Years ago I was told by my vet to give them some hard boiled eggs with the shell once a week... it did help my pyrenean at the time... just crush the shell really well and put it in the food...

We had anal gland issues a couple of years ago with one of ours. He has a sensitive digestion anyway so I find he does best on few ingredients. He's doing really well now fed mostly raw.

Thank you I was considering TOTW when looking at grain free kibble, the price put me off. It would be more than worth it though if it sorted the problem out!

Good tip, thanks, will certainly give it a go as I haven't tried this one yet.

Thanks for the input, it's very helpful to hear what has worked for other dogs

You can try a spoonful of natural brand in the food which seems to help some. My terrier had this problem and I give her a raw carrot every day (grate into food if your dog won't eat them raw). I also give a measure of protexin Pro-fibre which the vet recommended (cheapest off Ebay) and we have had no problems for months now. She was really bad having them emptied at the vets, (it took three to hold her) so trying anything was better than having to have them emptied regularly.

I've tried the bran and raw carrot tricks, without success He does love carrots though so he gets them anyway
I will look into the Protexin Pro-fibre.

Cain had some anal gland issues, however since switching to raw it isn't a problem any more. I'm convinced the more solid poos that raw produce, help naturally clear the anal glands. Maybe if you can't feed raw full time, just try supplimenting with chicken wings? The bone will hopefully help. Raw carrots also help Cain, pity that didn't work for you.

It seems to be not just solid poos that are needed but more bulky ones which is why the carrot etc. is supposed to help. My terrier girl tended to have small solid poos always, never soft or loose but with the carrot and pro-fibre the poos are more bulky and I assume that is what has helped.

I'm surprised to read that this is such an issue. Might be worth mentioning to any new dog owners looking in that not every dog has a problem with this and some never do.

I've only ever had one dog that had a problem with it and that was just one time when she was about 6 years old and after being on medication that made her stools runny for weeks and weeks. I'd taken her to the vet coz she was 'scooting on the floor'. Vet squeezed them out and told me that if their stools are hard enough they usually manage to keep their glands clear themselves at the same time as they strain to poo?

Never had a problem with it with any of my old GSDs, and not with the 2 yr old min pin I have now and she is easy to check for it - her bum being clearly on show!

I used to think when I saw dogs doing the bum scooting thing that they had itchy bums from worms! Mine didn't do it so I'd never asked about it until that one time I had a dog that did.

Really surprised to read that some dogs need this seen to every few weeks?

Vets here charge the cost of a consultation for emptying anal glands. - £35 or £29.50 depending which Vet you go to.

Owwwww much?!
Blimey, at that price I'd definitely be donning my own latex gloves!