[BeagleBabe]

What does the anal gland discharge look like?
Can it be kind of goopy (like clear snot) and/or have a yellow tint to it?

Does it smell like butt?

We were sitting on the couch watching NCIS when Abby got up and twirled herself around and I felt a wet spot on the couch and noticed another one that she started licking at. They stunk horribly!

I looked to see where it came from and I couldn't tell. Neither part looks infected, irritated, or anything else.

Should I call her vet tomorrow? She's acting fine, and has been fine all day today. Though she did seem uneasy right after this happened.

It got on my arm and on my leg, I've already taken a shower and it still smells

I read online that alcohol will help remove the smell so I'm going to try that. Luckily we had a couch cover on and that's in the washer now.

Her area still smells too.

And no, she hasn't been scooting, licking her butt incessantly.

 

[Murphys Dad]

It could be a latent UTI. Chloe had it, it was clear gooey discharge. Left wet spots too. If she is not bothered with it, I would let it go and keep an eye.
If it's her glands, she will try to rub her butt on the floor.

 

[BeagleBabe]

Did the discharge stink?

 

[Murphys Dad]

not that I remember, and I think I sniffed it to see if it's pee.

Oh god, I'm turning into a Beagle

Has she ever needed her glands expressed?

 

[threedognight]

Jamie, I have to squeeze Ginger twice a month because her anal glands do not express themselves as they should. The stuff STAAANNNKKKSSSS!!!!!!! WHOOOOOO! lol... so we do it outside with latex gloves. Bailey also leaks as Abby did, so he is only allowed on his chair. Just another day of Beagle life!!

It seems as though Abby may have had a little discharge from her Anal Glands. Like Chloe's Mom mentioned, if it causes discomfort, she will scoot.

 

[BeagleBabe]

Yeah, this was NOT pee and it had a really noticeable, really bad odor to it. That's really the only reason I think it was anal gland.

No, she has never had to have her anal glands expressed.

 

[BeagleBabe]

So Matthew does this sound like an anal gland thing to you?

This is the first time this has ever happened, do you think it will happen again?

I told Judy that very few things gross me out. Part of my criminal justice course was looking at brains splattered on walls, fatal automobile accidents, dismemberment and other atrocities of human nature, as well as blood, baby puke, diarrhea, stitches, child birth...you name it, and I don't even bat an eye...but OMG this smell....aaaaaaccccccccccccccck!

 

[Murphys Dad]

Jersey had a latent UTI once, and while the description of the fluids is the same, the stink is not. I've had the unfortunate pleasure of having both Amber and Jersey release their anal glands on me. To me, that's what sounds like happened with Abby. If you took a shower and the smell is still there, it's from her anal glands. The smell is unmistakable. Just because she released her glands, it doesn't mean that there is something wrong. They may have just been full and ready to go. Of all the times it's happened to me (4 so far), there were never any further issues. It usually happened right after they came in from going potty. Like pooping loosened them and it just took some time for them to release. I offer you my condolences. LOL!

 

[BeagleBabe]

Thanks Jen, that makes me feel better!

Well far as going potty...she had signaled to go out but we were in the middle of a thunderstorm so she didn't get to go. Think that could have contributed to her releasing where she did?

 

[oneshutter]

I've had it happen to me too. It stinks to high heaven. Nothing takes that odor away real quick. It was just anal glands emptying.

I would just keep an eye on Abby though just to make sure.

With mine it's not a reoccuring thing though. Every once in a great while with 4 dogs.

Once it happened in the car because by accident I shut my Saint Bernards tail in the door. I left the car windows open for a week rain or shine it didn't matter. But the smell eventually went away.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Usually they release their anal glands when they poop, so if they needed to be expressed and she was holding it, I suppose it's a possibility.

BTW, I've actually just thrown away clothes that had gotten expressed on as the smell never really came out. It could have been a psychological thing though. LOL!

 

[ncdogstar]

Anal gland smell is sooo bad! Ted and Phoebe have to have their glands expressed 2-3 times a year. They will lick their butts furiously or scoot on the floor. Off to the vets they will go the next day. Our vet offered to show me how to express the anal glands at home, but I just don't think I can do it 'cause of the smell!

 

[Artimus Beaglesworth]

I dont know if it's just arty's but to me, his anal gland expressions smell like.. dead flesh with a very fishy odor to it - it smells worse than poo. Its a very strange odor that goes into your nose and kind of stays there. blech!

Also, i wear latex gloves because i express them anally and the mixture between the latex and the anal gland expression smells is horrendous.

I am a student nurse and last year we had to help change a surgical dressing on a man with a very large tumor. If you have ever smelled a tumor (thats open and exposed, not under the flesh) you'll know it smells really really bad . . but I remember that day I was thinking that anal gland expression is even worse.

 

[Jennifer]

Yep from what you have described Jamie I would say it was definately her anal gland secretion that you got all over you lol

It's normally like snot in consistency and can be clear or brown tinged and boy does it SMELL....worst smell ever.

When I go downstairs first thing in the morning I can always tell immediately if one of the dogs have expressed a bit in the night because the living room STINKS. Then I have to hunt around to find where it is which isn't that difficult

Rosa has a habit of expressing hers when she gets excited. When she hears daddy's car pull onto the drive she jumps up on the sofa to look out the window and sometimes leaves a little deposit for me to clean up. Lucky my sofa is leather so I can just wipe it off.

 

[debannib]

Yep, you have had the wonderful experience of being expressed upon!

Maggie often did it when she was excited (like on the scales at the vet's office!!

) Sometimes they scoot and lick, but sometimes they don't; perhaps hers were just full and needed expressed.....

Anal glands hold the dog's 'personal' scent, and usually empty when the dog is poo-ing; It lets all the other dogs KNOW who they are. Skunks also have anal glands which hold their 'personal' scent.....what grows in those glands is beyond description.

I hope she doesn't develop problems.....because expressing glands is a test of one's gag reflex

 

[angelaH]

Snoopy scoots and then we know its time for his glands to be done. It is the most awful smell and difficult to get rid of when it lands on the furniture.

 

[CarrieD]

YUUUCK! Why didn't ahy of the Beagle books I've read warn me about this???

 

[vonny]

Originally Posted By: Star Wars BeagleYUUUCK! Why didn't ahy of the Beagle books I've read warn me about this???

It is not just a Beagle thing.All dogs can do it.

 

[LuckyBeagle]

Yes, Lucky does this exact thing. He would occasionally leave a wet spot then he does and licks it (gross). It smells soooo bad. He gets excited and his anal glands get expressed. He actually did this last night on my bed!

 

[CarrieD]

Our dogs never had this problem, not even our Chihuahua.

I guess we've been spoiled then.