Anal gland problems

[MissShapesMissStakes]

My 15 month old mini poodle seems to be one of those dogs that has anal gland issues. He’s had them emptied at the vets twice. Not for a while though.

But then tonight he started going really odd. He was panting; circling madly, kept sitting down suddenly, was shaking and kept walking fast with his tail between his legs and his bottom sloped down. He was staring at the lights and corners of the room. He did go out for a poo (normal). And then came in looking happier for twenty mins before it started again.

We took him to the out of hours vets and came back a couple of hours ago.

While we were there the vet examined him all over. And said his anal glands were the size of a malteaser (should be lentil sized). So she took him off to have them expressed. He came back looking shocked but tail up and wagging when he saw us.

Problem is he is still acting oddly. Like he’s been spooked. He’s not coming for his usual snuggle, is being really clingy and still keeps sitting down lots.

Is he just freaked out, tired (but finding it hard to relax) and a bit sore? I’m assuming the vet and nurse would have noticed if he had an infection or something around there. I’m worried now that I suggested his anal glands but it means something has been missed.

I think maybe we need to try to give him a normal night and then if he’s still like it in the morning I will phone our own vet (had to use the out of hours one, rather than our own).

Not sure what I’m asking really. Does all that sound ok?

Google chasing torch/laser lights, it is not a good game for dogs or cats and can affect them mentally.

It’s easy to express them

I do it from the outside not inside.

You lift the tail as high as you can from the base and then directly in the bottom “corners” you can feel two pea sized lumps if they are full.

You then sort of squeeze them and press upwards at the same time and it all comes out

I would look at what you’re feeding. My dog is three and has never had to have this done. We feed raw.

From what the vet said it’s just something that some dogs need now and again. It’s sometimes to do with the size of the anal gland opening. He’s only had it done three times so far and the first time he only needed one of them expressing.

While it can be a diet issue my dog is on a good food (Orijen) and the vet is more than happy with his overall condition. I think the diet thing is because if they don’t do good solid poo then the glands aren’t naturally stimulated properly. It’s also more common in overweight dogs. But according to the vet my dog is ‘perfect’.

Obviously I agree!

I know more about dogs’ anal glands than I ever could have imagined!

Well done op! You sound like such a caring owner and I'm glad to hear it wasn't anything more serious! Oh and I'm with you btw in the vets' doing the squeezing!

My dog suffers from this as well and I prefer to pay the vet to risk getting sprayed when emptying them

Def worth the money in my opinion Bitey!

He’s had a much better day today but he’s suddenly gone all spooked again. Wondering if it’s linked to the lights coming on now. So we will def not be playing any more torch games. Trying to do redirection.
Not helped at the moment as he is very reluctant to go out in the rain. I dragged him out this morning to the pet shop for a treat. But he’s not happy about going in the garden for a play. Doesn’t want to get his feet wet!