OK, so you've got this far, so you know what to expect...

The other day I noticed the dog had dried poo in the hair around her anus. I remived most of it with a tissue and cut some of it out. Tonight I can home to probably my worse nightmare.

She had obviously eaten something she didn't like and there were small patches of vomit and dihorrea on the floor. I cleaned it up but there was still a smell and, to cut a long story short, she had it all over a back end.

I bathed her and phoned my dad for advice. He says I should stick to dry biscuits and shave her back end - which I'll do as soon as I've bought the shavers - but I've also been reading about expressing anal glands.

She hasn't been 'scootching', there's no smell but she has been licking but I put this down to her being in season. I tried to have a look but she growls if I go near the area. Is there are sure fire way of knowing if she needs expressing? and if so, does it really smell that bad?

Incidentally - anyone wondering whether they should get themselves a dog, should bear this in mind (you should really have seen my house and the fuss she made in the bath!).

i take mine to a groomers once a month and they do that disgusting job before they bath them both lol well worth the money!

HI,

I like Hunni take my dogs to the groomers once a month and they do the job on my labradors.
Many people dont have their dogs anal glands done regularly and without realising it this gradually builds up and can cause quite a serious infection.
A dog doesnt have to scratch its bum to have a blocked anal gland, although its a most common side effect.
One of the main causes of the build up in the anal gland is specifically when a dog has had an upset stomach and had the runs, as when the dog has a runny poo some of this 'loose' liquid doesnt fall away properly and remains stuck so to speak. Therefore if like you said your dog has had an upset stomach it will most definately need doing.
Firm stools dont cause a build up but loose ones do.

Hope this helps :)

Thanks this does help. My dad's going to teach me how to groom her soon but this is one job I don't fancy :-( (funnily enough, my OH doesn't fancy it either)

I've read about this and was prepared to accept it as part and parcel of being a dog-owner, but have been very fortunate- the dobermutt does not suffer with it, fortunately, but I understand most groomers and vets will do the deed if you are too squeamish to do it yourself.

According to the groomer that I'm friends with, it's one of the most popular aspects of their service- it's not really surprising that nobody really wants to do it, is it?

I think I need to get Eddy's glands done - T's never had a problem but Eddy, being an old man with a dodgy digestive tract often has runny poos. He's not had a problem with his anal glands particularly, but it probably needs checking by now!

Without actually expressing the glands you can feel if they are full. The glands are located at 5 and 7 if that makes sense I cant draw it on here :hihi: The motion you need to express is "up and out" but you need a vet or groomer to show you the correct way as you can cause damage if you do it wrong. If you feel at 5 and 7 then you can feel two pea sized lumps (if they are full), at an extreme you can see two pea size lumps without feeling.

I coudn't feel any lumps so hopefully a false alarm - I'll be seeming my dad shortly. I'll ask him to check her over - he knows what he's doing.

Can anyone telling me whether pretending to to poo is a symptom of this? The last couple of times we've walked her she's passed the normal amount but then proceeded to assume the position a few more times but not doing anything.

Just realised I put 10 to 2 in my post so I have edited now, should read 5 and 7. Squatting is not usually a sign, but if she has poo on her hair or stuck then she may squat to strain, as she can feel something there?

Usual signs are jumping around sharply to bite the back end as if they have a flea.
Licking or chewing the legs/feet
dragging the bum (scooting)
Fishy smell about the place.

or a combination of all of the above.

nice video clip here, for anyone interested. Dont watch whilst eating your tea.:hihi

:http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/dog-grooming-basics-glands.htm

thanks for that video ang although dark it was very informative and actually something i wanted to know as basil gets blocked alot. anna.x.

nice video clip here, for anyone interested. Dont watch whilst eating your tea.:hihi

:http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/dog-grooming-basics-glands.htm.

Sorry, I edited instead of quoting - nothing changed I hope.

I chickened out of watching video. I'm a wuss!

A word of caution... Millie (our EBT) suffers a little with her glands. We were told by our vets that it probably wasn't wise for us to try expressing them given the muscular build of the dog.

The groomer/vet in the video link above points out that you shouldn't go crazy if nothing comes out (might be your technique is wrong) as you can cause harm.