I was just at the vet clinic yesterday to pick up some ear cleaner....and had a second to ask one vet there how I can tell if my Gibby needs to have his anal glands expressed or if he already did them. He said he could tell by checking them....hahaha then suggested I bring Gibby in on Sat to get them checked......because he isnt' there! Hahah...funny guy. Seriously,,,the girls in the back always poked fun and usually volunteer another to help the vet with Gibbys ( and Bubbys....and most other very large dogs ) anal glands.
But the question remains, how can I tell? I know that they should express when having a BM. He does have a nice firm solid stool...so I would think that would help him express them. But his has been known to express them while getting in the car after taking a training class where he is really tired and excited ( wonderful odor all the way home ), pulling himself up to lay on his Dads lap which he loves to do when we are on the lounge chair with feet up...and things like that. So YES...they are getting expressed...but because they are too full? Or because they are doing their job?
And..............I also wonder if this could have anything to do with anything. He did express them at home a couple of days ago..then again 2 days later. He had not done anything such as licking,,sniffing or anything to make he think he is having any problems. Last night when we were gone for dinner.... we took him out before we left and he pee'd. When we got home he had gone in the kitchen...except for a few turds in the living room...NOT soft or anything. He never does that.
Then this morning we did our regurla ritual where he eats before going out ( other wise he just wants to be inside to eat ) and then while I am getting his dish to wash he runs upstairs to check out something...whatever he does for that second up in our loft.....but came down and then scratched at the front door to go out. He does this almost exact same thing every morning. This morning when I went to grab my coat (which in the winter I just let lay on the side of the steps going upstairs ) there was a turd laying there. It obviously must have popped out either on his way up the steps or back down. And yes...he did go outside. Formed solids stools. I dont' know...can all this have anything to do with anal glands?