Anal Glands & Diet Help

[BasTyra]

Heya, can anyone recommend me a diet that is good for dogs who have repeated anal gland problems?

Since Griever broke his back he has had issues with his glands. They have ruptured several times. He had one removed (since it was the only one rupturing) but because of scar tissue the vet said he had to leave a tiny bit in. Since then it's ruptured a couple of times. He had another operation and the vet said he was more thorough because we told him not to worry about incontinence issues, and to just try to get as much of the bad gland out (griever is already partially incontinent due to his back injury).

If I start feeding him chicken necks again do you think that would help? Are there any other foods I could feed him to help with his glands?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. :D

[persephone]

Hi-

normally I would say to use psyllium husks, and feed more bone.

However, if your boy has spinal issues, are his muscles up to forcing a hard ,large stool out easily?

IMO.. anal glands are only 'properly' emptied when dogs have to strain a little to expel faecal matter, and when that faecal matter is bulky and hard.

He may need a slightly more soft consistency to avoid constipation too much straining... ?

[Staff'n'Toller]

Will he let you express them? If you can do them properly on a regular basis they will stop getting impacted, but it's important you learn to empty them to the outside and not into the bowel.

I wonder if it is worth speaking to a Chiro about it? Fair enough if that's it too scary given his back issues, but if you have Xrays to show them where the break was, so they can avoid that area, I am wondering if his lumbar spine is out and needs correcting?

Mel.

Edited December 21, 2008 by Staff'n'Toller

[Rappie]

Increasing fibre with sources like pumpkin, sweet potato, Metamucil etc should all hopefully increase the "soft bulk" of faeces which may assist with expressing the anal sacs. A bigger stool has more chance of putting pressure on the glands but should not requires additional straining to expel. Bones will create small, harder faeces.

[puggy_puggy]

Increase veggie (fibre) intake.

I was only thinking about this matter the other day. I used to have to get the pugs glands squeezed twice a year or more and they would be leaving stinky deposits on things probably once a month or so before I changed their diet completely over to BARF feeding. They have been on a full BARF diet for a year now and I could swear they have had no anal gland problems and left no stinky deposits this year.

BARF SLOPS INGREDIENTS & METHOD

Things I always include:

- container of alfala spouts

- bunch of spinach (roots cut off)

- bag of carrots

- bunch of celary

- 4 zuccinis

- 3 to 4 oranges (peeled)

- 1 pumpkin

- 2 to 4 apples (pips taken out)

- 2 to 4 bannanas (peeled)

- 8 to 10 eggs (whole including shell)

- flaxseed oil (approx 250mL)

- kelp (approx 100g)

What else you can put in:

- 1 to 2 green capsicums (stalk cut off & seeds out)

- 1 to 2 red caspsicums (stalk cut off & seeds removed)

- bunch of silverbeet

- turnip

- squash

- sweet potato

- 2 to 4 pears

- half to 1 pinapple

- brussel sprouts

- brocoli

- cauliflower

- bag of beans

- Apple Cider Vinegar

- Vitamin C

Chop up then process up in blender/food processor so that things turn to slops. Put each blender batch into a big bucket. Usually leave the eggs & flaxseed oil for things that don't blend very well like the pumpkin and carrots. Ingredients should fill up a bucket. Mix bucket with big ladel till all mixed through then put into take away containers & freeze untill needed.

[BasTyra]

Thanks for all the replies

We took him to the vet again (his bum was bleeding the day I originally posted). The vet said it hadn't fully ruptured yet but probably would. According to my hubby (I couldn't go) she put a scalpel up his bottom and lanced the swelling.

she gave us three meds to put him on for the meantime and said hopefully they will stop the swelling and prevent it rupturing but she did say we will probably have to take him to a specialist since it keeps occurring and they have tried to remove the glands 3 or so times already.

I don't have a clue what specialist she is talking about.

To be honest, I don't know that I could express his glands myself and i'm not even sure if a groomer could do it properly since his glands have been operated on several times... not sure though.

I might get him back onto chicken necks, I think the solid poos helped his express cos he can't push properly himself - as you said persephone.

How do I go about giving a dog metamucil?

I'll have to speak with the vet after christmas about what to do next if the diet thing doesn't work or if his bottom ruptures.

Thanks

[Dogsfevr]

"How do I go about giving a dog metamucil?"

Just sprinkle on there food.

Alot of diabetic dogs are given it as i believe it helps slow the pfood processing through so it works better.

i do now there are warning labels on this product with humans in regards to heart & something else i think it is9Just make sure your dog doesnt suffer from any of the warnings parts on the back)

[julesluvscavs]

Hi BasTyra

Our two have problems in that area as well (with their anal glands)

I have them regularly cleaned out ( every few months)

I have tried chicken necks, but it hasn't helped much .. I still give them chicken necks anyway..

I tried pumpkin as well, but maybe I've given them too much per serve, because it always gives them the runs eeek!

Some dogs are just prone to it.. maybe it has something to do with his back as others have suggested?

[julesluvscavs]

So is sweet potato ok for them??

Isn't normal potatos bad for dogs??

What the difference?

[BasTyra]

Yeah I think it has something to do with his back Jules, he never had anal gland issues before he broke his back and they only really started after I stopped giving him chicken necks

I think the necks hardened his poos up quite a bit.

I assume I need to use non flavoured metamucil?