Anal glands...

[OnlyHereForPete]

My rescue's anal glands keep randomly exploding/leaking but despite going to the vets 3 times about it each time they say the anal glands are empty and are 'fine'.

I've had many dogs before and they've maybe had an anal gland leak once a year or so but this is once every 3 weeks despite me going in a timely fashion to the vets and hoping to 'head it off at the pass' so to speak...

Is this normal?! Everything in my house (sofa, beds) now has to have an easy removable and washable cover and I'm feeling so fed up with it. He's a nervous little chap as some thoughtless fool kept him caged for the first year of his life - we've come so far but I'm concerned anal gland leakage comes from fear despite vet saying no.

Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? Thanks in advance.

Well my dog has emptied his glands on a few occasions when he has been afraid so I am surprised they said not connected to fear.

I would also say fear thing. What is diet like? My girls eat raw. If they get smelly I up the bone content a bit. They then empty them when they poo. TMI sorry!
Have they been emptied by the vets a lot? That can lead to issues can’t it?

No, only been emptied by vets twice so don't think it's caused by that. He eats some wet, some dry and they never seem to empty at the right time 🤦‍♀️

I’ve not had it happen. Well dog hasn’t! But family members dog has done it when relaxed.
My old dog never had problems but this one sometimes scoots around the ground and then I can smell them. Giving her the odd carrot to chew seems to work. Weetabix is also meant to work but didn’t seem to agree with her.
I was brave and watched a YouTube video of how to empty them! I’ve not had to do it yet but didn’t look too bad. Basically get a square of kitchen roll and squeeze. People do say that once you empty glands you might need to carry on and better to do it via diet. Poo needs to be firm to keep glands emptying.!

Our rescue struggles with her anal glands too. She came to us with a number of health issues, one being infected anal glands. Once they'd been emptied by the vets and the infection treated with antibiotics, she would still leak from time to time.

We established that it was when she needed a poo. My old dog went out after breakfast and tea and did his business in the garden. Never on walks. New dog is an ex breeding bitch and rescued from terrible conditions so obviously a toileting routine wasn't something she was familiar with. Bless her, she didn't want to go in the garden, just on a walk. We've adjusted our routine so she is "regular" and no more leaks.

Our dogs used to do this a lot, we changed their food to natures way, do not give them any cooked meat anymore and they have now been great x

Some breeds are more prone to this than others.

My cockerpoo has to have her glands emptied every time she's groomed (every 5-6 weeks) and sometimes in-between as well.

She has dry food twice a day, with all-bran added to one feed, plus carrots, cabbage and broccoli at times.