Foul Smelling Secretion

[mrs tornsocks]

Hi, posted this in general also, any help appreciated !

Our 18 month old lab was lying snoozing tonight when we smelt a rancid smell from his general vicinity. He hadn't moved at all, but there was a small amount of clear liquid next to his back end (hard to tell exactly where it came from). He cleaned it up and has been licking around his anus, some of the secretion is also on his tail.

Any ideas what this might be ? He hasn't appeared to have any anal gland issues (no 'scooting', scratching or otherwise noticeable issues). And now for the really dumb question .... do de-sexed male dogs still produce any kind of secretion from their penis ? I figured coz the factory's gone, production has shut down but just wasn't sure.

He's been normal, had a big play date today and had a roo tail (first time) a few hours after we got home, but has had normal behaviour etc otherwise.

Any thoughts appreciated !

[TerraNik]

Sounds like he released his anal glands.

[Bullbreedlover]

Sounds like he released his anal glands.

isnt it just a wonderful smell.

also lovely when they are in the car and there is no where to escape the smell

[GoldiesRgr8Poodles2]

My goldie does it all the time. never scoots or licks his bum. He mgiht be in the car on his bed, the carpet walking and them you smell the rotten fish and yiu know its his anal glads. its actually a good thing cause it means he'll never get impacted anal glands or any other problems!

[sezling]

Yup he is expressing his anal glands >< my dog does the same (secreting smelly liquid which stuck to his bum and tail which he then tried to lick) and I find it depends on his diet. If his stools are firm then the anal glands should secrete with bowel motions naturally otherwise there is a build up and thus the stinky release on odd occasions.

[stormie]

My goldie does it all the time. never scoots or licks his bum. He mgiht be in the car on his bed, the carpet walking and them you smell the rotten fish and yiu know its his anal glads. its actually a good thing cause it means he'll never get impacted anal glands or any other problems!

If the glands are emptying randomly like this, I wouldn't say it's a 'good thing' The glands are meant to express as they defecate. The fact that your Goldie's glands are leaking probably means they are full and may need to be expressed. It's when they don't express naturally (during poo) that you can get problems because they fill up and can get infected.

I'd be looking at increasing the fibre/bone in your dogs food to firm up the stools to encourage the glands to empty when they should.

[ellz]

Pasting as I posted the reply in General....

Rubber gloves on, lift the tail and feel gently at the 10pm and 2pm positions around the anus, if you can feel little marbles quite plainly, then some attention may be necessary. It is more than possible to maintain the anal glands yourself, but you should be shown how to first.

And for the comfort of everybody, the best time and place to evacuate the glands is in the bath so the liquid can be washed straight down the drain.

[Guest]

Stormie's right more fiber helps

Our shepherd used to do this and now it happens to our Lab our vet suggested adding allbran to their food for extra fiber so I might try that again.

lablove