much better than the surgery...unless Oscvar is having repeat infections. That's all I know though.
Tanya

[weenie]

I agree with Tanya. The surgery can be painful and may cause "loss of sphincter" control.

I usually have Willi's glands expressed about every 3-4 weeks. I finally learned how to do it myself to save some time & money. Some vets even recommend putting your dog on a "high fiber" food or supplementing their food with metamucil before going the surgery route. Like Tanya mentioned it also depends on just the glands filling up alot vs repeated infections.

If you do decide to have the surgery make sure you get someone who specializes and has done a lot of these surgeries.

Please keep us posted.

-Kris

[Owen's Mom]

Owen's little Buddy who's name is (what else?) Buddy.. had the surgery a few years ago. It's a very delicate surgery and he has lost some control. His glands were so bad though, that they'd express everytime he sat on someone's lap. Now, I usually don't let him up on my lap after he's poo'd because he doesn't always come away "Clean" if you know what I mean <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm35.gif" border=0>

I agree with Kris, if Oscar isn't suffering from chronic infections and spontaneous expultions, I'd just learn to express them and not put him through the surgery.



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~~Amy & Owen~~
22.8 lbs of Black and Tan Standard Muscle!!
www.dachshundrescue.org

[Oscar's Mom]

I am worried that the surgery would be painful for him. This is just something I keep going back and forth about. It just breaks my heart when he's spinning around in circles and crying about his bum. He has not gotten any infections, they just fill up quickly. I take him in about once, sometimes twice, a month to have them expressed. I don’t mind taking him in for that. Our vet does not really recommend the surgery, considers it totally elective, and did mention that there is a risk of the loss of control.
We did try the prescription food route, didn’t help him at all. We are always looking a food that will help his problem. Just today though I started added a little canned pumpkin to his food, so maybe that will help.
Thanks for your thoughts.


<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Oscar's Mom on February 05, 2001 at 04:42 PM</font>

[Cindi]

Pumpkin is such a useful product!!!!! I think it is time you were taught how to do his anal glands at home and just do them every weekend. I have a 14 month old that is on that routine now (and I'm a groomer and I still hate doing it http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif THAT often but) so everyone gets their nails done once a week and she gets popped in the sink. It is easy, quick, will never run into $700, and it will take you 30 seconds max once you get practiced. Water, little soap first, paper towel, express into paper towel, rinse, give him a cookie (Raven's favorite part cuz this means she gets two - one for nails and one for butt) and release. 30 seconds!!! I promise.