Express Your Love by Expressing Your Dog - The Dirt on a Dog-owners’ Dirtiest Job
Posted: Sunday, January 29, 2006
by Randal Breaux
http://www.go-pugs.com
There is a dreadful substance inside your dog’s butt that’s aching to get out, and unless you rise to this disgusting challenge, consequences can be dire.
If your dog is chewing and biting “back there" or dragging its rump across the ground, chances are he is in need of a little expression – of his sphincter glands, that is.
Dogs have special glands that secrete an especially – shall we say – fragrant substance into their poop. It’s what makes a dog’s poop her own, and it’s what dogs sniff for when they are investigating other dogs’ rears or their droppings.
Problems occur when these glands get clogged up. The musky fluid begins to collect, and the dogs begin to experience irritating pressure and pain – like a turbo case of hemorrhoids.
Usually, the dog is able to express – or squeeze out – some of the fluid and get the glands flowing again. If your dog has ever been inexplicably stinky – almost like he has gotten into rotten fish or something, then chances are you’ve experienced a do-it-yourself expression job.
If you’re lucky, the sacred event took place outside, but just as often the residue ends up saturating carpet or expensive furniture. Yum!
Things get worse if the dog is unable to alleviate the problem, and the situation goes unchecked. As you might imagine, this can be an excruciating experience for your dog. Finally, you will most likely be saddled with an expensive vet bill, and your dog will end up needing a most uncomfortable surgical procedure.
Getting Down to Dirty Business
All of this can be easily avoided by a little human intervention. Expressing a dog is a simple enough procedure – it’s the mental challenge that is most difficult to overcome. Vile fluids squirting from a dog’s butt is certainly not a mental image you’d want to hold during meditation or anything.
Honestly, it’s really not bad. The liquid smells like fish, not …uh …you know. It’s mostly clear liquid, and it rinses pretty easily. It doesn’t have the staying power of the substance that cats spray (which is truly disgusting!).
Finding the glands is easy. If the butt hole itself is the center of a clock, the two glands sit at the four and
Before you dive in, I can hardly stress enough the importance of pointing the dog’s bottom away from you and anything else you care about. Also, make sure you have something to wash the dog and your surroundings down after the procedure. If it’s warm, take the dog outside if it’s cold, a shower stall that has a rinse hose is a good option.
I can recommend two expressing techniques. First, the upward thrust: position your thumb and forefinger each under one gland push in to make sure your digits are firmly fixed under each then give a strong lift, squeezing the glands upward. If you are successful, usually you will be rewarded with a good squirt – about the same as a squirt gun. Sometimes the fluid gets sludgy, in which case a small black worm of crud will emerge. Repeat a few times as required to make sure you’ve emptied both glands thoroughly.
If this technique does not produce the desired result, then you should try the more direct approach: pinching each gland separately, squeezing both sides toward the middle. Expect similar results as when using the first technique.
Do it Yourself?
If you are too squeamish to contemplate perpetrating such an abomination, you will be happy to know that professional help is available. Most groomers are willing to render this value-added service for a small consideration during a regular grooming failing that, your local vet can certainly perform the ritual, but usually at a higher fee.
I find, however, that my own dogs (three pugs) seem to appreciate my keeping this very personal need of theirs within the confines of the family. When I first started doing the expression thing myself, I wore what amounted to a home-made hazmat suit, but over the years my resolve has stiffened quite a bit.
Nowadays, I generally don’t even bother with gloves. I just take the dogs outside next to the hose and aim them away. A quick squirt and rinse and the job’s done. No big deal, really. It’s a small price to pay for a happy, comfortable dog – who seem to appreciate me all the more for it.
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More commentsTop secret? I'm not sure what you are referring to. If you are having trouble printing the article, you might try selecting the text in your browser and pasting it into Word or some other word processor and printing it from there.
This was really helpful! Thank you.
Our yorkie comes back from the groomer after being expressed with a red butt and scoots along the ground, butt first. He is very tired and sits on our lap and lies next to us for days afterwards. Any suggestions on what is wrong?Your groomer probably isn't doing it right. The red butt indicates soreness - probably from the groomer's attempts. However, these efforts mustn't be working. Once a dog is fully expressed, he should show relief; generally, mine get really happy and animated. Your groomer's manipulations are a source of pain, but are giving no relief. Imagine squeezing a pimple that won't pop; same principle.
It could be your dog needs a vet's intervention. Sometimes the fluid inside the glands is so sludgy that it is very difficult to get out. This may be what is going on. Your groomer has seen a lot of dog butts; if he or she isn't getting the goods, there is probably something wrong.
Fantastically written article! Clearly explains the procedure and why it needs to be done with a funny undertone to it. I just did this to my dog this morning and although he knows what's going to happen and hates it, he some how loves me and is so relieved afterward!
AAHHHH!!!!!! I've heard about expressing something and I've seen my dog scoot across the rug a couple of times. I thought it had some thing to do with glands and buttholes but wasn't clear until I read your explanation. Thank you for a good laugh and clear instructions. I don't think I can do it myself but I can drive her to the groomer. Thanks again!
Very Helpful..clear and to the point! We took our 180 lb. Rott to the vet last month for his rabies shot and the Vet expressed his glands...OMG..I'll just say He was not a happy camper to have it done, but he has since quit the scooting! I'm glad to know now how to do it and that it is as simple as you have said. Could you tell me how often this is to be done? Our Baby does not like going to the vet, and we keep him away from other dogs and most people,so it will be helpful not to have to take him in except for shots when needed! Thank You so much!
Different dogs require it at different frequencies. I have three pugs. One never needs it; one every now and then, and the last one needs it every three weeks. If the stuff coming out is a thin liquid, then your dog will probably need it more often. Honestly, I just wait until my dog show one of the tell-tale signs - like scooting or biting. I think she knows that; she will come over and do it by me to make sure I see her in action. Her way of looking for some help.
worked great! Curiousity got the best of me and I tasted it. Taste just like some Omega 3 pills I used to take!WHAT?! You TASTED it? That can not be healthy. Or normal.why would you taste it?? thats... wrong.WHAT????? Why??? I don't have words for how nasty that is!!
Thank you for this information...my dog had been scooting on the carpet for a couple of weeks, so I took him outside and did a quick examination and determined that he needed this "procedure" done to him. With a deep breath...and box of tissues....well gloved hands and a hose nearby, I DID IT! I honestly think my dog let out a sigh of relief when I was finished (it only took 3 tries to get it all out). I no longer fear "doggie expressing". Thank you for your wonderful information! Rusty (my dog) and I thank you!! : )
Thank you so much for this. I have a new coonhound puppy and i barely rememebery old golden having this problem, but the 6mo old puppy does. Ill def try when i see him biting. Do loose bowel movements sometimes accompany the smell?
I cant say im excited to try this for him, nor will i taste it (wtf), but its a labor of love, and ill always want to do anything i can myself, like bathing amd stuff. Its bonding and as much as i love my vet, id rather be there for him.
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