Getting Dog's Anal Glands Removed

[Pluto30]

This morning we took our almost 6yo beagle to the vet for the second time in three weeks to have his anal glands "expressed" (what an image).

This has been a regular thing since he was about 12mo. Always 3-4 weeks. We've just started taking him more frequently to a different vet because we moved towns, and this vet has suggested considering having the glands removed. He said what is being expressed is very watery and the frequency of it makes him think it would be a good idea to remove them.

However, I've seen a few things online saying that it's not a great idea. Has anyone had experience with this? I don't want to make things worse for my dog, or promote infection etc. But if we could avoid dragging him in there every 3-4 weeks, that'd be good.

Thanks, ladies!

[8DaysAWeek]

Have you increased fibre content in his diet? What about expressing them yourself? Most vets will be happy to show you and let you do it in front of them to make sure you're doing it right.

I would say as long as there's no ongoing infection, pain etc and it really is just impacted normal content then removing them is a little bit drastic as there is a risk of faecal incontinence.

[Phillipa12]

My old lab had his removed after continual infection, and i quote from the vet ' hes had enough antibiotics to knock a cow out but they are still infected' . He lived another 10 years and had no problems related to their removal.

[Pluto30]

Yep. He's been getting metamucil in his food for a long time now. We think he has Cushing's (was diagnosed Sept 2015, but the new vet said he wants to have another look at that) so we've been giving pumpkin, tuna, salmon etc. to try to keep his weight under control and help with digestion.

Not going to express them myself. I'd rather pay!

Thanks Phillipa

[LimeJellyHead]

I would strongly advise against anal gland removal. It can cause life long problems.

One of our terriers had anal gland issues like your dog. I learnt to empty them myself and did it every 4 weeks without fail. That schedule suited him but do it every 3 weeks if that is necessary. I did it every 4 weeks for his entire life. It is a 3 minute job. I got so good at it and realised others were struggling, I made this video. I hope it helps.

[trixie1970]

Hello OP

Not sure if your dog still has a problem with it's anal glands but my little one has just had both his glands removed on 11th January so I think I'm fairly clued up and able to advise you. Feel free to get in touch for advice on the operation and some advice on ways to treat the problem so as to avoid the surgery. We tried practically everything for our little boy but without any success, hence the decision to have them removed. Obviously, we took advice from more than one vet before going ahead.

Best wishes to you and your little pooch x

[Wonderpants]

DDog had an awful time after this surgery and ended up having 8 further surgeries to try and rectify it. The wound burst (awful screaming dog), diarrhoea everywhere and several inpatient stays over around 6 months. And she still drags her arse and leaves trails on the floor!
She had had 2 infections which were horrible for her prior to the decision to do the surgery, but I'm not sure I'd put her through it again. Also to add, it was the regional specialist that did the surgery at a specialist centre, not just a local vet.

[Blackfellpony]

I've seen some horrific recoveries from this surgery and would do anything to avoid it in my own dogs! It's one of the ones I would be really reluctant to do.

[trixie1970]

I must admit, my husband and I did think "What have we done?" following the surgery because our poor little dog had a terrible time recovering. He's still not right sixteen days later. He had to stay in the hospital for three days and nights because he had the most dreadful diarrhoea dripping from his bottom. The vets finally asked us to take him home because they said his diarrheoa was due to stress. He was so frightened when having any intervention, he was wetting himself too! Upon bringing him home, he was bleeding from his bottom and in great pain even though he was on a schedule of painkillers, antibiotics and other drugs. He hadn't done a poo for over six days and was so constipated, he was screaming whilst trying to poo, so we took him to our local vet who did an enema. Rudi is still on lactulose but it's not helping at all. I will be ringing the vet again tomorrow for further advice. I agree with previous posts that a specialist vet is needed for this operation because it's a very sensitive procedure and if it goes wrong then there can be incontinence problems. We used a vet in Brighton who has performed this procedure successfully in excess of twenty times. Rudi is refusing to go out for a walk too because I think he's frightened of pooing. It has been an extremely stressful and anxious time for my family and my little Rudi.

[Keels39]

Hi my dogs just had both hers removed on thurs and to say we had it easy is an understatement . She has lost so much fluid(watery poo and blood) and it was touch and go if we would loose her . I was advised on Imodium to save her and plenty of water . It’s still very early days she’s seeming better with th sooo and blood easing she’s able to stay clean ish and get some rest as she was red raw with the constant tap of poo from her bum .
Any tips would be great

[AlbaBlue]

Hi, hope you don’t mind me messaging. My 5 year old whippet lass has had gland problems for years now (vet saying she’s been unlucky & always has a deformed on) both glands have had abscesses few times over the years & she obviously has been getting them emptied. Diet, supplements etc don’t work, she doesn’t have any symptoms so I am paranoid & checking her daily as she doesn’t let one even when she’s in pain. Past couple of days I’ve noticed a reddening around the area & just now a wee bit of gunk has started to seep out but it looks like it from her bum hole now around where the abscess usually would be. I am obviously calling vets in morning but wondered if you could give me some advice about the removal op as the vet has advised this in the last. I have heard some horror stories & feel sick at the though of my wee lass going through something so traumatic. I am so stressed out as don’t know what to do for the best!! Also how much were you charged as Alba’s insurance won’t pay as it’s been an underlying & ongoing health issue!
Thanks a million.
Lianne

[Ebbe105]

Hiya! My dog had his removed In April (2020) after a few years Of hell with his glands,
He ended up going to a specialist to remove them and unfortunately our insurance didn’t cover him so it cost me just over £2300!
The surgery was hell for him. 4 hours trying to remove them And the scarred tissue (Normally should take just over an hour).
He was on morphine for a few days after and kept in the animal Hospital.
Luckily apart from pain management for the first week he had to problems! No loose stools, no leakage of anything,
We kept the stitches clean with warm water and within 2 weeks he was back to his crazy self! All healed up completely within 4 weeks!
So far so good and we’ve had no problems, fingers crossed it carries on! Our vet said his surgery was so traumatic that we are still
Unsure if they got all the scarred tissue out so it’s a waiting game now!

Xx

[Ebbe105]

Edit! If he didnt have to go to a specialist it would if only cost £800 (roughly) but as his were so bad our vet just couldn’t do it.
(Cavapoo 5years old)

[Joystir59]

I've an 8 year old jrt who has to go to the vet every two months to have his glands emptied. He is such a stress head about going to the vets that he has to be muzzled and sedated to have this procedure done. So I'm wondering about having his anal sacs removed and would be grateful for any feedback

[Katie1302]

I have an 8 year old cavapoo who has had trouble with her anal glands for about 5 years now she had 2 abscesses which needed to be flushed and she really suffered after the procedures , so my vet advised for anal gland removal I was pretty hesitant at first as I was made aware that she would have quite a bit of scare tissue from the previous trauma and all the risks etc.
she had the procedure done around 2.5 weeks ago now and has just had the stitches removed which drove her mad. She was only kept in for 1 night and seemed to recover easier than when she had them flushed, she had one little accident 2 days after the op but apart from that she was back to normal, however she is still dragging her bum and the area still seems to be irritating her there doedd so not seem to be an infection or any swelling but something is obviously bothering her. I will give it another week as it could still be healing but if she’s still the same I will be returning her to the vets.