A.nal Glands

[Commanderkins]

How often should I clean them out? I just learned how to clean them and it was very nasty! What is the discharge supposed to look like? And is it supposed to reek that bad? *gag*

[Commanderkins]

Nobody knows about their glands?

[AussiesCollies]

A neighbor does my Chihuahuas...no way would I do it myself lol. Maybe you could try calling your vet and asking for their advice

[Savage Destiny]

I think about every two weeks to once a month is good for emptying them. The fluid shouldn't be thin and watery, but it shouldn't be overly thick, either- A happy medium is best.

And yes, it ALWAYS smells that bad, lol.

[Leslie]

I have the vet do my one of my dogs. He says it isn't nessecary unless the dog has a problem. They usually empty just fine when they poop. The vet asked if I'd like to learn how to do it and I said NO! Hee hee! Not a pleasant chore. Reeks!!!!!!!

[Moo]

Yeah, if the dog has regular, firm poops, the glands should be fine by themselves.

[melinda&buster]

Good thread LOL!! I was wondering the same thing. C.C (my little chi) rubs her but on the carpet which I heard was a sign of them needing there glands cleaned.

But then Moo you said that if they have regular poops its ok?? Do I need to get C.C done??

I heard groomers do it to

[*chihuahuagirl*]

They should be done once they are compacted. More like every 1-2 months. Or if they scoot before that they need to be done sooner.

The color is like a brown. It smells very bad and we let our dogs smell it when we are dont(so they know that there was something smelly bad there - which they like, lol!).

[sheplovr]

If the dog is on a good brand that his poop is firm stool enough that each time he goes he rubs the anals and helps to clean them out. Anals should not be a constant problem on good food unless the dog has pin worms or otherwise. Worm once a month as I do and u know then it is not worms and if fed the proper diedt the ana las should be just fine, it is not natural to have a constant problem with them if the dog is fed the right food dry kibble wet with warm water stir ten seconds and serve. It is kinda rare to have the a nals problem in so many dogs unless it is the dog food coming throught too loose and not helping to scrape those glands to keep them clean and functioning properly. I know as I have Gino as a specialists thinking he had this problem much worse than that and nothing to do with a nals.

[Savage Destiny]

I find that even if a dog has no gland problems whatsoever, it's still good to empty them on a regular basis. It's better than having them get a little too full and expressing on your carpet!