Deja Vu All Over Again

[so lucky]

I thought Penny must have picked up a couple of fleas, as she was biting and digging at her back end, but upon closer inspection, I found that her anal glands were swollen again. Took her to the vet this afternoon and they drained them, but said the left one was abscessed again, and had ruptured. Dang! I know it is very painful for her, and now she is on antibiotics and painkillers again. I haven't put her cone of shame back on her, but may have to, if she doesn't leave that area alone.
I thought we were doing so well, with the pumpkin and Glandex! She did do well for months, but this kind of sneaked up on us.
Now I get to put warm damp compresses with Epsom salts on her rear 3 times a day. Lucky me!

 

[journey11]

Oh goodness, I would not envy that job. Will she even abide you having to do that? We've had to wear a collar on my dog for months to keep her from bothering skin cancer tumors on her belly. I really recommend the Pro Collar because it doesn't get in their way eating or drinking, nor does it block their peripheral vision or hearing and it's kinda like a built in pillow to sleep on, lol. My dog is a pitbull and she hasn't been able to defeat it anyway.

 

[Nyboy]

Poor Penny, Lucky if you or your husband have a strong stomach you can learn how to express them at home. I do it all day long, it is very easy once you get over the gross factor.

 

[Nyboy]

 

[so lucky]

Thanks, Nyboy. At the vet, they go inside with a gloved finger. But this is usually after she is already impacted, so maybe if I get in the habit of doing it at home every 6 weeks or so, it won't get to that point. And I could do it as this video shows.
I do know the glands were functioning all right a few months earlier, as I could see the "pre-poop" excretions (sorry if you are eating breakfast now). But I haven't been walking her lately, and she often goes into the weeds to squat, so it's hard for DH to see what her hiney is looking like. (Not that we spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the dog's rear....but maybe we should be?)
Anyway, holding a warm compress on her nether regions is not too bad. She eventually gives up and tolerates it. I don't know exactly how the Epsom salts help heal....maybe reduce swelling.

 

[Beekissed]

Epsom salts can help remove inflammation from the tissues and give pain relief in that manner....invaluable for anything that is throbbing in pain.

Wonder why dogs that live outdoors don't seem to get this issue? Maybe they mark territory more because they have an actual territory to mark, thus expressing their own anal glands? I'm assuming that final little tail pump at the end of defecating is when the glandular material is expressed?

NY, thanks for the vid! I may never have to do such a thing but it's always nice to learn a new thing...looks easy... and gross, but still easy.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

My aging cattle dog had problems all summer. He would lick and lick and then would leak on the bed. I took him to the vet and one anal gland was infected. Took about 10 days of antibio to clear it up.

 

[Nyboy]

Bee it is very easy to do

 

[baymule]

Now I get to put warm damp compresses with Epsom salts on her rear 3 times a day. Lucky me!

Your name is so lucky!