Anal Gland Issue?

[ArkRescue]

I have had this Amer. Bulldog Mix groomed at Petsmart twice now, and he seems to STILL smell bad (he's just under 2 years old) - was wondering if he may have an issue with his anal glands?

So who checks that? The vet? Or will a Groomer do it?

 

[Littlebit]

anal gland issue

I have had this Amer. Bulldog Mix groomed at Petsmart twice now, and he seems to STILL smell bad (he's just under 2 years old) - was wondering if he may have an issue with his anal glands?

So who checks that? The vet? Or will a Groomer do it?

That is for a vet to do. Pretty gross really so let an expert do it. Doubt a groomer would do it for you, especially Petsmart

 

[Roxie04]

Most groomers will do it if you ask them to. But they should have noticed the smell and said something to you. Just have a vet tech look at him to see if they need to be expressed.

 

[ArkRescue]

The groomers have not told me anything about him or how it went when I pick him up. I figured it's due to liability at some level? I happen to know he digs at his ears - the vet said he had ear inflammation that may require regular meds. He had his ears cleaned both times while at the groomer, but they didn't say the inside his ears were inflamed. So I don't know if they would tell me something they noticed or not? I guess I could call and ask them?

Most groomers will do it if you ask them to. But they should have noticed the smell and said something to you. Just have a vet tech look at him to see if they need to be expressed.

 

[cattitude]

The groomers have not told me anything about him or how it went when I pick him up. I figured it's due to liability at some level? I happen to know he digs at his ears - the vet said he had ear inflammation that may require regular meds. He had his ears cleaned both times while at the groomer, but they didn't say the inside his ears were inflamed. So I don't know if they would tell me something they noticed or not? I guess I could call and ask them?

If they're a decent groomer, they are going to tell you if they notice anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Roxie04]

If they're a decent groomer, they are going to tell you if they notice anything out of the ordinary.

Exactly. I would make a app with the vet if the smell is that bad.

 

[stoppingby]

When do you normally notice the odor? Is it always there after he's been groomed or does it return shortly thereafter? One of my adopted dogs at six months old had an odor. I even noticed it in the room and was asked if he'd expelled gas. Online I'd read instructions, found one really explanatory, on anal expression that one could do albeit carefully. I did take him to a groomer and there was nothing there. Oddly, the other small dog is the one that did expell a small amt. During this time I had changed their food over to Innova and it wasn't but within a month or so after that when the odor completely vanished. I'd take my dog to the groomer first (mine wasn't costly at all) if the vet is going to do the same thing and charge more. Then if it's nothing has changed, go to the vet.

 

[ArkRescue]

He did have a gas issue initially, but once I had him on Flint River Ranch dog food a while the gas went away (thank goodness). I am a distributor for Flint River Ranch dog/cat foods and I use any profit checks for the rescue work. So I should probably promote that more to help with the funding <g>.

The smell was still evident (albeit to a lessor degree) even right after he was groomed the 1st time. So I initially thought maybe it would take a couple baths to get ALL the smell off of him? BUT after the 2nd bath the smell was the same. So that's why I am now looking for another cause of the smell.

I see he is still digging at his ears off/on, so I want to address that with the vet again. The Pred in small doses off/on as the vet suggested doesn't seem to be helping much. A friend suggested he could have some other ear disorder? So I think a trip back to the vet is in order? I can ask about his ears and the anal gland issue.

When do you normally notice the odor? Is it always there after he's been groomed or does it return shortly thereafter? One of my adopted dogs at six months old had an odor. I even noticed it in the room and was asked if he'd expelled gas. Online I'd read instructions, found one really explanatory, on anal expression that one could do albeit carefully. I did take him to a groomer and there was nothing there. Oddly, the other small dog is the one that did expell a small amt. During this time I had changed their food over to Innova and it wasn't but within a month or so after that when the odor completely vanished. I'd take my dog to the groomer first (mine wasn't costly at all) if the vet is going to do the same thing and charge more. Then if it's nothing has changed, go to the vet.

 

[spinner]

Hold his tail up and if he has full glands you should be able to feel little bulbs on either side of his rectum. Don't get too close. If it looks red or swollen they are impacted. Dogs can get abcesses in them. I always empty small dogs glands and check larger dogs, but large dogs don't usually have a problem. If the groomer emptied his glands she likely did it in the tub so there shouldn't be a smell, BUT if something frightened him after [like another dog or the dryer] he could have dumped them on himself.
I would call and ask to speak to whoever groomed him, I don't know about PetSmart but sometimes there is information lost between the groomer and the receptionist [if they have one] and the client.
No, it shouldn't take a couple of baths to get the smell off him.

 

[ArkRescue]

I've noticed him trying to lick back there also, so that's another clue to me that something may be going on?

Hold his tail up and if he has full glands you should be able to feel little bulbs on either side of his rectum. Don't get too close. If it looks red or swollen they are impacted. Dogs can get abcesses in them. I always empty small dogs glands and check larger dogs, but large dogs don't usually have a problem. If the groomer emptied his glands she likely did it in the tub so there shouldn't be a smell, BUT if something frightened him after [like another dog or the dryer] he could have dumped them on himself.
I would call and ask to speak to whoever groomed him, I don't know about PetSmart but sometimes there is information lost between the groomer and the receptionist [if they have one] and the client.
No, it shouldn't take a couple of baths to get the smell off him.

 

[keekee]

My dog self-expresses her glands fairly often at vet visits. I always warn the vet that if she gets too scared - look out! It is a God-awful smell.

I wonder if the dog is extremely nervous in his new environment, if he could be doing this regularly enough to keep that lovely aroma.

Just a guess, I'm not an anal gland expert.