What to do for a Dog with Impacted Anal GlandsBy Michelle Walter

   Have you ever seen your pet with his tail up, dragging his behind across your floor, and wondered why? It just may be that your dog has impacted anal glands. He is attempting to relieve the pressure, discomfort, and itchy feeling caused by the impaction. The problem is created when the dog is unable to empty the anal glands, a natural process that occurs when they pass a bowel movement. Unfortunately, if the dog doesn’t have enough fiber in his diet, the anal glands may not be fully expressed. If the glands aren’t emptied regularly, then an impaction can occur. Based on the dog’s size, the anal glands will range in size from a pea to a walnut. The anal glands contain a scent, which is unique to each animal, and is a way for the dog to mark his territory.

   Smaller breeds tend to have more problems with impacted anal glands and need special attention from their owners. Lifestyle changes are the best place to start for maintaining the healthy expression of anal glands.

1. Diet:  Check the amount of fiber in your dog’s food and add insoluble fiber to your dog’s diet if the amount is less then 10%. The additional bulk will help apply the necessary pressure to the anal gland during the course of a regular bowel movement – this is the most natural and easiest way for the anal gland to express. Try adding the following foods to your dog’s diet: cooked pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, lentils or peas, ground flax seed, cooked quinoa grain, beet pulp, organic unrefined coconut oil.

   Also, an overweight dog may have difficulty with impaction of the anal glands.  Adding fiber is a great first step to help reduce weight.

2. Exercise:  taking regular walks will keep your dog regular. The movement helps allow the natural movement of peristalsis, which helps keep the bowels moving regularly.

3.  If the dog already has an impaction, after you have thoroughly cleaned the area, make a warm compress using five drops of the following herbal tinctures and apply it to the area:

Propolis (Resina propoli) helps reduce inflammation.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) will help to support the health of the skin around the anal glands.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) will sooth the skin around the anal glands and promote healing.

   Cell salts are also a great addition when an impaction has occurred. Silicea (6x) Cell salt will promote the natural emptying of the anal sacs. Silicea will also help to keep the anal ducts open. 5 pellets several times per day when an impaction has occurred should do the trick.

4. If the dog has an impaction, here are steps to express the anal glands. (this procedure is not for the weak of heart, remember you can always contact your Veterinarian for anal gland expression).

     a.  Make sure the dog is calm and relaxed – this will prevent tension in the area.

     b.  Plastic gloves on and tissue in hand, lift the dog’s tail with one hand while cupping the tissue over the anus with your other hand.

     c.  Gently feel around the sides of the anus-you are looking for four small sacks, which will feel like bumps.

     d.  Using gentle pressure, with your thumb on one side and middle, index and ring finger on the other side, apply light pressure from the bottom area of the gland up and towards the anus to release fluid into the tissue in your hand. Be careful, because the impaction may squirt out forcefully.

     e.  After emptying, wash the area thoroughly with warm water.

     f.  Once the area is clean, apply a little olive oil or coconut oil with a drop of lavender essential oil to soothe and heal the area, and to further eliminate itching.

 Sources:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/anal.aspx

Allen M.  Schoen, Wynn, Susan. Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Principles and Practice.  Mosby, Inc.  St. Louis, MO 1998. P 26

Veterinarian Dr. Bob Hogan; At Home Veterinary Services, Fall City, WA


Published 2012-01-11

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Early socialization of dogs and other animals is important to help them get along as they get older. The latest recommendations are to get puppies in socialization classes after their first vaccine, rather than waiting until the full course of vaccines is finished. The first vaccine is typically around 8 weeks of age, so don’t be shy to take your pup out and let it romp around with other dogs!
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by Kaitlyn Reisner


Dr. Zamzow has co-founded a company called Vivo Animals that markets powerful, naturally-mined minerals known as zeolites.  Zeolites have been shown to increase immune function, assist digestion and intestinal health, and lessen tissue damage.1, 2, 3  Zeolites have also been effective in removing pollutants such as arsenic, heavy metals, nitrate, pesticides, and trihalomethanes from drinking water.4  Another study discusses the potential removal of ammonium pollutants from wastewater by zeolites.5  This is how zeolites work in living organisms; they remove toxins.  Not all types of zeolites are safe for consumption, however, so be sure to find out which type you are considering and whether it is safe to consume.

An increasing number of studies have found massive amounts of industrial chemicals present in the blood and urine of dogs and cats, and have linked these chemicals to skyrocketing disease epidemics.  In cats, mercury poisoning from seafood was found to cause neurological damage, and hyperthyroidism resulted from exposure to flame retardants found in bedding and food. 6  In dogs, lung cancer was evidenced from exposure to asbestos, and malignant tumors from exposure to lawn pesticides.6  Dr. Zamzow’s interest in environmental toxins and her volunteer work with the Washington Toxics Coalition developed into a passion to supply these powerful zeolites to assist animals in the detoxification process.  The work of the Washington Toxics Coalition has made Washington the first state to ban the flame retardants mentioned above which are known as PBDE’s. 7    

Dr. Zamzow works primarily with horses in the rural areas around Seattle and Kittitas County.  She has recently seen many health issues pop up in horses that previously have not been a problem.  Diseases like insulin-resistance/diabetes, Cushing’s Syndrome, metabolic problems such as laminitis, digestive issues, and malignant tumors have skyrocketed as well.  Dr. Zamzow would like to see more work done in the study of equine “body burdens” and the correlation to disease conditions, but from what we know of toxicity levels in humans, dogs, cats, and wildlife, there is not a doubt in her mind that horse health is being profoundly affected as well.

Dr. Zamzow received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 1990.  She currently has an integrative health, mixed animal practice in Ellensburg, WA and is working on establishing low-cost spay and neuter services for animal rescues and shelters.   



References

1.  Jung, B.G., Toan, N.T., Cho, S.J. et al. Dietary aluminosilicate supplement enhances immune activity in mice and reinforces clearance of porcine circovirus type 2 in experimentally infected pigs. Veterinary Microbiology. E-published ahead of print. 2009

2.  Khambualai, O., Ruttanavut, J., Kitabatake, M. et al. Effects of dietary natural zeolite including plant extract on growth performance and intestinal histology in Aigamo ducks. British Poultry Science. 50(1) 123-130. 2009

3.  Ahuja, N., Ostomel, T.A., Rhee, P. et al. Testing of modified zeolite hemostatic dressings in a large animal model of lethal groin injury. Journal of Trauma. 61(6). 1312-1320. 2006

4.  Dubey, S.P., Gopaul, K., Bersillon, J.K. Utility of adsorbents in the purification of drinking water: a review of characterization, efficiency, and safety evaluation of various adsorbents. Journal of Environmental Biology. 30(3). 327-332. 2009

5.  Zhao, Y., Zhang, B., Zhang, X. et al. Preparation of highly ordered cubic NaA zeolite from halloysite mineral for adsorption of ammonium ions. Journal of Hazardous Materials. E-published ahead of print. 2010 Feb 2

6.  Environmental Working Group. Polluted Pets: High Levels of Toxic Industrial Chemicals Contaminate Cats and Dogs. Accessed 7 Feb 2009. http://www.ewg.org/node/26238/print. 2008

7.  Washington Toxics Coalition. Accessed 17 Mar 2010. www.watoxics.org. 2010

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