Thankfully my 9 yr ole ESS bitch doesnt suffer from that problem, just the occasional bum scrape on the floor maybe once or twice a month.

My mums old Polley (Pointer/Colly cross) used to suffer really badly from them, but my Mum being an ex nurse isnt squeamish like me and resolved the situation herself most times. Sadly he was put down last year at 16 yrs old but she has now replaced him with a Brown working Cocker called Alfie (aka Thug )

Steve D wrote:

Perhaps I might go next time and watch how the vet does it - it'll save me £45 a time.

Our vet does it under the standard walk-in general consult fee which is £15....

Just checked what it said on the invoice and it states '1.00 X initial consultation'. Oh, and it was £47.50, not £45.00
She's laying next to me sleeping the ordeal off. Aaaah.

What is it with this anal gland problem? We've had labradors for over 30 years and neither my wife nor I have had to stick a finger up a dog's bum.

I was recently shocked when my lovely secretary told me she regularly has to slide a finger up her Herbert !
Yes her dog is really called Herbert.

Is this a new problem due to modern dog foods or bad breeding or something else. Jules

thank goodness iPad screens are wipe clea, my tea is all over mine now

jules wrote:

What is it with this anal gland problem? We've had labradors for over 30 years and neither my wife nor I have had to stick a finger up a dog's bum.

I was recently shocked when my lovely secretary told me she regularly has to slide a finger up her Herbert !
Yes her dog is really called Herbert.

Is this a new problem due to modern dog foods or bad breeding or something else.

You don't stick your finger up the dog's bum for a start. Also it seems peculiar to Spaniels, not all dogs.

Spaniels are special in so many ways

taztastic wrote:

thank goodness iPad screens are wipe clea, my tea is all over mine now

[/quote]

You don't stick your finger up the dog's bum for a start. Also it seems peculiar to Spaniels, not all dogs.

Spaniels are special in so many ways [/quote]

Thank goodness for that. I can inform my sec that she only needs to give Herbert a massage but should continue to wear the rubber gloves . Jules

£10 for an anal sac squeeze.
Always slide a finger in with lots of lube. Its the only way you will know they are definitely empty... Not for novices really...
As I tell every client who has a dog or rarely a cat! If there was a definite reason for this happening and a definite cure for the problem... I would patent it and now would be on a beach in the Bahamas.
There is definitely a link between hypersensitivity (allergy to food or something) and recurrent anal sac problems. We frequently see bad ears and bad bums... "ears and rears".

MM MRCVS

finger in and you run the risk of your dog becoming Alan Carr of the dog world if he likes it  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Interesting that the subject of the cost of vets bills has come up again. Don't worry MM I am not having a go especially I work in a sector that most people regard as being overpaid for doing not much. Our vet told us recently that our Tibetan Terrier has racked up bills of over £13,200 in her 9 years and that doesn't include about £2,500 for a liver operation carried out by another practice. She now has an unexplained limp and so she was referred to Fitzpatricks aka Supervet and the final bill will be circa £3,000. However, at least they have properly diagnosed her unlike a vet she was referred to in Hove who simply said arthritis despite the X Rays being clear. Thank goodness for insurance although the excess is now 20% and the monthly premium £160.

The wife wants to get another dog!

The fore-mentioned tree-rat, looking a bit fat

 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Now just imagine if you were a zoo keeper and a Lion or Tiger had this problem. I would definitely call in the professionals.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Steve D wrote:

Just checked what it said on the invoice and it states '1.00 X initial consultation'. Oh, and it was £47.50, not £45.00

Funny thing is, my boys girlfriend is a vets receptionist. They charge £28 for a consultation at her practice (too far for us to go to) which includes the anal gland clean out if needed and she thinks even £28 is expensive, let alone £47.50. She told us that next time it needs doing to ask our vets practice for the nurse to do an 'anal express' which should be a fair bit cheaper. She said all this over dinner and she said it with a grin so she better be telling the truth or I'm going to look like a right perv!

Buddy & barney having a snooze