My 4 year old Yorkie/Cairn cross bitch has to have her anal glands cleaned every few weeks when they become smelly. About 6 weeks ago they were cleaned when she had problems with her back left knee, which was sucessfully treated by injection.

This weekend she has no smelly glands, but is walking very slowly, seems to have trouble with her back legs, is generally unwell. Of course the Vets are closed for Christmas !

Anyone any thoughts?

I wouldn't have thought the two things were related and it would really be best to make an appointment with the vet and not prolong it.

If the anal glands are causing so many trips to the vet to be emptied you may wish to ask the vet about removing the glands.

I hope you get this sorted soon.

It just seems a coincidence that she had gland and leg problems recently. Hopefully Vets will see her tomrrow and I will report back here.

As suggested the problems may be unrelated.

What are you feeding? To naturally vent the anal glands a diet that includes raw bones is wise. Chicken wings fed slightly warm (15 seconds in hot water) would be appropriate for your size of dog.

Before embarking on anal gland removal consider the risks of future faecal incontinence, to be discussed with your veterinary surgeon.


What was the injection? And what was the cause of the problem?

If there is a question about joint "problems" a diet that includes oily fish (tinned or raw) and the joints and such connective tissue of things like chicken wings, knee joints, leg ball sockets etc are a natural source of glucosamine would be wise.

Such bones must be served raw - cooked bones are not to be fed to dogs - it is dangerous.

If there was a link between the two problems it would be diet related.

Has the vet checked her hips knees and legs with an X-Ray? Yorkshire Terriers and Cairn Terriers too I believe can suffer from Luxating Patellas, which basicially means slipping kneecaps, it can be hereditary, and there are degrees of it. The Knee joints are not a good "fit" they can slip in and out.
Hips can be a problem too. If she has overdone things and has joint or skeletal pain and discomfort it can really affect a dogs behaviour as well as the obvious signs of limping or laboured movement. Do you know if the injection they previously gave was an anti Inflammatory either a Non steroidal or steroidal anti Inflammatory? I suspect that it may have been. I would get her examined asap and if it is skeletal pain/discomfort that seems to be re-occuring likely X-rayed also.

Some dogs can go through life with no problems with their anal glands at all.
They are scent glands that should empty naturally when they defeacate and most dogs do. Some though are a constant problem and require manual expressing. Its said that a change of diet to something more natural and less processed which will make firmer larger stools can help some dogs, as the larger firmer stools will press on the glands when voiding and help them empty. Adding things like Oat bran to the food too has helped in a lot of cases. So diet may well be worth looking at and trying. If in spite of a change to diet there is no inprovement, you can explore the possibilities of having them surgically removed but not something to be taken lightly, and I would explore all other avenues first.

__________________

Update. Having been to the emergency vet (it happened over the holiday period) and then my own vet, it apears that there are 2 dstinct problems -severe stomach upset, probably gastro-enteritis) and leg joints. She has had intravenous drip and several pain killing injections. Special diet and drink supplement have also been prescribed. She now seems a lot better, but by no means right yet. Joint problems will be checked again once she is over the stomach problem. Praise be for pet insurance - she has already run up serval hundred pounds (UK) in vet bills.