Discharge

    • Puppy

    Discharge

    Once in awhile Laney would excrete this brown discharge that would smell very fishy. It's quite unbearable. She's spayed and is 1.5 yrs old. Is this something I should worry about?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sounds like anal glands.  Nothing to worry about so long as they are expressing themselves.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well,  I don't appear to be in a position to disagree with Glenda as she's had dogs for many more years than me.  But, I have had dog  anal gland issues.  My dogs don't "scoot".  But, they do lick alot and their glands do get full.  When they get full, they will leak out and smell.   My girl will actually start being in pain - actually hurting - if these glands aren't released.  So, I did start having to go to the vet with them.  For some dogs, one time of "anal expression" is all that is needed.  Other dogs, tho may need it just a few more times, and then there are the "chronic" ones.  My guys are like that, so I finally had the vet show me how to do it at home.  Not my favorite, but certainly doable.  
     
     Look for signs of scooting (which all dogs don't do), or excessive licking.  If the odor gets to be more frequent, or she is licking excessively,  then you might need to take her in to get them "expressed", or "emptied".      Sometimes, a full anal gland can become impacted, and this is something a vet would have to check out.  I really don't recommend you trying to do it yourself until a qualified vet shows you how.  
    • Gold Top Dog
    Actually, you *might* be in a position to disagree and you would be correct.  Normally a dog will express anal glands when pooping and we never know it.  In thinking about this more, yes, those glands could be a problem.  A couple of my cockers needed periodic expression...and we did it in the bathtub to more easily clean up the mess and the dog.  With my shepherds it has NEVER been an issue except for one time a pup got his leg caught in the recliner...got VERY frightened and in fear expressed the glands.  Phew!! What a stench!!!
     
    Licking, scooting or noticible expression really shouldn't be happening.  Nor should random expression.  That should only be happening when they poop and you shouldn't ever really notice it, unless you're up close and personal during the pooping process.  So I'm gonna retract my original post and suggest that you have the vet take a look at the anal glands.
     
    Thanks for posting and making me rethink my position![;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Let me just add that dogs can get infected anal glands, too, and that takes antibiotics squirted into the glands sometimes, and sometimes vets give a shot. Infected glands are painful for the dog. It doesn't sound like your dog's are infected, just full.

    Sofie had a bad case of what I affectionately call "butt breath" from licking full anal glands, (hers were leaking, too) and I added about 1/4 cup pumpkin to her food for a week to firm up her poops and help her express them naturally. It worked, too! So now I make sure she gets pumpkin at least a couple times a month for a couple of days. Actually, I just bought her a Kong toy which I'll fill with pumpkin.... Believe it or not, she loves pumpkin!

    Oh, and if you try that, be sure it's plain, canned pumpkin, NOT the pre-made canned pumpkin pie filler.