It has been approximately five months since Jemma's last visit to the vet to have her glands expressed. Prior to that, she had to go every 4-5 weeks and if I put it off for even a while longer, her scooting would lead to the glands rupturing, also known as an anal gland abscess.
She was on a lower protein diet due to her liver issues and I noticed then that the gland expressions became more frequent. She rarely had such an issue during the first few years of her life on a high protein diet. So, in October, I increased her protein intake by a bit. That seemed to really help. A diet high in carbs and subsequently low in protein and/or fats can lead to anal gland problems. If your pet is suffering from this, I suggest you re-evaluate the diet and see if any changes can be made first and foremost.
During the odd times that I caught her scooting after that (twice since October), I gave her 1/8 tsp pure psyllium husks daily for a few days and that solved the problem immediately. I add the psyllium into her food and mix in quite a bit of water. If you do decide to try this, it is important to give lots of liquid with it as consuming too much psyllium combined with dehydration can lead to intestinal discomfort or in the worst case scenario, a blockage.
Many websites suggest that pumpkin also works well. I tried it with Jemma and it actually made the problem worse, so it is may not be as effective as psyllium.
Please keep in mind that these are only preventative measures one can take in dealing with anal gland issues. If your dog (or cat) already has ruptured a gland, please take him/her to the vet to have the wound flushed out. You do NOT want to leave it and hope it will cure on its own without incident -- a wound in such a bacteria-filled area has a good chance of becoming infected.
I would also like to add that what works for one may not work for another. The psyllium is just what works over here. Your pet may or may not react the same way.
- Jemma's Mom
