Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Overactive Anal Glands

Overactive Anal Glands

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • SchouiffyS

    Hello all -

    beautiful subject here - I have noticed Lycia's anal glands are very active. I feel like I have to express them almost weekly. Her stools are firm and have the correct texture for a healthy stool. She has been eating normally, with a varied diet (raw, fruit, veggies) which is based on changing flavors of Orijen kibble. It's no fun to see her scooting, as I'm sure full glands are uncomfortable. Am I doing the right thing by expressing them when I see her scoot? Do some Bs just have "a little more to go around ???" Cheers!!

    Lauren - Lycia's Mum

    Wellington, New Zealand

    _

    I know they say dogs don't understand spite… but I swear Basenjis do._

    0
  • KipawaK

    Kipawa's anal glands also do get a little active every now and then, but he seems able to 'clear them out' when he does a bowel movement. I know it can be common to 'scoot around', but I haven't seen this yet in him.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • S

    Most b's are able to express these glands when they poop.
    I have not had a b with this issue, so I am no help, sorry.
    BUT I do know that adding pumpkin, *canned raw no sugar * will help
    the dogs with issues.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • N

    My mom adds sweet potato or pumpkin. 1 tbsp per day to her dogs' food and that helps with the anal glands. her Tallulah used to have to have her anal glands emptied almost weekly, but now we rarely have to empty them.

    I have one dog who had to have his anal glands removed because they kept getting infected, and my other dogs have not had problems with anal glands.

    -Nicole

    0
  • Shaye's MomS

    We put pumpkin in their food in the morning and it keeps the poop hard enough to clear the glands. Occasionally she does have to have them expressed, but not so often. Cottage cheese will also work, and rice of course.

    0
  • SchouiffyS

    So this will need to be a daily imput of pumpkin or sweet potato ?

    Lauren - Lycia's Mum

    Wellington, New Zealand

    _

    I know they say dogs don't understand spite… but I swear Basenjis do._

    0
  • D

    The anal glands could be infected.

    Jennifer

    0
  • D

    Yes, first see if infected. I buy sweet potatoes when they are on sale, bake them or cook in my crock pot whole. Then let them cool, slice them into about 1/3 of an inch slices, place on a lined cookie sheet, wax paper, foil or parchment paper, and then freeze, when hard place in zip lock baggie, put some out to thaw while fixing your supper then top their supper with one slice, ours love them, but Kell won't touch if they are still frozen, they others will knaw on them at any time. If I find the canned pumpkin on sale will use that, or in the fall will buy pumpkins, section them, bake till soft, then freeze as above and put those slices on their supper.

    0
  • tanzaT

    Yes, I would make a Vet visit and make sure there is no infectiong that is causing the glands to stay full…. I use canned pumpkin... about a table spoon in one of the meals.. but first I would make sure that there is nothing else going on, especially if this is a new development....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • M

    Do you express them yourself? I'm assuming if you do, it's externally. You should see a vet, excessive scooting might mean your dog's gland are impacted. Or they might need a more thorough, ahem, internally expression.

    0
  • bewlerB

    @Schouiffy:

    So this will need to be a daily imput of pumpkin or sweet potato ?

    I just use about one teaspoon of canned pumpkin every morning.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • M

    anal glands issue!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Okay... nothing wrong with her died or getting your food. You can keep her as she is, just add in fiber. And perhaps stool softeners for a bit. I actually gave my basenji liquid dissolvable fiber regularly because she would refuse to potty if it rained and ended up with anal gland rupture. But you can add in green beans, ground carrots or other veggies, even fibrous treats. However, I can't say enough negative about rawhide. Please throw them away. Although it has been almost 35 years, I am still distressed when I remember watching a dog choke to death on one, with 4 adults trying to hold the dog down to get it out of its mouth, the kennel owner getting chewed up horribly in the process, the terrible death. Saved from old post: Pet Health Info FROM: Seaside Animal Care was recently awarded the 1999 National Practice of Excellence Award (click here for details) from Veterinary Medical Publishing and an educational grant from Pfizer. We are one of just over 50 practices ever to receive this honor! WE DO NOT RECOMMEND GIVING YOUR PETS RAWHIDE CHEWS. They expand when wet and are the number one cause of intestinal obstruction at our hospital. They are poorly effective at "cleaning the teeth". Instead, we recommend chew-safe toys such as Nylabone® and Kong® products. Contact the hospital for additional information when selecting safe chew-toys for your loved one.<< While I find it LUDICROUS that they first state they are harmless then say they have seen it ALL, this does indeed support that they are not uncommon as you indicate: 2. From the AAHA: American Animal Hospital Association Miscellaneous Pet Care: Are raw hide chews safe? Answer Rawhide chews are pretty harmless. The problems come when they swallow them whole. They either choke on them, or the rawhide balls up in the stomach and causes gastritis or blockage. We've seen it all. Moderation is the key. One every once in a while is OK, but they shouldn't be included as a regular toy or part of the diet. In addition it's usually best to supervise or at least be nearby when your pet is chewing on any toy. << Diet - Treats and Snacks It is interesting to me that a number of veterinarians I have spoken with do say that they have seen problems associated with these toys. Their experience differs from mine. I practice in a rural area and sometimes I think that I just don't have enough patients to see all the problems that vets who practice in more crowded areas do. << OMG, they sell it yet their vets admit it is dangerous!!! Acme Pet - Pet Health Questions Ask Acme Pet'sExperts Q. I have a one year old mix JRT, she is a great dog. But the problem I have with her is that, whenever I give her a chewy like those basted sticks. I have to watch her because she will make it all soft, not bite a piece and eat it. She makes it soft and swallows half while she is still chewing the other end. She has almost choked on me twice. This happens with the square chewees too. A. I would suggest you not give them to her anymore. Many dogs die of intestinal obstruction each year due to rawhide. Find something else, which is safer, to give her.<< petcare Okay, this is a petstore, not a vet but thought their concern worth noting! In addition, we don't carry rawhide chews in order to assure the safest play experience for your pet. Rawhide chews, when gobbled or eaten in large quantities, can cause choking or possible obstruction in dogs. << vet@dog - Holidays - Chocolate and other dangerous goodies FROM: Dr. Lucy L. Pinkston, D.V.M. Rawhide chews can lodge in the throat and cause choking, or a large piece may be swallowed, scraping and irritating the throat and esophagus on the way down. Once in the stomach or intestinal tract, a large piece of rawhide can also create a physical obstruction. An additional danger that is less widely known is the practice, in some countries, of using an arsenic-based preservative in the processing of rawhide toys. We recommend that, if you do purchase these products, stick to brands processed in the U.S. There has also been a recent FDA alert about the risk of Salmonella associated with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials: refer to the FDA advisory or call 1-888-INFO-FDA. See below (discussion on pigs' ears) for more details.<< I could go on, but the bottom line is, if it is SOMETIMES, even rarely, dangerous, and it isn't NECESSARY, why do it?
  • S

    Anal Gland Secretions

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    5k Views
    Chealsie508C
    Good post, reminds me that this can really be a problem that the vet needs to assess. I was just talking to my friend that the last week or two Oakley has been expressing his glands up to 8 times a day… He has never had his expressed but I started thinking this is likely an impacted gland therefore off to the vets we go this week.
  • V

    Basenji Anal Gland

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    5k Views
    nobarkusN
    @AJs: Mr. Nobarkus, are you saying you don't like a good fanny scratch every now and then? :D Or is that subject material for a different forum? Correct, Nobarkus' scooting problem is a different thread thank you.:D
  • A

    Anal glands :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    5k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    I would give iot to them at both feeds and maybe start with a teaspoon, and if it doesn't seem to work great up the serving size to tablespoon. I think if I remember right, that it goes three teaspoons to 1 tablespoon, so if you want you could add a teaspoon until you are ath the tablespoon size..makes sense I hope
  • wrx227wrcW

    Anal Gland Issues and Diet

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    36
    0 Votes
    36 Posts
    16k Views
    wrx227wrcW
    We have also used fish oil (1/2 gel cap 2x/wk) and flax seed oil in the same dosing. I don't know if it has made a difference with the anal issue but it sure helps her coat and skin! Totally worth the money and effort.
  • ChaseandZahrasmomC

    Full Anal Glands?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    13k Views
    khanisK
    I know of breeders that would express anal glands EVERY time they bathes dogs for shows… this was when they showed regularly. I found it to be the most disgusting thing ever. I have read and been told that doing it regularly makes it so they will need to have it done more often or issues will arise. No thanks... I have NO PROBLEMS opening up a new wing at the vets for this!