Question about anal glands...

 I don't do it unless they need it, regardless of whether they ask or not. It causes irritation, like you said.

Apparently, there is a groomer in town doing internal expressions. Flirting with disaster, is what I call that.

Internal expressions? How is this done? and did u hear why the groomer decided on it?  interesting

 With a glove, and a finger inside the dog. I don't think groomers' fingers should be inside of dogs, but that's just me. You get the glands emptier, but if they're so full they need that, they should be at the vet's office, anyways.

yes I agree that it should be done at the vets, sounds intrusive and taking a chance on something that might not need to be done. Thanks for the answers

It would completely depend on the groomer but probably I wouldn't want a groomer doing it  -- but I HATE HATE HATE to see a groomer doing an external manipulation -- it's gotta be uncomfortable. To have to pull that out THAT far .. ugh.

I do **my own** dogs internally.  I wouldn't do it any other way.  I don't really even like the vet doing it to be honest. 

yes, it's intrusive but if *I* do it I'll know I'm being gentle, I will *know* what was in there, I will *know* how the dog reacted, etc.   It's one of those things I do because I love them and  I want to make unpleasant things as easy as possible for them.  My hands are small, and I know I'm being gentle.

I watch hard to see any discomfort -- Luna only needs hers done ... gee, once in a blue moon - not even annually. Billy rarely.  Tink occasionally. 

I've had some dogs who needed it often.  Some who never ever needed it.

 Pull out? I squeeze, LOL. Doesn't seem to hurt, unless they're thick and icky, but then they'd hurt either way. Emma had that weird back end semi-paralysis thing going on, and fortunately for both of us, doing it externally every 4-6 weeks was enough. I tried going inside, and she bit the %^*%^*$^* out of me. She had to be muzzled, for the vet to do it, when she was young.

I go by unless there is a problem, don't mess with it. If you begin to mess with it, then you'll have to mess with it. Gaci is the only dog who I have ever had to express, and only when she developed an impacted anal gland that burst. Now she has some scar tissue and rarely will get some discomfort and I'll express them. Zipper and Shimmer have never been done.

I would personally choose not to use a groomer that continuously pushed me into doing something I didn't want to have done and was clear about. JMO.

Kim_MacMillan

I would personally choose not to use a groomer that continuously pushed me into doing something I didn't want to have done and was clear about. JMO.

I agree 100% -- and partly that's why *I* do what I do -- it takes some training and it IS a trust thing most definitely.  Very slow, very very "easy does it" -- but bottom line what Kim said is SOOOO TRUE. 

I know there are groomers on here -- and no disrespect to anyone but I make it a habit to 'drop in' on groomers.  If it's all hidden in the back or if they are pushy about ANY thing -- I'm outa there.  A bad groomer is my worst nightmare.  And if they are pushing to "do" something -- hmmmm -- most good groomers ahve way more to do than to berate me to "add" things for them to do.  That would make me instantly suspicious.

Now my groomer will say "Did you know Billy's left ear is a little sore?" or "That bump on his chest -- I think it's bigger this time -- what do YOU think?"

My groomer doesn't nag me to do things -- but she DOES try hard to help me watch the dog.  And her input is gold to me. (and I ahve followed this groomer ALL OVER TOWN -- she & Billy are thick as thieves ( they they were both human they'd be married LOL) but I've used her since we had Muffin.  It was a BAD groomer that cost Muffin his ears -- I caught her squirting another cocker in the ear with the hand-held sprayer FULL FORCE and then squirting shampoo DIRECTLY into his ear canal "to get it clean".  I almost had a stroke.  This wasn't ear cleaner -- this was SHAMPOO and the hand held sprayer from the sink.  To this day it makes me almost faint to remember that.  And I wondered by this dog developed a bad yeast infection a couple of weeks after every grooming.  And where do you suppose the deep bacterial infections kept coming from?? *sigh* 

But if a groomer makes YOU uncomfortable -- run, do not walk, to another groomer.  Ask around.  You don't want the groomer that is "closest" to you or "cheapest".  You want the groomer that someone says "Oh -- me?  Well I drive all the way over to __________ [far far away[ because Ms. ___ is just SO good.  Really I'd follow her anywhere.  I just don't feel comfortable with anyone else."

THAT is the groomer to go to.

thanks guys, yes I didnt stick around for the groomer who was overly pushy. Most of the time they just ask to do  the anal glands and that always confused me. Its nice to hear im not the only one who finds this wierd. I do bugs shaving now and dont have to go to a groomer.

You guys who are the good groomers and you owners/guardians who do your own - man, you have my complete respect.

I'll home cook, I'll do anal glands, I'll doo all sorts of gross dog junk.

 *drawing toe in dirt* But I can't do nails and I can't groom them.  Me and anything that buzzes or goes "Ka-***" in my hands .... it's dangerous.  I can manage to brush my own teeth with an electric toothbrush but that's about all.  *sigh*

Oh ... and I don't try to consume hot beverages while I drive -- anybuddy getting the clumsy picture I'm painting here??  LOL

Go figure....I always thought that anal glands were done internally! 

 Absolutely, Callie. If you can't watch them groom a dog (that isn't yours, most times it's better not to be where yours can see you), you don't want to leave yours, for the most part. Yeah, sometimes it's not pretty. Some dogs snap, and some dogs scream, and some dogs potty right on the table, but a good groomer is not ever mean to them.

Groomers around here don't even express anal glands any more.  They refer you to your vet.