More anal gland misery

[ChickensThinkYouCanGetStuffed]

Took Jasper to the vet for his kennel cough vaccine today (he is goign to a sitter for Christmas) and while we were there I said I'd like his glands checked. They were last emptied two weeks ago and he'd begun to scoot again. The vet was brilliant, and even showed me how to do it. Unfortunately, Jas has another infection . This is just six weeks after the last one. So more antibiotics. The vet is wondering if Jas might have a food allergy, as he also scratches a bit around his neck and back end (although thankfully he doesn't pull his fur out or make himself bleed). I am just feeling very disheartened. I hate the idea that he is in discomfort or feeling ill all the time because of this. I'm going to buy some latex gloves and a jar of vaseline and some whisky (the whisky is for me) and empty his glands weekly. The vet also suggested giving him piriton daily, to see if that helped (something to do with contracting sphincter muscles linked to allergy or summink). I'm just so deflated, because it all seemed to be going in the right direction for him health wise. Sorry, just wanted to moan a bit I think.

It might well be food related. It is for one of mine.

What is he fed on at the moment?

Something which is said to help is to add bran to his food as a filler, so the poos are big enough to empty the glands as they pass through which helps with keeping infections down.

The vet recommended anal gland removal for mine, but touch wood we've prevented recurring infection and emptying by concentrating on what goes in.

I'd think about food allergies too.

Staffy boy had recurrent ear infections, constant head shaking and red, weeping sores around his collar. All vanished when we figured out his allergen and removed it from his diet.

He's on Burns Mini Bites, and I give himbran and raw carrot as treats to try and bulk up his poo. His poo is firm, so not sure what else I can do. Any suggestions on where to start?

A chat with a vet would be good. I've looked at the ingredients of the Burns and there's nothing leaping out at me as an obvious allergen.

Staffy boy has wheat/grain allergies. Brewer's yeast too which is an arse as it's used in most 'hypoallergenic' foods.

Do you give training treats? And if you do what are they?

Also how much food is he getting? And how much does he weigh?

I've also lost track of how old he is - and what breed. Sorry!

And I meant to add, don't feel disheartened. It will be OK in time - and you're doing the best you can to make him better already. His food is good, so is the bran and carrots. There will be a cause, it just needs finding.

He is a springer/cocker cross (1/4 springer, 3/4 cocker). He is now 23 weeks and weighs 9.1kg. He eats around 200g of the burns a day, split in to three meals (smaller lunch now). Treats are either all-bran, or bits of cheese string or slithers of pepperami. He is occasionally given a scrap after dinner (bit of meat, a potato, some gravy type thing). The vet said he was leaning towards some kind of allergy, as he does scratch too. I am prepared to delve in to his rectum weekly if that's what it takes for him to be well, but obviously I'd rather not have to for both our sakes. I'm worried I'll hurt him or make it worse :( (And thank you to everyone who is trying to help, it makes me feel better to know that there are things I can do. I won't tell you the murderous thoughts which go through my head towards the woman I rescued him from )

You don't need to delve into rectum to empty glands, that is just the way vets do it, you can empty them externally. Look on youtube to see how to do it.

I have found that if you empty glands all the time they fill up faster, it's usually a case of extending the time between each emptying until they are only done occassionally. Have you tried feeding raw? It should help with food allergies.

No smell on earth comes close to the stench of anal juice!

Cheese is a big allergen for my dog - try eliminating the cheese-strings for a few days.

All Bran is the bran layer of wheat, so for the moment I'd cut it out. Wheat is a common allergen. Carrots are very unlikely to cause allergy, so carry on with those.

200g of Burns is about 10g a day too much for his weight, which sounds a ridiculous thing to pick up on, but if that 10g is added to with Bran and cheese strings and so on, it is too much food for his system to process - also known as over feeding. Over feeding is a common cause of anal gland problems; the excess the body can't process is turned into anal gland horridness and allergy symptoms.

To start with, I suggest weighing out the 190g of Burns he should have in a day and do all treats and feeding with just that amount. Add carrot as you like. Obviously, when he hits the 10kg mark, up the food accordingly.

Let that run for a few weeks and see if it has any impact. It might do and will be a very easy fix.

Thanks Daisy. That's useful. I confess I don't weigh the food out properly, it's just 3 handfuls for breakfast and dinner, and 2 at lunch. He certainly isn't overweight. Can't see his ribs through his coat now, but can feel them very easily. He often seems hungry half an hour before I feed him, so I guess I've been worried I haven't fed him enough. He is boarding over Christmas, so will only get his burns food then. It will be interesting to see if it makes a difference.

Do the handful thing and see how much it weighs up to being!

Does he still smell? That was Jasper, wasn't it? And if I remember correctly, he was originally on Royal Canin?

I think Jasper might have a sensitive side! So far, it does point towards allergy or intollerance so I would absolutely cut out all food except for Burns and veg - cooked or raw and see how he goes. Canin has quite a lot of cereal in it - maize and wheat usually - which might be useful in coming to a conclusion.

Does he also worry at his ears? What's his general condition like - partic his coat? Is he dandruffy?

He no longer smells, which is brilliant. He was being bathed in malaseb twice a week initially, then weekly. We're now down to a bath every fortnight or so, and hope to make it once a month after Christmas (Vet said it was best to treat skin issues as a long term fix, and stopping the treatment too soon could put him back to square one). Interestingly, he scratched a lot more when he was wearing a nylon collar. I got him a leather collar, and he stopped getting stinky and scratches a lot less. Yes, he was on Royal Canin but we switched to the Burns a month ago. He does scratch at his ears a bit, but they are clean. His coat is shiny, and his skin is clear. No dandruff or sores. He looks great, tbh, which is what is making the vet scratch his head a bit. He generally scratches at his neck area and gnaws his bum, but not enough to pull fur or make himself sore. The neck scratching happens the most when we walk, but he's a bugger for pulling (we're working on it). Three handfuls of Burns comes to 65-70g, so he's getting around the 180-200g mark I think. Plus one raw carrot, and a small handful of All-bran. The pepperami and cheese are only given in tiny amounts and when we're learning a new thing, iyswim.

www.viovet.co.uk/Pet_Store_Items-Dogs-Dogs-Treats_and_Extras-ProReward_Liver_Treats/c158_3263_234_2692_1974/category.html

www.viovet.co.uk/Pet_Store_Items-Dogs-Dogs-Treats_and_Extras-K9_Naturals/c158_3263_234_2692_3811/category.html

we use the above for treats/training

Thanks misdee :) I really do appreciate everyone's help.

your welcome. i spent ages looking for more natural treats for ralph as i didnt seen the point of feeding him a raw diet then giving him processed treats for training.

Burns recommended amounts are very low. My dog needed more, on the vets recommendation. Don't reduce his food unless he is over weight.

Why are you feeding him cheese strings, all bran and pepperami? They are full of salt, sugar, colourings and all manner of things I wouldn't want a puppy to eat. If you are looking for allergens, that's where they will be.

Use burns kibble for treats and training, or tiny pieces of something natural like liver.

I'm just giving him what the puppy school trainer uses in class. I do use kibble sometimes, but was advised to give him a more 'high value' treat for things he found tricky or didn't want to do (recall while playing with other dogs, for example). He literally has one cheese string a week, and one mini pepperami cut up in to tiny pieces.

for trainging treat I get packs of dried chicken and drid liver, they are in huge slabs and you cut it up into tiny peaces (if he is anything like as enthusiatic as eric you only need a tiny amount). do a bit of reading about raw feeding i know it helps with most things but wouldnt know for definate on this problem.

I have to say I think you are very brave trying it yourself.
burns is defiantly supposed to be one of the best foods. I do know of a dog that cant tolerate chicken. hope you get to the bottom (ger it) of it soon.

The vet did show me how to do it and advised me to try doing it weekly, btw, I'm not just donning the gloves off my own bat My vet is great, and he wants to minimise the distress to Jasper so thought it might be better if I can give him a clear out weekly, rather than wait for him to be infected again :( I will need a stiff drink beforehand, though. It's all glamour this dog owning business, isn't it?