Fiber and Anal Glands

Lucy&Millie · 11-08-2011, 12:27 PM

Lucy has chronic anal gland issues, and they are needing expressed every 2 weeks right now. Sometimes, its a bit longer, but when she is having trouble, every week or two weeks is the norm.

Anyway, she is on Taste of The Wild Salmon, and it has worked wonderfully for her and for Millie. I'm very happy with the food, and would prefer not to make a change.

However, it was suggested to me by her Vet to start adding more fiber into her diet. The fiber will help bulk the poop, and then may help naturally express the glands. I'm don't mind adding more fiber to her diet, right now, the food has 3% fiber in it.

How much fiber is "high fiber"? I was going to add Metamucil (the non clumping, no taste) to her water. Is there a better option, like supplements, biscuits?

Soundtrack · 11-08-2011, 12:28 PM

How about pumpkin?

Lucy&Millie · 11-08-2011, 12:30 PM

I've never tried it, but am willing too! It will add the fiber? How much should I use?

Mikey T · 11-08-2011, 01:24 PM

many add a couple tablesspoon but I do not think that is enough to make a difference I would go with an amount equal to the amount of food you feed.

As far as diet goes 10% and above is high fiber some have reported success with fiber and anal gland problems while fiber adds bulk it tend to make the stool softer as well so how much stimulation it adds is questionable. F the stools are too soft you need to cut back on the fiber diets above 10 % can start to effect the abosrtion of vitamins and minerals as well.

Lucy&Millie · 11-08-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey T

many add a couple tablesspoon but I do not think that is enough to make a difference I would go with an amount equal to the amount of food you feed.

As far as diet goes 10% and above is high fiber some have reported success with fiber and anal gland problems while fiber adds bulk it tend to make the stool softer as well so how much stimulation it adds is questionable. F the stools are too soft you need to cut back on the fiber diets above 10 % can start to effect the abosrtion of vitamins and minerals as well.

Awesome! We will try adding Pumpkin to see if that helps. I agree, Mikey, if it just makes the stool softer, than it isn't going to do much.

Annie714 · 11-08-2011, 02:34 PM

Pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, peas, green beans...these are a few of the things I have used to give Annie a bit more fiber from time to time.

Mikey T · 11-08-2011, 04:19 PM

as far as comercial products when toughy had cancer I used Fiber choice which are tablet/wafers that are eaten solid not mixed with water I think they would be a much beter choice than a water based fiber that way you can monitor consumption easier.

fiver choice

for toughy a food based fiber would not have worked because we were already having problems with weight loss so the addition of a ness coloric food would have made that situation worse.

Lucy&Millie · 11-14-2011, 01:48 PM

This may sound like a silly question, but how do I know if the extra fiber is working?

I've been giving her pumpkin and some sweet potatoes, and it has increased her fiber intake. There hasn't been any runny poop, just normal looking stools. They do seem a bit bigger and maybe a bit harder. Does that mean its working?

Mikey T · 11-14-2011, 02:32 PM

the only way you know if ti is working is iff the anal gands need to emptied less often. That said if when the dog goes you can see what appears be a drop of fluid from the anal gland area while the dog is going or just afterwards is a positive sig as well.

Making the stoop bulkier without it affecting the anal gands is not a help

Wworm · 11-15-2011, 01:04 AM

This is so m'barrasin' but i have this problem too. not as bad, more like every coupla months. me needs fiber too like L&M!

i been pickin' at the base of my tail this weekend. then this morning at the baseball field where there were lotsa dogs, me was scootin' on my bum all across the baseball diamond!!! it was a hooot apparently. to make matters worse, everyone saw me, and a lady said to my person-- your dog has anal gland problems. better get it fixed soon or you'll have more problems...

anyone know how long we can wait before getting them emptied, at this point?
we were thinking Friday, but dunno if that's waiting too long???
--Worm (so m'barrassed)

11-08-2011, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lucy&Millie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 270	Fiber and Anal Glands Lucy has chronic anal gland issues, and they are needing expressed every 2 weeks right now. Sometimes, its a bit longer, but when she is having trouble, every week or two weeks is the norm. Anyway, she is on Taste of The Wild Salmon, and it has worked wonderfully for her and for Millie. I'm very happy with the food, and would prefer not to make a change. However, it was suggested to me by her Vet to start adding more fiber into her diet. The fiber will help bulk the poop, and then may help naturally express the glands. I'm don't mind adding more fiber to her diet, right now, the food has 3% fiber in it. How much fiber is "high fiber"? I was going to add Metamucil (the non clumping, no taste) to her water. Is there a better option, like supplements, biscuits? __________________ Lucy - Age 6? Millie - Age 2

11-08-2011, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,577	How about pumpkin? __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

11-08-2011, 12:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lucy&Millie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 270	I've never tried it, but am willing too! It will add the fiber? How much should I use? __________________ Lucy - Age 6? Millie - Age 2

11-08-2011, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Annie714 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 1,164	Pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, peas, green beans...these are a few of the things I have used to give Annie a bit more fiber from time to time. __________________ Blog about the antics of Annie and I. http://thechickandthehound.blogspot.com

11-14-2011, 01:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lucy&Millie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 270	This may sound like a silly question, but how do I know if the extra fiber is working? I've been giving her pumpkin and some sweet potatoes, and it has increased her fiber intake. There hasn't been any runny poop, just normal looking stools. They do seem a bit bigger and maybe a bit harder. Does that mean its working? __________________ Lucy - Age 6? Millie - Age 2

11-08-2011, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,717	many add a couple tablesspoon but I do not think that is enough to make a difference I would go with an amount equal to the amount of food you feed. As far as diet goes 10% and above is high fiber some have reported success with fiber and anal gland problems while fiber adds bulk it tend to make the stool softer as well so how much stimulation it adds is questionable. F the stools are too soft you need to cut back on the fiber diets above 10 % can start to effect the abosrtion of vitamins and minerals as well.

11-08-2011, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,717	as far as comercial products when toughy had cancer I used Fiber choice which are tablet/wafers that are eaten solid not mixed with water I think they would be a much beter choice than a water based fiber that way you can monitor consumption easier. fiver choice for toughy a food based fiber would not have worked because we were already having problems with weight loss so the addition of a ness coloric food would have made that situation worse.

11-14-2011, 02:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,717	the only way you know if ti is working is iff the anal gands need to emptied less often. That said if when the dog goes you can see what appears be a drop of fluid from the anal gland area while the dog is going or just afterwards is a positive sig as well. Making the stoop bulkier without it affecting the anal gands is not a help

11-15-2011, 01:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
Wworm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Left Coast Posts: 1,966	This is so m'barrasin' but i have this problem too. not as bad, more like every coupla months. me needs fiber too like L&M! i been pickin' at the base of my tail this weekend. then this morning at the baseball field where there were lotsa dogs, me was scootin' on my bum all across the baseball diamond!!! it was a hooot apparently. to make matters worse, everyone saw me, and a lady said to my person-- your dog has anal gland problems. better get it fixed soon or you'll have more problems... anyone know how long we can wait before getting them emptied, at this point? we were thinking Friday, but dunno if that's waiting too long??? --Worm (so m'barrassed) __________________ see what the Worm is up to: http://bassetworm.blogspot.com/

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Basset.net Advertisement