Anal gland issues (sorry I know it's gross)

mymo

Apologies for the gross nature of this post...
So, Oliver is almost 9, never had any problem with glands before, his regular groomer only ever had to express them twice, but recently he's had some issues.
He's had two burst abscess in a month, vet thinks maybe it wasn't healed from first time, no signs at all there was an issue, the only thing I noticed is he was licking his front paws a lot the 24 hrs before it burst both times. This is an unusual thing for him to do.
He's also been having soft poop a bit since around Christmas, I usually give a little boiled rice and veg like green beans or broccoli and carrot with his dinner for a couple of days and it firms up again.

Anyone any ideas what might help keep it firm?
I'm afraid to switch foods as he can't tolerate anything that has chicken or chicken fat in it (however raw chicken has no effect on him)and he's been on grain free a few years now. He's currently on lukullus beef and trout, sometimes swapped for Markus Muhle black Angus depending on offers and doing well the last year or so until recently.
He is also a bin raider so I have got a secure bin now (small outdoor one with clip on lid) and child proofed the cabinet the sardines and cat food is in, to stop and midnight snacks.
Vet isn't too concerned, said it's common, once it heals I'll be getting him groomed again and groomer will check glands.
Anyone any experience with this and got any tips?

Nody

Common recommendation would be a size appropriate bone once or twice a week to help keep it empty.

mymo

Thanks, vet on duty is new and told me the chicken thighs and legs I was giving with skin removed (regular but not always weekly up until few months ago) were bad as they splinter, put me off seeing him again to be honest, but otherwise he was nice and good with the dog, his English wasn't great so maybe he thought I was giving them cooked?
Anyway I'm just back from butchers with chicken thighs for them both for tmrw, and butcher said he's going to keep me some nice lamb bones on Monday.
Hope it will sort the problem, any other tips?

Bells21

I've heard of others adding psyllium husk to their dogs diet as from what I can gather it bulks the poops to help clear the glands naturally. I haven't used it myself but others add it to their dogs food when they start to show issues with their glands.

Nody

Bells21 wrote: »

I've heard of others adding psyllium husk to their dogs diet as from what I can gather it bulks the poops to help clear the glands naturally. I haven't used it myself but others add it to their dogs food when they start to show issues with their glands.

Only caution with psyllium husk is to keep it to really really low amounts (tea spoon or less for medium size dog) and only for dogs who drink regularly as it's absorption rate is very high. The alternative is psyllium seeds (much harder to find and often mislabelled psyllium husk) which unlike husks would not swell up in the liquid but go straight through and as fibre help clean out the intestines. Husks you can find in flour form in pretty much any health store; seeds you'll probably need to ask for (it looks like small 2mm black seeds) or buy online. Also works for humans as a side note :P

Bells21

Nody wrote:

Only caution with psyllium husk is to keep it to really really low amounts (tea spoon or less for medium size dog) and only for dogs who drink regularly as it's absorption rate is very high. The alternative is psyllium seeds (much harder to find and often mislabelled psyllium husk) which unlike husks would not swell up in the liquid but go straight through and as fibre help clean out the intestines. Husks you can find in flour form in pretty much any health store; seeds you'll probably need to ask for (it looks like small 2mm black seeds) or buy online. Also works for humans as a side note

I hadn't heard of the seeds but they sound much more appropriate as ours are raw fed and drink much less water. Thanks for the info.

tk123

I've heard of somebody recently giving their dog weetabix to firm things up lol!! I add veg to Bailey's (raw) food to bulk his poo out and he never has any issues - he did have issues when he was on dry food when the poos were soft and then initially on raw when they were too small to clear the glands.

mymo

Oliver drinks a lot so that's good, I'll give the chicken tmrw, and the lamb bones Tuesday maybe and see how he does.
I do add veggies most days as he loves his veggies, he's being so good with his antibiotics and anti inflammatory, he eats them like sweeties!
Things have firmed up a bit, I may try some probiotics after he's finished the meds.
Thanks everyone for the tips.

Nody

Bells21 wrote: »

I hadn't heard of the seeds but they sound much more appropriate as ours are raw fed and drink much less water. Thanks for the info.

If you can't find it locally you can order from these guys; got multiple orders done with them for seeds and never had a problem. Only as a heads up though they will literally come out in the same form as when going in so don't be surprised about that fact (also flag it in case they ever do intestine xrays as it will show up there as well as it takes a few days to clear out completely and shows up as black spots; at least based on human tests :P).

kathleen37

My vet taught me to empty them for my two. I didn't have to do it too often (it isn't difficult) and knew when it needed doing as they would scoot on their bums.

I would have have rather the vet told me raw chicken wings would have sorted it, to be honest...

Have no experience of abscesses though, so that may make a difference...