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Anal glands #157854
10/16/06 12:46 AM
10/16/06 12:46 AM

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I was reading the update on Lyah and Jen started talking about Chronos infectied anal gland, so now its got me thinking. Should anal glands be drained when they become enlarged? I have heard of this in dogs but never thought about it in suggies. Should this become part of a regular vet check?

Re: Anal glands [Re: ] #157865
10/16/06 01:24 AM
10/16/06 01:24 AM

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NO! They should NEVER be drained on a glider. Many vets will unknowingly try to do this - DO NOT LET THEM! The gland is much too fragile & will more than likely tear during the process & become infected - it is completely un-necessary.

Re: Anal glands [Re: ] #157879
10/16/06 03:21 AM
10/16/06 03:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,899
Jacksonville, FL
Xfilefan Offline
Serious Glideritis
Xfilefan  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,899
Jacksonville, FL
The anal glands on a glider are VERY delicate, and shouldn't be messed with, except to gently feel for swelling, and NEVER expressed, EXCEPT for what I will describe.

With Chronos, we thought he had a UTI (and he probably did for a long time-one of those 'he's always hissed when he peed, it's normal for him' comments from the former owner). We treated on/off for a year before we discovered what the problem was, and why, despite a number of different meds, it wouldn't leave. Within a week of going off meds, every time, he'd start hissing again...the last time before we found the abscess, he made the SM noise (but hadn't actually gone after himself with his teeth YET-just desperately licked the area).

When we took him back to the vet yet again, the vet gently felt around the glands, and noted that one was almost triple the size of the other-about the size of a pea (we hadn't thought to check them before). Several months earlier, we had cultured klebsiella pneumoniae in his urine (which the vet said was unusual, but I didn't know why at the time, and took his word for it-I trust 2 of my 3 vets without question). Well, his exploration actually caused what turned out to be an abscess to begin to drain a LOT...instead of milky white, a thick grayish green was coming out. Now the abscess was wide open and draining (and that was a good thing).

We covered all the bases with him, and put him on twice daily doses of Clindamycin, Metronidazole (Flagyl), and Baytril (enrofloxacin). BUT. Abscesses are a special case, and need to heal from the inside out, or you'll be right back at square one. In order to do that, it has to drain, and the pus/bacteria has to come out. We had to gently express the abscess daily while giving him his meds -there is NO way to get every single bacteria out this way-you have to try and get enough of the pus/bacteria out, that the antibiotics can begin to start healing the abscess, which should get smaller and smaller with time, and eventually, when healed, there's nowhere for it (bacteria) to accumulate-and the secretions should be milky white in color. This is the ONLY time an anal gland should be expressed, and you need to be VERY careful. (You can imagine how fond Chronos was of this routine! shakehead )

At this point, I'm having my vet check the anal gland of all of them, just so we know what is normal and what isn't. If several courses of meds haven't rid a glider of a UTI, and NO crystals are present, or if an anerobic bacteria shows up in a urine culture, I'd have the vet check the anal glands (being careful not to damage/rupture them). If there is a problem, they will be enlarged. If they're not, then the problem most likely isn't the gland. HTH

Last edited by Xfilefan; 10/16/06 03:22 AM.

Jen/Colin :bb: Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed :wfb: Sinbad, :wfb: Gabby, :grey: Baby, and :grey: Alley
Re: Anal glands [Re: ] #157899
10/16/06 06:46 AM
10/16/06 06:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Charlie H Offline
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Charlie H  Offline
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Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Quote:
NO! They should NEVER be drained on a glider. Many vets will unknowingly try to do this - DO NOT LET THEM! The gland is much too fragile & will more than likely tear during the process & become infected - it is completely un-necessary


That is a rather strong statement. What is your source of information? I totally disagree as I have found it necessary to express anal glands many times when treating gliders that have self mutilateld. Maybe you can give us an anatomy lesson so that we can be enlighted.
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
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Re: Anal glands [Re: Charlie H] #157900
10/16/06 07:10 AM
10/16/06 07:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,899
Jacksonville, FL
Xfilefan Offline
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Xfilefan  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,899
Jacksonville, FL
Now, I think Gina was referring to draining glands on a healthy glider as sort of a maintenance thing...similar to a dog. There is a place for it, though "draining" isn't quite the word I'd use (but I have no experience with dogs). 'Express'does fit-as in gently working the gland to relieve the pressure or help infection drain.

In the case of a damaged or infected gland, that is altogether different. Otherwise, it likely won't BE enlarged. Again tho-with a glider you need to be careful with those glands when expressing them, to avoid a rupture, and unless something is wrong with them, it shouldn't be necessary as far as I know (or my vets).

Last edited by Xfilefan; 10/16/06 07:11 AM.

Jen/Colin :bb: Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed :wfb: Sinbad, :wfb: Gabby, :grey: Baby, and :grey: Alley

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