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Subject: A delightful anal gland question!

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CL66

MH
Posts:399

07/15/2010 3:03 AM
From the age of about 3 months my first GSP has always emptied his own anal glands..disgustingly..on the car seat or the bed or some other delightful location. I thought this was normal and never bothered to do it myself. However, my 2nd pup now 6 months has never done this. So, is it normal for them to leak like this (usually every 2-3 weeks it'll happen.) Should I be doing something? Just wondered what to do about it really. Thanks Clare

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:6748

07/15/2010 8:32 AM
I have occasionally had a puppy leak, but never my adult dogs. I check their anal glands regularly, and once in a while have to express. Usually though if they are getting enough exercise the anal glands are fine.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

zodiakgsps User is Offline

NW PA

MH
Posts:1059

07/15/2010 10:35 AM
Never had a dog with leaking anals, been grooming for over 25 yrs & this is not normal. I don't mess with them unless the dog shows it has issues, the more you mess with normal ones, the more they need it done, I have yet to have to empty anals on a dog I owned with the exception of a BoxerX I had who had troubles. Have the older dog checked, could be they are not expressing normally when having a BM, filling and then leaking. May want to increase fiber intake, a little canned pumpkin is great for this. On the bright side, better leaking than impacting & abcessing!!!

TessaGA

Georgia

MH
Posts:2378

07/15/2010 10:53 AM
Tessa's leak sometimes - she is two years old. She does not seem bothered by it but yeah, that is a bad smell...

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

CL66

MH
Posts:399

07/16/2010 1:23 AM
Tessa yeah it is a really bad smell..and strangely metallic too. Uck. Thanks, i'm seeiing my vet on wed so i'll mention it to him then, see what he thinks.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:6748

07/16/2010 10:42 AM
Also, when a dogs anal glands are full (not impacted, just full and needing to be expressed) you can also pick up the same metallic odor on their breath. I can usually tell just by that when one of mine has an anal gland issue.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Shelley

Bristol, UK

MH
Posts:693

07/16/2010 1:45 PM
Hogan has to my knowledge, never leaked... I didn't even realise you were supposed to empty them!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:6748

07/16/2010 2:29 PM
Shelley - You would know it if he did leak, trust me. He probably doesn't have an issue with his anal glands, but if you are concerned you can have you vet check and your vet can show you how to check as well.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

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