Anal glands removal tomorrow

[Jaysmumagain]

Hugs to Jinley

[Helen]

Well I took her in at 10.30 this morning and stayed with her after her pre med.  Had a phone call at 1.30 from the vet to tell me it was all done and went well.  Thankfully he saw no abnormalities so he was quite happy that there was nothing sinister going on.

So she is home, had some boiled chicken and fast asleep although when she wakes up she is very skittish. 

Back on Monday for a check up.  All internal stitches now waiting for the baboon bum swelling over the next day or so!

mine sent tissue away for a biopsy despite seeing no obvious abnormalities. Surprising how individual vets work.  I guess mine is very cautious (thankfully).

[lescef]

Thanks for the link Pat - I've joined the group, - looks interesting!
On the subject of these anal glands - Humphrey, very occasionally, will scoot but then only for a couple of seconds and then he doesn't do it again and there have been no other symptoms. A fortnight ago I picked him up from the groomer and she said she'd squeazed and cleared them as they were apparantly swollen and sore, although apart from one single scoot a couple of days previously, he'd showed no other signs to cause concern. May sound a silly question, but at what point do you decide to visit a vet? Does the scooting help them clear the glands or do they do it because its painful? I'm not sure if the groomer should have taken it upon herself to clear them or if it would have been better left alone? He's raw fed and poohs are ok. Should I be worried?
Hope Jinley's feeling better today!

Maddie has trouble with her glands as they are out of position. I think they scoot because they are irritating them. Maddie doesn't scoot alot but if she does the area does become red and sore so I try to distract her if she does it. I can tell Maddie is suffering as she goes for her backside and sits down suddenly.  If you can smell that awful smell then Humphrey is probably emptying them himself. If not just look for tell tale signs. It's trying not to have them emptied too often as they stop working efficiently. I'd say once every six months in normal conditions
The vet can show you how to do it yourself.  We used to do our other dogs, but Maddie's are too tricky.
I'm working my way through various options to try and help her, all suggested by that fb group!

[MIN]

Thanks for the link Pat - I've joined the group, - looks interesting!
On the subject of these anal glands - Humphrey, very occasionally, will scoot but then only for a couple of seconds and then he doesn't do it again and there have been no other symptoms. A fortnight ago I picked him up from the groomer and she said she'd squeazed and cleared them as they were apparantly swollen and sore, although apart from one single scoot a couple of days previously, he'd showed no other signs to cause concern. May sound a silly question, but at what point do you decide to visit a vet? Does the scooting help them clear the glands or do they do it because its painful? I'm not sure if the groomer should have taken it upon herself to clear them or if it would have been better left alone? He's raw fed and poohs are ok. Should I be worried?
Hope Jinley's feeling better today!

Gemma never scooted with her full glands. We became aware because she was struggling to pooh. When we looked her gland area was black ( looked bruised). They burst soon after( just before her vet appointment)

[bizzylizzy]

OK, - thanks Min, -maybe something I should keep an eye on regularly, along with ears and teeth etc.
I just wondered, if they're manually emptied when its maybe not really necessary, it could interfere with the natural functioning?  which is why I was a little taken aback when the groomer told me she'd done it.....🤔

[Patp]

Jinley never scooted either.  she licks her paws and her breath would smell when they needed doing.  Since the abscesses burst they are filling up with a thick paste.

I did ask the vet and he said that in some dogs they never empty properly and they end up unwell most of the time.

He also reassured me that in domestic dogs they serve no purpose at all.  Day 4 she is much better but still a little uncomfortable.  Another few days and she can start getting back to full health

[MIN]

Jinley never scooted either.  she licks her paws and her breath would smell when they needed doing.  Since the abscesses burst they are filling up with a thick paste.

I did ask the vet and he said that in some dogs they never empty properly and they end up unwell most of the time.

He also reassured me that in domestic dogs they serve no suppose at all.  Day 4 she is much better but still a little uncomfortable.  Another few days and she can start getting back to full health

we were told that also, that they serve no purpose. 

[bizzylizzy]

That's good to know, thankyou, I'll keep an eye out now!

[Xensgirl]

Please everyone......Anal Gland Cancer is fairly common in Cocker Spaniels.  I know as my boy has had major surgery at a Specialist 7 weeks ago. He had both anal glands removed plus two lymph nodes.  He had no symptoms....I just had a feeling something wasn't quite right with him.

We also lost his brother in May to the same cancer.  He had no symptoms either but it  had spread through his lymphatic system and into his liver.  Too late for him.

Please do get your dogs anal.glands checked regularly and by your Vet not your Groomer.

[bizzylizzy]

So sorry to read this, I had no idea it was that common. Were your dogs related or was it just a horrible coincidence?
Thank you for letting us know, I will bear it in mind from now on!

[lescef]

How is it diagnosed -  blood test, examination?  I'm worried about Maddie and her glands.

[Archie bean]

Diagnosis can be difficult because many dogs don't show any serious symptoms. I lost my last cocker to this. He only had 6 weeks after diagnosis which surprised the vet who thought he had much less time. I was not offered the option of surgical removal. The first sign anything was wrong was that he seemed a little constipated and did several poos on a walk rather than his normal one. The poos were also an odd shape - slightly flattened. They called them ribbon stools and apparently they are a common sign. Apart from that you honestly wouldn't have known anything was wrong with him. I just felt in my gut that something wasn't right. He went in to have sedation for another issue and I asked them to check his rear end. They cancelled the other procedure because of what they found. It was heart wrenching. He ultimately had to be pts because he developed mega colon and was unable to pass anything. Even this was a surprise because he seemed so well. This pic was taken the day before he went to the bridge, he brought me the toy to play with.

[lescef]

That is so sad. These spaniels can be so stoical it's hard to know when they are ill. Xx

[bizzylizzy]

That's heartbreaking. It must bring back painful memories for you Archie Bean but thank you for making us aware of this awful disease, - I had absolutely no idea of the dangers.....😔

[Xensgirl]

So sorry to read this, I had no idea it was that common. Were your dogs related or was it just a horrible coincidence?
Thank you for letting us know, I will bear it in mind from now on!

I only know how common it actually is because my boy Blue had his surgery at a Specialist Vet Centre, 7 weeks ago.

Its common in Cocker Spaniels, most unfortunately as its devastating.  I bred the litter and still have Blue's mum....there were three dogs in the litter, one had his anal glands out a year ago, we lost my daughter's boy in May to the same thing, and now Blue has it too. The one bitch in the litter is absolutely fine - so its only the boys its affected.
Three brothers all with this disease....its genetic and I know exactly where its come from.  Unfortunately, my bitch had had the litter before I found out there was a problem, or I would never have bred from her.  Now we are left to pick up the pieces.