Anal Glands Serve No Useful Purpose . . .

[vmills]

. . . except to bring intense pain to my Bichon-Cockapo mix Alvin.

It started with butt dragging, moved into infected anal glands, and then the ever-present threat of anal gland surgery. Three vet visists later, Al is fine. But is surgery in his future?

And what's the prognosis associated with anal gland surgery?

Here's the story on my blog:

What To Do When Your Dog Is Dragging His Butt Part I
What To Do When Your Dog Is Dragging His Butt Part II
What To Do When Your Dog Is Dragging His Butt Part III

 

[Ratboy]

King had one of them removed about 5 years ago. My vet back then (He retired) was considered one of the best surgeons in the area, and everything went fine. He did have a bad night where he got the shakes due to pain, and I took him to the local ER vet for a pain shot, but there were no real problems and it solved the whole deal. King went from having a "full" and usually infected right anal sac every two weeks that had to be emptied and he usually had an infection going to where he only needs the left one done about 2X a year.

 

[Aleron]

Little dogs are much more prone to having this issue for whatever reason. Some dogs are ok if you can have them emptied more often. Adding more fiber to the diet can help too.

 

[vmills]

What food provides fiber so anal glands can be expressed naturally?

You are correct - you can add pumpkin or sweet potatoes to increase fiber in a dog's diet. Unfortunately, if Al eats pumpkin at dinner (about 5 pm) he has to go out at 3 am and makes sure we get up to take him out!

What else can you feed dogs to increase the fiber in their diet?

 

[Ratboy]

King and Molly love snow peas and apples. An apple I can't eat due to it being "mellow" (too soft/ripe) they gobble up. King also likes oranges, and he will eat off tasting or dried up oranges I can't take either. Neither of them will touch pumpkin. I agree with them!