How often do you have your dogs anal glands expressed?

LabMan2 · 10-12-2009

I'm curious to find out from all of you dog owners how often you have your dogs anal glands expressed? Every six months? Only occassionally? As needed?
Also, do you do it yourself or have the vet do it?

rayter · 10-12-2009

If a dog's glands are expressing naturally, then they don't ever need to be manually expressed. The anal glands are usually emptied when the dog defecates. As long as the dog has a good digestive system and a healthy diet producing firm stools, most dogs have no problems with these glands.

Lara's mom · 10-14-2009

I've never had to get that done.

UnderDog · 10-15-2009

Ours are on a BARF diet and thus produce firm stools, so we never have to have this done. If a dog anal glands do need this doing then I suggest changing the feed.

oes forever · 10-15-2009

oh such a wonderful part of my job!

as i groomer i dont tend to do glads often, but i am happy (honest) to do it if the vet has recomended it.
you can tell when they need doing by the vile smell, oh it churns my stomach.
sometimes you can do them and they fire out 3 foot, jet propelled, sometimes just a tiny bit.
most of the dogs i groom dont have their glands done. theres only 4 dogs i do their glands.
vets are happy that groomers dont do glands as sometimes there may be a problem and we wouldnt notice.
vets around here have now stopped the nurses doing it for the same reason.

i tend to recomend putting them on a chunkier diet to help them release themselves.

if it isnt broke then it doesnt need fixing!

Lara's mom · 10-15-2009

Why is it that some dogs (like mine) never have a problem with this while apparently, other dogs need this done on a regular basis?

Yogi · 10-15-2009

[QUOTE=Lara's mom;76388]Why is it that some dogs (like mine) never have a problem with this while apparently, other dogs need this done on a regular basis?[/QUOTE
I think the reason is as noted, in many cases it is the food in other cases breed.
Small breeds are slightly more prone to this than the larger ones which I have had many of each over the past 50 years. I know that the Miniature Pinschers I have occasionally I have the issue with a couple of them.
Doing it yourself is not that difficult if you do not mind the actual procedure.
Noting though that if you fail to do it or get it done it can and generally does end up in a rupture, first forming as what appears to be a boil. When it does burst, it can be very messy and subject to infection.
It is always a good idea to just check them periodically to be sure everything is ok.

Lara's mom · 10-15-2009

My homemade food is quite chunky. I cut the meat and vegetables in good sized pieces so that they will have to chew it rather than just lick it up.

DodoBird27 · 10-18-2009

My dog used to have them expressed as often as every month or two. We would smell it in the car or when we were sitting by him. But now that I think of it, we havn't had it done in probably a year or more but it hasn't been a problem. Maybe my dad changed his food :-?

mrandrei · 10-18-2009

Ideally, anal glands should be done every 3 months or so, they can get irritated and cause infections down there sometimes, if they're not squeezed.