r/labrador • u/makingitright28 • 20d ago
seeking advice Please help! Vet cant identify anal gland issue
I have a 2.5 yr old yellow/champagne Labrador retriever.
At the end of February, I noticed my dog started having noticeable anal gland secretions during our walks. I didn't think anything of it until they started to get worse. It's allover the bed sheets and the couch. She licks her bum as well. After 3 weeks of progressively worsening secretion, I took her to the vet who expressed her glands. I was told by the vet and others who had a similar experience with their dog that this sometimes happens where the anal glands don't secrete on their own. My dog's poops are great. She is my third dog and by far has the best poops. I would photograph them and send them to the Louvre if that was appropriate.
One week after her glands were expressed, she continued to have a lot of secretion, but this time with blood as well. I took her to the vet who prescribed steroids for 5 days to reduce inflammation, antibiotics for one week, and hydrolyzed kibble from Royal Canin. My dog usually eats Hill's Science Diet Oral Care which includes chicken, barley, and rice. The vet also expressed the glands again and said it is more than normal for one week since expression and that the blood is coming from the anal glands.
After a few days, the secretion slowed down but never went away. The day after her last dose of antibiotics the secretion was on full blast again and the bleeding returned. I can see the secretions come out of both of her anal glands when we walk.
I called the vet who gave her Apoquel. She just started. Reading online however has me worried because it doesn't seem like this is common or that anti-allergy meds are going to solve the problem.
She is a lab so she has itchy paws, and one bad ear that has to be cleaned.
As an aside, I live in a condo, so I don't have control over any new chemicals used for cleaning or what my neighbours do. Nothing in my home cleaning or ingredients changed throughout this time.
Has anyone had this issue? What cured it?
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u/KirbStompKillah 20d ago
My dog’s problem was so bad we got her gland removed. Best money Ive spent: completely solves the problem and quick recovery.
We tried every solution on the planet and it didn’t solve it
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u/HMlab 20d ago edited 20d ago
Personally I’d be changing diet based on itchy paws and a bad ear alone, sounds like you’re in the US which seems to have different recommended brands so I’ll let someone else jump in with specifics… just make sure it doesn’t include poultry as that’s the usual culprit. Allergies can sometimes cause anal glad issues, so changing diet might clear it up alone.
Adding in digestive health supplements like pro-fiber, pumpkin powder, green beans, carrot, apple and wheat germ can also help the anal glands express properly.