My scooting cocker spaniel

[denverlynx]

Hi all,

My dog is nearly 7 and over the years I've just gotten used to running her to the vet to express her **** glands every 4-6 months. I was recently searching the net for ways to prevent her scooting. I didn't get anything concrete except for a article that suggested having the glands removed.

So, I'm curious if anybody has had this done with their dog? I'd hate to put the dog through any major surgery but if it gives her relief in the long run I though I'd put it under consideration. Any experiences with this would be greatly appreciated!

Shawn

[pet groomer]

For some reason,cockers do need to have their sacks emptied on a regular basis. I have 7 cockers and am a groomer. ask you vet or your groomer to show you how its done. You can actually do it on the outside of the anus squeezin both sides at once.. wear a glove..... good luck.

[Dax]

Have you discussed this with your vet? I would start with something as simple as wiping her bum with plain water on a papertowel before letting her in the house. Expressing the glands everytime they are bathed should help to.

[BabyElephant]

From what I've read removal of the glands is major surgery and should only be an option when the glands regularly become impacted. If you need to get her glands expressed every 4-6 months it doesn't sound like she needs this surgery to me - her glands are getting full but not impacted.

If you don't want to keep going to the vets get the vet to show you how it's done - every dog has them in a slightly different place. It's not something you should attempt on your own without having first been shown how to do it on YOUR DOG.

My dog seemed to need them expressing quite regularly (every 3 months) so I got the vet to show me what to do - she hasnt needed them doing since - lol. The vet did say not to express them more frequently than every 4-6 weeks because otherwise the dog can lose it's natural ability to express them itself.

[pung-yo]

Baby Elephant is right, removal of the glands is major surgery, your vet probably wouldn't do it. I've seen some dogs come back to the clinic having this done because they were loosing control of bowels, this is one side effect for some dogs. It's real easy to do once you've been shown how...a word of warning, the house smells horrible afterwards, so maybe do it ouside if possible. If some of the liquid gets on the dogs fur, it will need a bath, and cover the front of your shirt in case some of it flies , I always put a paper sheet over the area, but it still stinks lol.

[Commanderkins]

I would learn how to do it yourself. I learned(and it was nasty) but I have it down to a science now, and I do it once a month to my dogs, and they never scoot or bite at there bottoms.