Has anyone done DIY anal gland expression?

My Scooby has been dragging his bum about the last few days and keeps trying to bite or naw his bum - especially straight after having a poo.

I've read that this is most likely because his anal glands haven't emptied.

I'm not squeamish in the slightest so had a quick feel for the glands (externally) and could feel what felt like two slightly swollen glands either said of his anus.

I've also read some guides on how to express the glands but still have some questions on this procedure...

1 - How hard should I be massaging the glands? I don't want to hurt him or damage the glands.
2 - I know that I must be patient doing this - but how long until I give up trying (if nothing comes out)?

Plus any other handy tips any of you can give would be much appreciated

I'm planning on giving this a go tonight.... wish me luck.

It's not something i've done. Personally I would let the vet show me how if I was to do it, for fear of doing something wrong.

Not something ive done either ud be best with the vet. Also a sign of a dog dragging their bum on the floor the dog has worms

I doubt it worms because he up to date on his worming shots, and does not appear to have any visible on his stools or around his anus.

He does however, have what feels like two swollen glands either side of his anus which suggest an issue with his anal glands.

Plus he only ever scoots straight after a poo and seems a little sensitive as soon as my hand goes anywhere near his bum (a natural reaction probably haha).

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t15969-what-are-dog-anal-glands

Never had this problem but the link may help

may be let your vet do it the first time and ask if its ok if they show you the best way to do it

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've already done a lot of reading on this issue so am quite clued up as to what they are, why they get blocked etc.

However, he seemed ok last night and no scooting this morning either which was when he was doing it the most, so fingers crossed, he's sorted himself out

Useful video in the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Cr1MQaGHc

Ok, had a go at doing it myself last night. Scooby seemed quite clam while I was doing this but after about 5 mins of moderate massaging the glands, only a tiny bit of clearish fluid came out - nowhere near the amount you see in the videos anyway.

Having said that, since then, there has been no scooting but if he does start again, then I'll just take him to the vets to be done.

I'm most likely not pressing hard enough but I dont want to hurt the poor little fella.

Thought I'd give a little update on this for anyone out there in a similar position.

Took Scoob to the vets last week and his glands were full, so the vet emptied them using the internal method due to be able to make sure they're fully empty.

Was told that he should be back to normal now with no scooting, but then the next morning he was scooting again and I mean constantly scooting - something was really bothering him.

Took him back and they said that after a couple of weeks scooting and chewing his bum, it did look fairly red and sore so was probably just very itchy. They gave him a steroid injection and sure enough, he has been fine since. Everything looks normal and he hasn't scooted once.

They told me to just check his glands once a month but other than that, he's fine.

Thanks for the update Dan. Sounds like Scooby is a whole lot more comfortable now

Scoobster wrote:My Scooby has been dragging his bum about the last few days and keeps trying to bite or naw his bum - especially straight after having a poo.

Exactly what Zeus does when his glands are full.. when he was on dry food, they'd get full every 2/3 weeks and you'd smell that pongy fishy smell, that's when I knew they needed expressing, but I always took him to the vets for it, couldn't bring myself to do it lol.

Ever since I've moved him onto raw (been about a year now), never had to do it and no more bum rubbing = clean carpet!

goldie87 wrote:

Scoobster wrote:My Scooby has been dragging his bum about the last few days and keeps trying to bite or naw his bum - especially straight after having a poo.

Exactly what Zeus does when his glands are full.. when he was on dry food, they'd get full every 2/3 weeks and you'd smell that pongy fishy smell, that's when I knew they needed expressing, but I always took him to the vets for it, couldn't bring myself to do it lol.

Ever since I've moved him onto raw (been about a year now), never had to do it and no more bum rubbing = clean carpet!

Interestingly, Scoob has been on raw now for two week and it's been going very well. His scooting started a week before we started raw so I knew it had nothing to do with that.

He's loving the raw and I'm hoping it will mean less vet trips now with random allergy issues

Glad ur wee poochy is better.

Scoobster wrote:He's loving the raw and I'm hoping it will mean less vet trips now with random allergy issues

(Touchwood) but that's been the case with me. For Zeus's first two years, I spent almost a grand going back and forth to vets, regarding allergies he kept developing and an insane amount of times he'd get diarrhea/off his food etc. He then got diagnosed with Colitis and had regular flare ups (one every month or two). It was then that I decided enough was enough and I took the plunge to raw. Since then, no allergies, no flare ups and he's looking as healthy as ever (did I say touchwood?!). I'm not saying it's the right fix for everyone but it sure as hell worked for me and Zeus!

goldie87 wrote:

Scoobster wrote:He's loving the raw and I'm hoping it will mean less vet trips now with random allergy issues

(Touchwood) but that's been the case with me. For Zeus's first two years, I spent almost a grand going back and forth to vets, regarding allergies he kept developing and an insane amount of times he'd get diarrhea/off his food etc. He then got diagnosed with Colitis and had regular flare ups (one every month or two). It was then that I decided enough was enough and I took the plunch to raw. Since then, no allergies, no flare ups and he's looking as healthy as ever (did I say touchwood?!). I'm not saying it's the right fix for everyone but it sure as hell worked for me and Zeus!  

There are too many people out there with similar stories as yours so a raw diet can't be ignored in my opinion

A little update... after a week of no scooting, he's started to scoot again over the last two days.

I checked his glands, and they were fairly large and full

Poor buggar.

I'm going to take him back to the vets again this week and see what they say, but it's not a good sign that they've blocked up again just after a week.

Scoobster wrote:A little update... after a week of no scooting, he's started to scoot again over the last two days.

I checked his glands, and they were fairly large and full

Poor buggar.

I'm going to take him back to the vets again this week and see what they say, but it's not a good sign that they've blocked up again just after a week.

Based on my experience, if it keeps happening that quick (which it did with Zeus) it's the food.

Oh no

Goldie what was it about the food that you found blocked him up? Was it pre or post raw?

goldie87 wrote:

Scoobster wrote:A little update... after a week of no scooting, he's started to scoot again over the last two days.

I checked his glands, and they were fairly large and full

Poor buggar.

I'm going to take him back to the vets again this week and see what they say, but it's not a good sign that they've blocked up again just after a week.

Based on my experience, if it keeps happening that quick (which it did with Zeus) it's the food.

I'm not sure about this in Scooby's case. He started to do it originally 3 weeks ago, and that was 1 week before we started him on RAW.

Since then, he has only been on raw 100% and seems to be loving it.

If this problem had started after we put him on raw, then I would be inclined to agree with you no doubt.