Can someone tell me about anal glands please?

[mintchocchick]

My 5 month old puppy had bad bout of D&V lasting a week. Smelt gradually worse throughout it with a really high astringent smell.

Bathed him (plus bed, floors etc) second day of recovery on Sunday but smell didn't really go and is getting worse. Cannot eat in the room he's in as it's so strong.

Could it be full anal glands? I'm wondering if it is that whether they can turn into a medical emergency if they're infected? We want to get him seen to ASAP but wondering if need to get him seen to be a vet tomorrow or if we can wait till Friday.

Poor puppy! Anal glands smell both metallicy and fishy at the same time. Not nice. My pug suffers with hers but never so much as we can't eat in the same room.

Also you can tell they're bothersome because she arse spins and then sniffs the carpet. Yuck.

Hope he's better soon.

Yes they can get infected, you could probably see that they were I'd assume, red and sore looking? If he's well in himself I'd wait till Friday. Maybe stick his arse in some salted water

Thanks for salty water idea!

Hard to describe a smell - it's high, sore on the nose but not really fishy or Metallic

But really stingy on the nose, so strong everyone who comes in the house comments. He was scooting bottom along a rough towel on the floor couple days ago

Vets Friday I think!

Gosh yes that doesn't sound like normal filled gland smell. Have you had a look?

I always used to describe anal gland smell as like a nasty cheesy bum... worth getting him checked at the vets though.
My boy at the moment suffers with his anal glands, always has done although doesn't exhibit many of the typical signs such as scooting on the floor etc. A few years ago he had an abscess which had to be lanced and drained due to infected anal glands which wasn't pleasant.
Hopefully a trip to the vets to have them checked/emptied will sort your pup out

Thanks to you both. Not anal glands but poo matted into hair which we couldn't see. His runs were so bad and had obviously got everywhere - when we inspected closely and realised we cleaned and cut hair away - not a nice job but sounds better than massaging anal glands!!

Please, please don't attempt to empty the anal glands or let a groomer do it: get the vet to do it. The thought of internal tears is scary. I get the glands checked when the dogs go in for their jabs. One always need emptying, the other doesn't, same diet different digestion!