I’ve had the recommendation to add canned pumpkin to their food to bulk up their stool to assist with anal gland issues. Just a spoon or two.

Hmm…maybe that is why Benjamin, Henry & Luna don’t have any problems expressing their glands on their own.  They get a spoon of canned pumpkin at every meal.

I was told by my vet not to express their anal glands unless they have problems.  The more you do it, the more they become dependent on it to have to be done.  Most will express themselves naturally.  I think I good diet is with fiber is key.

Sorry, I can’t help on this issue as I have never had this problem with any of my pugs.  I think I would try the pumpkin thing before doing anything radical.  Wish I could be more help.

Little Luna is looking so wistful as she looks out on the pool.

Some dogs have luck when they pass small, firm poops.  Raw diets, or smaller amounts of high calorie kibble often produce this.  Other dogs have luck with larger, semi-firm poops.  This can be achieved with the canned pumpkin (as mentioned above), or with larger amounts of low calorie kibble.

I’ve personally thrown in the towel.  Dory’s either expressing all over my house, or dragging her butt along the rug in discomfort.  I do know the anal gland surgery is fairly risky.  Unless your pup is having problems with ruptured glands, I would stick to home remedies.

Pug tooshies…love them!  Unfortunately no advice here.  Baxter and Riley have had it done a couple times in their lives if we’ve been at the vet for other things, but now that you mention it, it hasn’t been done in years and years and isn’t an issue.  The vet tried to teach me how, but I was never able to master it.

I have never heard of the surgery for this, but I do have Sleighbelle’s glands expressed at the vet—usually every 3-4 weeks.  Sometimes the tech will tell me that they were loaded and sometimes there is hardly any “ick” in there.  I call it a “butt squeeze”! 
Sleighbelle doesn’t ever drag her butt, but sometimes she does the circling on the carpet.  It completely grosses me out and she gets in trouble for doing it.
So, about the pumpkin…you just use the canned pumpkin and mix a spoon full into their food?  I’m going to try that.  Thanks for the tip.  That is what is so great about this website…not only do we get to love on all pugs through the web, we also share great information.  Thanks!

Heather,
My vet also offered to show me how to express Sleighbelle’s glands and I told him that is the BEST 20 bucks I could spend and heck NO I did not want to learn to do it myself….YUCK!

Thanks for all of your comments! I’d rather avoid the surgery, but Marti’s unable to naturally “express herself” and she ends up leaking on me, furniture, clothing, carpet, etc.(no butt scoot here!)

I’ve tried to do it myself, but am afraid to do it wrong and have not had much success. I may try the pumpkin idea and see if that works for me.

If anyone has actually had the surgery done, I’d love to hear about it. My vet acted like it’s pretty standard, but I want some been there, done that advice from pug owners! Thanks everyone!

I have Sassy “groomed” (bathed, brushed and nails clipped) every 6 to 8 weeks and that is part of the process.  I think that is why my hubby always gives them a good tip.

I’ve never had to do it myself yet…and I hope I don’t have to. My pugs are not quite a year old yet…so I’m sure I’ll have time to become aquainted with this. I have to say I’m not looking forward to it…

Toeby smelled a bit “fishy” once and I took him in to the vet.  She said it was anal glands and gave ‘em a good squeeze.  Haven’t had any problems since but occasionally, will get a little tush swiped on my t-shirt!  I’d definitely try the pumpkin though before I subjected my babes to such a surgery!  Plus, it’s probably a lot less expensive!

Christina, Yes, the pumpkin right from the can.  Just make sure to get the pure pumpkin and not the pumpkin pie mix.  The cans look very similar.

When Bennie was younger, we had a few problems, and took him to our vet to express his glands.  Our vet said he feels the surgery’s risk is high enough that it is something he considers “as a last resort”.  And he tried to teach us the “technique” too, and we just couldn’t do it right.  We’re with Christina and it’s the best $20 ever spent!

And about Luna, has she been watching Michael Phelps in the Olympics and is maybe thinking of swimming a few laps?

We call the butt spin on the carpet the “sit’n spin”! While my husband and I feel really bad for our Rosie that her butt itches, we think the “sit’n spin” is very cute and funny. I too take my Rosie to the vet, but sometimes we can go for weeks or months between visits. I think I am going to try the canned pumpkin. Thanks!

Christina,

I’m with you…it is The Worst smell in the world and even if I had mastered it, would probably have avoided doing it myself (if needed) at all costs….even if it was more than $20!!  LOL

We don’t have much of a problem with it… usually i just end up with a little spot my shirt or the couch where they were sitting.

Indy does the bum scooting rarely…

Good luck

Right on Heather!  And why do it yourself when you can PAY people to do it!  They couldn’t pay me enough!

I would avoid surgery at all costs (unless they are swollen/impacted and visibly uncomfortable.). If not - I totally agree with the pumpkin in the food. I put a tablespoon in my guys every day and I don’t have any problems (except for the occasional oops on my lap but that is very few and far between).
I also heard of groomers doing this task and may be a bit less expensive.
It is like alien blood - EVERYONE around knows when someone or something has been as we call it “dookie juiced”...ick!

The canned pumpkin works well. Our daughter also gives it to her cats - helps with their poop issues too!

I agree with the pumpkin idea, however, wanted to suggest another site to go to when you have problems/questions.  I have learned a lot from the Worldwide Pug Message Board.  There are breeders (reputable), show people, and even vets, who post on that site.  I love it!  But don’t get me wrong…I love this site too!  In fact, the first email I open every day is my daily pug picture.  It always starts my day on a good note, and puts a smile on my face.  I want to bring my 2 black pugs and move in with them!!!...Vicki, Amos & Andi

Ok.. I need some help in this area.  Mr. Skittles poops well, sometimes spins on the floor, doesn’t leak icky alien fluid, but does fart!  What should I be watching for??
how do I know if he has a gland problem?
Any and all comments greatly appreciated.

Vicki, thanks for the heads up on the Worldwide Pug Message Board.

Also, love the names Amos and Andi.

Pat, both of my puggies are “tooters” also.  C.J. also burps out loud and it’s so funny cuz I’d never heard a dog burp!  My vet told me to watch for the fishy smell, leaving the little brown “tracks” on carpet or other and of course, the scoot!  Most pugs, I’m told, don’t have any problems with their glands.

Pesky me again.  Vicki, what is the exact website of the Worldwide Pug Message Board?  I cannot seem to find it on my search engine.

Hi Sue…I just type in Worldwide pug meetup message board and it comes up.  But maybe this will help

http://pug.meetup.com/boards/

Good luck and I promise that you’ll hear some great (and sometimes sad) stories, get some good advice, and see the cutest pictures (maybe not as cute as the ones here)!.....Vicki, Amos & Andi

Pat, believe me….you would know if the alien fluid (cracking up over that) was an issue…it is the most horrendous smell you can imagine…it can’t be missed…So, consider yourself lucky with just the toots.  lol

Pat, Once you smell “it”, there is no doubt what you are smelling! 
As far as the toots, Sleighbelle sometimes does, and it is “silent but deadly”.  However, my little Birdy?  She toots long and loud!  It cracks me up!  I’ve never known of a dog that toots out loud!  When she could walk, she would just be walking around and tooting like there was no tomorrow!  Way funny!  And surprisingly, her toots don’t usually smell much…go figure?!

My brother’s dog (not a pug, a wire haired fox terrier) had the surgery because she often had problems with her anal glands.  It was horrifying - the incision was gigantic and went way up over her haunches.

She had problems with constipation her entire life after that.  She would squat and push and push and push.  It was horrible.

Definitely, as a last resort!

LOL! My old guy toots as he walks up the whole flight of stairs! Funny as all hell! He also belches like a truck driver! It depends on if I give him too many apples or if he gets some left over steak - or sometimes I think he does it just to clear the room! LOL!

Clover has had awful anal gland issues.  We didn’t know what it was for a long time and took her to the vet and they were jam packed with gook.  We put benefiber on her food (we put the food in a zip lock with the benefiber and shake it to coat the food that way).  We also give her Metamucil (sp) wafers as treats.  It has helped but still need to take her in to get them expressed.  I am going to try the pumpkin for sure!

It’s hilarious to see what this discussion has turned into! Thanks for all of the input on the topic.

DancesinGarden: Thanks for sharing that—that’s the type of thing I’m worried about. Vets downplay risks, but they also make $1000 off of the surgery…

Hopefully pumpkin is the magic cure!

Thanks to all for your input, this is a great support system!

The standard surgery involves cutting the sphincter muscle. Complications are a concern. You need to find a DVM who knows how to do the surgery without cutting the muscle.

My pug Gabby needed to have gland surgery. After years of having the glad expressed by the vet (and yes, it _IS_ the best $20 you’ll ever spend at the vet), one of her glands had problems. During one of the expressions, the vet felt a lump (initially thought to be cancer!!) We had the surgery on only the lumpy gland and it turns out the lumps were the result of a infection, still the gland was still removed.

Don’t know if it was because we only had one gland removed or the vet just did a great job, but no complications and no post-op issues.

Bonus: removing just one of the gland stopped all of the ‘expression’ issues we had been having over the years. I’m sure it hurt her a little, but it has to be better no…. she always looked a little pained after the vet expressed the gland and luckily we don’t have to have that done any more.

Hi everyone. I too have a scooting pug on my hands and it seems that she will probably need her glands cleaned every month and a half. At $38 a pop i need a better solution! Little Cleo wouldn’t mind a better solution as well! Poor pugs and their health issues.

Hi everyone,

Lately our 2 year old pug has blatenly pee’d on our couch when we leave to run errands after coming home from work. Tonight she decided to take a number 2 on our bed (poop). Is our sweet little pug trying to tell us something?  We took her on a walk and she always does her business.  In the two years we had her, she never would do something like this on a consistent basis.  She does so well during the day with zero accidents, but once we come home and run errands later in the evening there is a surprise that awaits us. Please help.

Ive noticed the pug in the picture has patchy hair loss.  My young pug who is 10 months is starting to get that around his tail and hind legs.  Is it a major problem? Should I take him to the vet?  Please help! email me a redsoxx15@hotmail.com plz!

Chelsea - Our pug Olive did the same thing recently. She has NEVER peed on the couch in her life, but the other day she got really excited and just peed everywhere. Let me know if you find out what causes this!

Also, I just had my dog’s glands expressed (we do it monthly)and she started scooting the very next day. Does this mean her glands weren’t expressed properly? We took her to PetCo instead of her regular vet and they ensured that they would express her. Could there be any other cause?

My Bella will be three in a few days and we have been dealing with this since she was 6 months old.

Initially I was asking the vet to express, but after it became clear that she needed it done every 1-2 weeks, I asked the vet to teach me the trick.

Unfortunately, it is getting harder to express her, even using a mountain of lubricant, and she now fights me at bath time (essential when cleaning out the pug hole - it is really really really stinky) she also does not look too happy during the procedure - poor baby…

I am now considering the surgery as I feel that I am doing more damage than good with the frequency that we are having to express…

I’m sorry Erin, but I’m right with you.  Hopefully you will find a really good vet who will talk you through the procedure and has performed the operation enough that you feel comfortable with it.

Bella and I wish you good luck

Janie (Bella’s Mum)

I have a little something to add.  We do not have pugs, but we have two shih tzus and three mastiffs.  Our female shih tzu is 12 years old and our male is 16.  I have expressed their glands when necessary for quite a while, but 6 years ago Mikey had one removed due to a rupture and Katie as well for the same reason.  The surgery is somewhat risky and the recovery is not pleasant, as I am sure you can imagine.  I am in veterinary school and a professor of mine likened the recovery to that of a person recovering from hemmorroid removal. 

We have had some luck with the pumpkin trick, but sometimes it loses effectiveness and I tried a small amount of the blendable fiber…for humans.  If you can, try to get a weight ratio down to get the amount correctish and give too little rather than too much.  Sometimes a specific method can lose its ability to solve the problem and in rare cases I will use a small amount of Benefiber in their dog food.  When the stool is moderately firm it puts the optimal amount of pressure on the glands to express them naturally. 

In addition, smaller dogs, especially the aged, have more of a risk for complications with anaesthesia and infections (not a clean area) so take any surgery seriously.  I wouldn’t want someone cutting into my butt if it wasn’t ABSOLUTELY necessary.  I hope ths helps some, this is a scary issue if it gets worse.

Finally, I like this blog quite a bit.  I was looking because pugs have quite a bit of DNA in common with English mastiffs and they’re too cute.  I wish you luck with your baby!

As the previous owner of a dog that had to be expressed on a frequent basis, we had the surgery done by my vet I had known for many years.  There were NO complications and in the long run cheaper than all the trips and costs to have her espressed.