Anal glad removal?

A friends pug has chronic anal glad problems and the vet suggested that they be removed. I've never heard of this, but I'm still a relative newbie compared to many of you! What are the pros/cons to this? She's added pumpkin, changed her diet, and even tried something she adds to her water? I hate the idea of Miss Bella going through surgery if its not needed. I told her I'd ask the "experts"! Thanks

25 years ago, I had a Springer Spaniel and we ended up removing her anal glands. Won't ever do it again if possible.

Incontinence is something that can happen, and it happened to her. Poor girl.

Personally, I would try every avenue first before even considering it.

I know it's typically a last resort, but if the problems were severe enough, I would consider it. Not just cause I didn't like the smell, like I have seen people comments, but because the infections were bad enough and often enough for me to be concerned. I know loss of bowel control can be a side effect of the surgery. Bella had horrible glands when I got her, in that the stuff inside the glands was the consistency of dry peanut butter and the vet told me that she would likely never be able to express herself and I would always have to have it done for her. After about a year on pumpkin though her glands juice is actually juice. I would also make sure I went to a vet who'd done the surgery often and was comfortable doing it.

Thanks MJ, I did a search and read about poop dropping and painful recovery! Sounds like its best to avoid it. My gut said it was a bad idea. I've already texted my friend telling her to call me! I've told her about the forum(s), she needs to join.

A friend of mine had a pug that needed this done. Surgery went well and pug is fine but it was an absolute last resort because if it goes wrong the results are simply dire.

If she does want to go ahead she should find a vet who has plenty of experience a) with pugs and b) with that type of operation.

TNPUGMOMOF3 wrote:I know it's typically a last resort, but if the problems were severe enough, I would consider it. Not just cause I didn't like the smell, like I have seen people comments, but because the infections were bad enough and often enough for me to be concerned. I know loss of bowel control can be a side effect of the surgery. Bella had horrible glands when I got her, in that the stuff inside the glands was the consistency of dry peanut butter and the vet told me that she would likely never be able to express herself and I would always have to have it done for her. After about a year on pumpkin though her glands juice is actually juice. I would also make sure I went to a vet who'd done the surgery often and was comfortable doing it.

We must have been posting at the same time Marci! I am really going to dissuade her from having it done. She was thinking it'd be easier in the long run then having them done every 3 weeks. It does not sound as though they are infected. She's a good pug Mama and wants to do the best thing possible.

I've heard of it but don't know anyone personally who has done it and their experiences with it.

Only do it if you have tried everything else that could help the problem go away, and lastly, if all else fails, only then..would i consider that option...

best of luck to you! crossing all my toes and fingers that it will work out without needing surgery!

We just went through this discussion with our vet when Chester's anal gland got infected again. I absolutely view it as a surgery of last resort. Even with skilled surgeons, it's a tricky surgery. It's because in order to remove the anal gland, they have to scrape along the sphincter muscle and there is always the risk that you scrape too much or to something else to damage the sphincter muscle. My vet told told me he loses sleep when he has to do this surgery because he's never confident there will be enough sphincter tone left in the anus to prevent incontinence. That's the major risk -- that the dog will end up incontinent after the surgery.

We were able to avoid it so far with Chester. But I already decided that if we had to do the surgery, I would use a surgical group, not my general vet. There is a surgical group in my area who has had excellent success with removing anal glands. So the only thing I can recommend is to go to a surgical specialist who is very familiar with this procedure and make sure you ask them how many of their dogs have ended up incontinent after the surgery.

We had Hoover's (our first pug) removed. Honestly, we were a lot less educated about pugs at the time and probably could have tried other things first if we'd known better. We got lucky and he didn't lose any bowel control but it was a very painful recovery.

My vet has suggested this to us too since B's anal glands have ruptured twice. We were doing all the right things and he kept having problems (expressing, pumpkin, etc). We switched food on a whim and we haven't had problems since. Surgery was the last thing we wanted to do, so we are thankful to have avoided it. But we also knew constantly rupturing glands were not a good thing so we were really weighing the surgery options.

Two Crazy Pugs wrote:My vet has suggested this to us too since B's anal glands have ruptured twice. We were doing all the right things and he kept having problems (expressing, pumpkin, etc). We switched food on a whim and we haven't had problems since. Surgery was the last thing we wanted to do, so we are thankful to have avoided it. But we also knew constantly rupturing glands were not a good thing so we were really weighing the surgery options.

What food did you switch to?
She's tried Nova and a hypoallergenic food too

pugsandkids wrote:

Two Crazy Pugs wrote:My vet has suggested this to us too since B's anal glands have ruptured twice. We were doing all the right things and he kept having problems (expressing, pumpkin, etc). We switched food on a whim and we haven't had problems since. Surgery was the last thing we wanted to do, so we are thankful to have avoided it. But we also knew constantly rupturing glands were not a good thing so we were really weighing the surgery options.

What food did you switch to?
She's tried Nova and a hypoallergenic food too

He was on a weight loss blend that our vet's office carried. I can't remember the brand. We put him on the same food as Gidget and he has been fine with the butt glands. Sadly, his weight is creeping up now. They are on Salmon and Sweet Potato grain-free blend.

Two Crazy Pugs wrote: We switched food on a whim and we haven't had problems since.

I was going to suggest they try a different food. Tilly is bothered by her glands when we feed her certain foods. It sure wouldn't hurt to try.