Can I ask about anal glands?

[Sue and Cash]

Sorry not the most pleasant topics on this special Irish day but.....

Cash had this fishy smell coming from his back end on the way home from the dog park yesterday.

I noticed it once or twice before but didn't realize it was him!  He was so muddy those other times I just thought it was dog park smells and bathed him.  But yesterday it was really strong and after smelling him all over, I figured out where it was coming from.  My last setter Dub didnt' ever have anal gland problems.  But the one before him, Casey, sure did.  He had to get them purged every month and loved to get the vet no matter how hard he tried to avoid the spray.  But Casey scooted and licked and you could tell it was a different smell.  Vile yes, but not fishy.  Cash was for sure fishy.  He has never scooted and doesn't lick there either.  It seems to have gone away today and I did wash him off there last night.  I was reading that in puppies it can come from anxiety or excitement.  They sort of leak a bit more than what is normally secreate with pooping.  Does this seem right?  Should he see the vet?  I hate to have anyone mess with his anal glands if it isn't needed since it can cause them to need it more often won't it?  He does get so excited to play with his friends there and does get more activity there than anywhere else.  Everything looks healthy and normal down there.  And I should add he never had loose stools.  Never!  He has a perfectly formed again healthy looking poop three times daily.  So what should I do?  Leave it be?  I need your experiences and advice please.  Thanks!

[Angela Roberts]

All dogs are prone to worms, in my opinion it would be nothing to do with the food they are eating. Also out of 6 adult dogs I have owned two of them have needed to have their anal glands emptied regularly and I do that myself easily at the same time they have a bath. One youngster had hers emptied at a few months old but never had any more problems after that. I'm not convinced it's anything to do with diet.

[Catherine Carter]

I am still feeding my setters the same as when I started in 1982....green raw tripe and plain terrier meal....I do add garlic and oil sometimes....It has worked for my dogs so far.....I have never had anal glands problem.....

[Sue and Cash]

This is the Acana Harvest Prairie Food....


Ingredients: Chicken meal, russet potato, fresh free-range chicken, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and rosemary), fresh walleye, pumpkin, fresh whole eggs, sun-cured alfalfa leaf, fresh northern Lake Whitefish, chicken cartilage (a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin), red delicious apples, carrots, turnip greens, organic kelp, organic bladderwrack, organic dulse, juniper berries, cranberries, Saskatoon berries, angelica root, chicory root, red clover, red raspberry leaf, dandelion root, peppermint leaf, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers, rosemary extract, Enterococcus faecium. Supplements: Vitamin A (18.000 IE/kg), vitamin D3 (2.000 IE/kg), vitamin E (400 IE/kg), vitamin K (2 mg/kg), vitamin C (85 mg/kg), vitamin B1 (75 mg/kg), vitamin B2 (44 mg/kg), vitamin B3 (250 mg/kg), vitamin B5 (40 mg/kg), vitamin B6 (32 mg/kg), vitamin B12 (400 mcg/kg), biotin (0,6 mg/kg), folic acid (3,5 mg/kg), choline (3.350 mg/kg), iron (300 mg/kg), zinc (270 mg/kg), copper (20 mg/kg), manganese (38 mg/kg), iodine (2,3 mg/kg), selenium (0,4 mg/kg), glucosamine (800 mg/kg), chondroitin (500 mg/kg).

Botanical supplements: Juniper berries (400 mg/kg), angelica root (400 mg/kg), red raspberry leaf (350 mg/kg), dandelion root (350 mg/kg), peppermint leaf (300 mg/kg), marigold (300 mg/kg).

Calories per kg: 4200 cal, of which 35% from protein, 35% from fat, 30% from fruit and vegetables.

analysis

magnesium 0.08 % calcium 1.3 % omega-3 fats 0.4 % omega-6 fats 2.2 % calories that can be burned 4200.0 kcal cystine 0.5 % cobalt 0.5 % lysine 1.9 % protein 34.0 % fat 17.0 % fiber 3.5 % taurine 0.5 % phosphorus 1.1 % sodium 0.2 % chloride 0.3 %

[eva ciechonska]

My original setter had problems with his anal glands. He too was fed on green raw tripe and terrier meal and his motions were always very well formed. However the glands were located quite low down and were not always emptied when the dog passed a stool. This does happen and is a cause of impacted glands. He had to have them emptied manually all his life.

[Sue and Cash]

My second setter was the same way. I have hope though, breeder said sometimes after they are grown it can work itself out, sometimes not. A lady told me today her Golden had the same issue the first two years of his life and never again. So I hope his butt grows just right to get things resolved. Sure is easier than fishy butt and more bathing.

[Sue and Cash]

Do you know if there is any correlation with higher protein and increased activity levels? Cash normally is very mellow, laying around, chewing on a bone or a toy in the evening and he went crazy a bit ago. Ran back and forth like 30 times jumping on couches, bed etc. We just all stood there is amazement. My husband said what is in that new food? Mind you it has only been two days and only about 20% of it each meal, but he had his first case of what we used to call the ZOOMIES. Hope I am not creating a monster. He passed out and fell asleep right after it.

[Sue and Cash]

Perhaps it has something to do with anatomy of the dog. The glands just aren't in the exact position to get enough pressure during the bowel movement to release small amounts like it is suppose to work. I know at the vet last night, yes we had to empty them yet again and I got instructions for external and internal and will try it, the vet techs told me it is most common in small breeds. They themselves had own toy breeds that have to have it done bi weekly. Its frustrating and getting expensive to have them do it, so I will try it again here in the tub.