This might be TMI for some of you, so you are fore warned ....


I took my dog to the groomers a few weeks ago because she needed a trim and had that funky musky doggie smell that I think has something to do with the glands in her bum, which I believe the groomers usually clean - somehow I don't want to know how they do it that's why we send her there.

She came home and she still has the musky smell and is constantly licking her behind. When she licks it smells worse and I can't stand it, I can't stand it, I can't stand it.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this could be? Does she need to go back to the groomers - it's a $60 visit or does she need to go to the vet?

By Vicki on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 01:47 pm:

One time when I took my dog to the groomers, they arerted me to the problem. I then took her to the vet and they took care of it. So I assume my groomers at least don't do things like that. The vet did tell me that I could take care of it, but I am willing to pay instead. LOL They basically just squeezed the glad and cleared out all the stuff and then rubbed rubbing alcohol on the area.

By Vicki on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 01:49 pm:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=510

Forgot to add the link!!

By Angellew on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 02:14 pm:

It's gross, and worth the money to have someone else do it!!!! The vet even did it to my cat that last time I had him in!!!

By Scott on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:38 pm:

My guess is that it's the anal glands. Vicki's provided link says as much about this as I could.

By Colette on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:43 pm:

eeeewwwwwww!!! Yuck! Is this a particular breed problem?

By Jtsmom on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 04:02 pm:

My Shih-tzu has to go to the vet about every other month to have her "Anal gland expressed". It only cost around $10, he tried to tell me that it was something I could do at home, but I told him that he had to be out of his mind!! Worth every penny for him to do it.

By Jackie on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 04:34 pm:

The dogs I have owned never had this problem. However, my foster dog has had this problem. She actually had a anal gland infection, it was pretty painful and smelly. The vet took care of it. After he expressed it(I could hear my poor baby yelping/crying down the hallway, OUCH)he gave her antibotics. He said in her, it was a chronic problem..then a few weeks later she had more problems and it was diagnosed as an anal fistula..she is on some expensive medicine to clear that up. The vet opted not to do surgery, as he said sometimes it is required. So we see how she does once the medicine is gone.

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 04:49 pm:

My sister's lab/rott mix has this done every few months or so, and my MIL's dalmation maybe twice a year at most. It's super gross and my sister highly recommends paying the vet to do it, although she told me that they will teach you how to do it yourself.

By Chai~latte on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 06:27 pm:

Thanks but there is no way I'm expressing anything out of my dog's butt, it's just not going to happen.

I think I'll call the groomer's and see if they'll do it for less than the cost of a full visit. I think that they were rushed last time and just forgot or missed it.

By Karen~admin on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 07:10 pm:

Ditto on the anal glands. It seems some breeds have more of an issue with this than others. It's really disgusting, and obviously the dog should be washed afterwards.