11 year old Boxador at the vet tomorrow... what to expect please?

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

He's been licking his bum for a couple of months; have given him supplements and changed diet to try to address any anal gland or gut issues but it hasn't improved. Last week he also started licking between his legs more. Yesterday he started farting quite a lot and today has been showing a bit of discomfort, so we booked him into the vet tomorrow. Given his age, we are preparing for something serious but we also wouldn't be putting him through a lot of stuff. He's easily upset and hates being separated.

Can anyone advise what sort of tests they might do and what they might entail, please? We'll take a poo sample with us although he is wormed up to date.

Have you actually expressed his anal glands? It's probably just that.

haha I've tried! But I couldn't get anything; I've had many dogs over the years and tried on occasion, even watched videos this time to no avail! Hopefully they will be able to do it and it'll all be fine 🙏

It doesn’t sound like anything serious, possibly an anal gland issue. Does he ‘scoot’ over the floor? That is, rub his bum over the floor? This is one of the main indicators of impacted anal glands.

In this case, the vet will clear his glands which can be slightly uncomfortable for the dog. It’s also incredibly smelly so be prepared for this.

Avoid squeezing the anal glands yourself. This can cause significant pain to the dog in amateur hands. Much better left to experts.

If his appetite and behaviour are unchanged, no more treatment may be needed. However, an x-ray could be useful and the vet may recommend this together with blood tests. Also discuss his diet - he might need more fibre to keep things moving along as he gets older.

I’m not a vet but have owned dogs for 30+ years. Your dog sounds lovely and you can hopefully enjoy great happiness with him as he grows older.

Thank you @Honeysuckle16 ; no he doesn't scoot; I've been feeling like he's more likely trying to 'clean up' a bit of leakage (he's supremely anxious about making a mess)(he's a rescue! he came to us with these anxieties :) ) as I've heard noises while he was licking recently. His appetite can vary anyway, but it does seem a bit worse lately. Also the extra anxiety for seemingly no reason. Thank you for your kind words! He is; will find a pic for tax...

@lifesabitchandthenyoudie love the user name. A friend wanted it engraved on an alarm clock. Unfortunately there wasn't enough space, so they went for "and then you die". Did make for a very tricky conversation when coming through customs after a random bag search.

Here he is, our beautiful boy! A few years ago but he's still just as handsome (imho)

haha, 'sensitive image'; he'll be along in a mo, I'm sure!

@Sillysoggyspaniel sorry forgot to respond! I was probably in the 'down' bit of my personality at the time (not bipolar at all, oh no. Not at all.) But it certainly suits my general outlook on life nowadays!

wee update for anyone interested; she cleaned his glands but said there wasn't much there to worry about, although it may have been what made him lick; she checked his prostrate and undercarriage, said she couldn't feel anything but he was a bit tender. So he's got some painkillers and we'll get a urine sample (took poo but she didn't want it) and see how he goes. On discussion he may have some regular gut issues but they've got a bit worse with age? Almost like IBS perhaps.

Fingers crossed it's just that and the pain relief will do the trick...

That’s good news then, fingers X’d for your handsome boy. They are such a bloody worry!

Further update and request for any vets out there... he was prescribed omeprazole, which seems to have done the trick! He's his bouncy, playful self again. Surprised it seems to be something so simple.

I am going to ask them but also looking for input - how long might he need these, will it be long term/life? If so, what is a maintenance dose (he's on 2 x 20mg per day) and are other names such as lamaprazole ok, as I'll be looking to get them online.

Anyway, safe to say we are relieved and sooo happy! Thanks for your input!