Brutus has an anal gland infection.....

ROROSHELTON · #1 11-20-2009, 06:08 AM

Poor guy.....he just can't catch a break! He has been having some drainage of blood from his butt on and off since mid September. Was checked twice by the vet and the most recent was that both glands were infected. Started Metronidazole (sp?) twice a day for two weeks. He's 6 now and has never had any anal gland issue before. Vet tells me it's related to his allergies........which I'm beginning to think he's allergic to air. He was blood tested when he was two and they didn't find anything. The more I'm reading on this forum is that it could have been too early to have him tested. I've been through a variety of foods, all high grade, no grain, no chicken, no rice, no lamb.........been through it. He's been pretty good all summer with very little itching, just a runny nose and goopy eyes. Which is a step up from scratching himself into a bacterial skin infection and the multiple ear infections. I also started adding pure pumpkin and yogurt to his food, which he loves. Antibiotics in the past have given him diarrhea, which isn't going to help the situation. He's never really had firm poops either. But he was maintaining pretty well. Right now he's on Solid Gold Wulfking, low fat for a pancreatitis history. I guess I'm just asking everyone for some good healing vibes to be sent Brutus' way! If the antibiotics doesn't do the trick, the next thing is sedation and flushing of the glands. I truly hope he doesn't have to be put through that! Thanks for reading. Just needed to vent.

Eleonora II · #2 11-20-2009, 06:46 AM

I'm sorry that I can't give you any advice - all I can offer are tons of good vibes coming your way from Egypt. I know how I get besides muself if Bud-Bud just has his diet days where he doesn't want to eat properly ;-). I truly hope that Brutus is getting well soon.

Take care

MKAD · #3 11-20-2009, 07:27 AM

My Sam also has anal gland "issues." I feel your pain! It is frustrating to get the right diet. Sam can not tolerate pumpkin or yogurt; gives him diaherra. Ever since I have had him (he is my rescue), he has had loose stool. He now eats Wellness core & Natural Balance Duck & Potato (1/2 & 1/2). I also now make homemade treats for him (and Sally); he seems to do better. Lastly, I take bran flakes & mince them through the food processor. Each feeding, he gets 1&1/2 tb sprinkled on his food- that has helped firm up his stool (as firm as it is going to get). Sam gets "expressed" about every month & a half. That helps to keep the anal glands for building up with fluid (since his stool is not hard enough to secrete the fluid each time he voids). I get this done at the vets and not a groomer. It has cut down on his
"shart" attacks.
Good luck!
Mary

ROROSHELTON · #4 11-20-2009, 11:27 AM

Thanks MKAD! I guess I was looking for some sympathy. It's been a roller coaster ride with my poor baby. Allergies, ear infections, pacreatitis, bacterial/yeast infections....I've had him since 1 1/2 yrs old and he just turned 6. His anal glands have never been an issue till now. The groomer would externally express them when she gave him a bath about 4 times a year. Which the vet thought was fine. He started w/ some oozing type bleeding mid Sept, the vet tech internally expressed them and said they weren't thickened and just one side was full. "Keep an eye on it". The blood oozing stopped after about 2 weeks, then started again a week after that. The vet saw him 2 weeks ago, said one side was "near abcess" but that she expressed it and didn't think he needed an antibiotic. I'm leary of having to give him any pills, most of them make him either throw up or give him diarrhea. In hindsight I should have had him started on them 2 weeks ago. He does well with pumpkin and yogurt. But the bran flakes is a great idea! I had also considered sprinkling on some Metamucil, instead of pumpkin. And considering if he gets sick, the pumpkin stains the carpet if I don't get to it right away. If the antibiotics don't cure this problem, he'll have to be sedated and have them flushed out. I certainly don't want it to come to that. Thanks for your input! Glad to know I'm not alone!

MKAD · #5 11-20-2009, 11:34 AM

You are very welcome! My thoughts are with you & Brutus.
FYI- My vet said no way to Metamucil (trust me, I asked- I was desperate...). Give the bran flakes a try for about 1 & 1/2 weeks- it should help.
Hang in there!
Mary

ROROSHELTON · #6 11-20-2009, 11:43 AM

Thanks again Mary!!! You're advice has been a huge help! I certainly don't want to plug him up, just firm him up.....you know what I mean! And I got quite the chuckle from the "shart" attacks...didn't hit me till I sent my last message......LOL!!! Have you ever heard about the sedation/flushing procedure, or the one where they totally remove the glands? I just want to make him better......with the luck he's already had I'm afraid he'll be "sharting" all over the place if they have to do anything else!

ChristyA · #7 11-20-2009, 12:25 PM

Just to let you know sometimes it isn't diet, sometimes it is anatomy. My flat-coat retreiver had anal gland problems. My vet said I could come in weekly and get them expressed by him, no problem. But he said Erik's ducts were narrow so they couldn't empty completely and diet wouldn't change it - believe me I tried everything. So finally I had them removed. My vet has done the surgery hundreds of times, he did his dog, his receptionists dog, even my dentist goes to this vet and he took his dog there and had them removed. It is a surgery you want to have done by someone with experience because if not done correctly it could leave your dog fecal incontinent. My vet hasn't had this happen to any of the dogs he's operated on. We are in N. Canton Ohio it's about an hour and a half from Wellington if you want I can give you his number and you can call and talk to him about it. Erik is doing great, he's much happier without the pain of his glands. He is just like a puppy again.
Christy

ROROSHELTON · #8 11-20-2009, 01:03 PM

Thanks Christy! I'm trying to stay ahead of the game here. I've been reading about the surgery on the internet. And that's the common factor.........the surgeon MUST be experienced at the removal, or the complications could be severe. I haven't talked to my vet yet about this, but there about 6 vets in the clinic I go too. The one that saw him last night mentioned flushing the glands, which I read is the next step, but I'm afraid of them becoming a recurring problem. And that if I'm going to knock him out for the flushing, why not put him under and remove the buggers!? If it gets to the point I need the name of your surgeon, I'll get back to you. Thanks for your help!
Rose

ChristyA · #9 11-21-2009, 11:27 AM

Glad to offer help Rose. I know Erik was miserable until his were removed. My vet was recommended to me by a family that lives down the street and owns a 9 yr old boxer, Boomer. Boomer had to have emergency surgery and my vet did the surgery which saved Boomer's life. I have another friend that has a boxer and won't go to anyone else, she said this vet is the guru of boxer vets.

Whatever you decide to do I hope it all turns out well. It sounds like poor Brutus needs a break. Is he named after THE Brutus of OSU?

Christy