Is it supposed to hurt?

[Spoiler]

I'm taking Harvey to have his glands emptied again, as he is scooting and yesterday smelled very fishy. It breaks my heart to take him as it really hurts him when he is being done. He screams in pain and last time tried to bite the vet's hand (which is not like him, he's a sweetheart). I have seen videos on youtube of other dogs having it done and they seem happy to stand there placidly, without even flinching. Does anyone else have this problem?

[aliceandlouis]

Alice has just survived another period of infected anal glands and had to have hers emptied by the vet a number of times during the process, poor thing    My impression with her is that when they were infected/impacted she squealed quite a lot (?surrounding area also very sensitive) - but sometimes she seemed to barely notice anything happening, more so when things on the mend.

All dogs have different pain thresholds I guess - and at different times they will be able to tolerate interventions in different ways - and some vets are more adept as well I suspect.... 

I really feel for you - it is horrible to see our little four-leggers in distress because of something we are putting them through, even if it is for their own good 

(PS - love the name Harvey - our first cocker was called that - see avatar  )

[Dunton4]

Tilly undergoes a complete personality change when she has her glands emptied - to the extent that I take the precaution of muzzling her  becasue I cannot guaranteet hat she wouldn't bite the vet! (She is a sweetheart normally and not a biter)  She squeals and snarls and is not a happy girl at all  .  My vet says it is because her glands are small and quite deep, making them difficult to get to.  It really is a horrible experience for her, but I have trained her to accept the muzzle and she seems to find it quite comforting - it certainly reassures the vet!  Interestingly, on a Tellington TTouch workshop the other week the practitioner told me that some stressed dogs are comforted by wrapping their muzzles, so this could be linked to why Tilly is happy to have her muzzle on and even seems to find it comforting.
 Why not try training Harvey to accept the muzzle and see if this helps?  I popped the muzzle on at home for a few seconds, building up the time and rewarding Tilly with lots of treats.  She positively wags her tail when she sees it now!  A muzzle won't stop it being a distressing experience, but it should mean that everyone is more relaxed (including Harvey  )

Just a thought about what works for us 

Sue and Tilly

[fenby]

Yep, another Harvey here who has to have his anal glands emptied frequently - he certainly doesn't enjoy the experience, but doesn't try and bite  . But as I said in an earlier thread I now get his groomer to squeeze them, he manages to do it in an instant without much flinching from Harvey at all. and he doesn't charge me!! I keep meaning to learn to do it myself but I can't bear to hurt him.

[Spoiler]

Just back from the vets. I felt so sorry for Harvey, he didn't want to go in the door and tried to jump off the counter very distressed. Luckily(?) it was a new vet I've never seen before. I think she is fresh out of vet school, really bright and eager. She listened to my concerns about the pain Harvey seems to suffer. She suggested I hold him and just see how we went on, and it was amazing. He had initially struggled when the gloves went on, but whatever she did he became quite relaxed and just nibbled at a piece of beef I had brought to distract him. Soon I got a whiff of what she had extracted and then she said "his glands were very full, but all done". Harvey had hardly seemed to notice.  I'm definitely going to ask for her the next time (poor girl )! She said it was her tiny fingers but I think she was just really gentle with him.
Thanks for your replies, its so good to get reassurance from the lovely people on this forum.

[Dunton4]

That's very interesting!  You've made me think that I should try a different vet!  So pleased that it went well for Harvey.

Sue and Tilly

[only1cliff]

Our Basset hound has had problems with his anal glands, his anal glands seem to get infected very easily. He has never shown any discomfort when they are being emptied, which is probable down to getting a treat while it happens.
We are off to the vets today to see if they are infected again, hopefully they will be ok. If they are infected again he will need to have his glands removed. Not somthing we have been looking forward to but something that will be better for him in the long term

[bluegirl]

I had a cocker who needed her anal glands emptying quite often and she always squealed when they were emptied by the vet. She got that was that she associated going to the vets with pain and so as soon as she was lifted on the table she would sit down and refuse to stand.