I have a question about dogs. We took our dog to the vet to get her shots up to date and get a check up. We also told them that she has been scooting like if she had worms or something--even though we have her on preventative medicine.

So when we picked her up, they said no worms but her anal glands needed to be cleaned. She said usually when they bathe the dogs they clean them but couldn't clean my dogs because she is too fat.

So my dog is on her weight control food and we are working on her weight. My question is, when she loses her weight, is it easy for us to clean her anal glands ourselves? Has anyone ever done it or is this something for the vet only?

    

What?????? I have never heard of this before. I grew up surrounded by dogs (we've had up to 15 dogs at one time...we lived on a ranch) and we never cleaned their anal glands. I've also had dogs of my own (as an adult) and the vet never told us we had to clean our dogs anal glands.

Yes, I am a dog person myself and never did this! When I mentioned it to my mom the other day, she said "oh yeah, whenever my dog goes to the vet they clean hers when they bathe her!' After I posted here, I dug a little deeper and searched this subject. Apparently this is quit normal and the anal glands are where the dogs "scent" is. That is why dogs sniff each other there..lol If they get full of this fluid stuff in there, they can get an infection. If it gets really bad, a vet needs to get in there and clean it out.

So I went as far as to watch a video on how to do it--looks simple with a dog that actually will let you get in there. Not mine. I will leave it alone but if her scooting continues or gets worse, I will take her back to the vet and let them do whatever they need to do. My dog is feisty and I will not be cleaning hers out--that's for sure.

The anal glands are supposed to empty naturally when the dog defecates. (It's kind of gross, but if you notice a drop or two of liquid after your dog is done doing her business that's the anal glands emptying). If they aren't emptying correctly it's usually because the dog's food is too soft, or because the dog is not being allowed to defecate as soon as s/he needs to, but rather has to hold it.

Sorry in the previous post, I should have said that the stools are too soft, not necessarily the food.

Thank you very much for this information. Yes, I have noticed the "liquid" when she goes. Since I last posted, she is barely scooting around so I am hoping she cleaned herself out...hopefully.

You're welcome, Michelle. Good luck! It's nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too. Isn't cleaning of a dogs anal glands such a conversation starter...

Speaking of, it has been a few days and no scooting so I looks like she is doing well. Yay! One of my neighbors actually seen her scooting around on one of our walks a few weeks ago and magically doesn't bring her dog around where our dog walks anymore. I guess she assumed my dog had worms or something and is keeping hers away. Yeah, I might try just coming out and saying"no-it's not worms-she just needs her anal glands cleaned!"

Dog anal glands are two small glands located on either side of your dog's rectal opening. Each gland holds a small amount of a noxious smelling liquid brown substance that your pet uses as something of a doggie calling card.
__________________
Royal Canin | Hills Science Plan

I had never heard about this kind of problems and none of our dogs ever encountered this issue.
A little while ago a friend of mine asked me exactly the same thing and she said it happens more likely in smaller dogs. Her groomer showed her on how to do it herself.
Ask your groomer and if you can learn it at that place and do it on your own in the future.