Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, anal glands.
Thank you to Rene and Jim for talking to me in chat.
Kind of a long story - the last week Tai has had trouble getting up on her back leg. She can't get up the step to get into the house and seemed to be in pain - looking at her leg, things like that. I had thought something happened when I was at work one day - she paces and worries when I'm not home so I thought she overdid it. We rested a few days and over the weekend.
She is eating, peeing and 
but is not walking nearly as far as we were just over a week ago. She also stops and just stands frequently.
I had some liquid Gabapentin and gave it to her the last two nights because she was lying there panting. She HATES the liquid BTW.
She seemed to get a little better with rest, then yesterday when I can home she seemed worse. She wouldn't go to the laundry room for her supper, but got up and ate when I moved the dish closer to her.
We went to the vet this morning and he said no sprain, everything felt good but he said her anal glands were full and emptied them, that it could have been causing her discomfort and even pain, that some symptoms are glancing back at it, to have her rest for 12-24 hrs. He also gave me some Gabapentin in pill form. This was at her regular vet clinic, though not her usual vet.
She worked with me today and was able to get over one step, has 3 times today (which is normal for her) and walked to her usual place to eat supper. She doesn't want to be active so I'm letting her rest.
I guess it just seems, anal glands?? I thought that was a male dog issue? Has anyone ever had this problem? Obviously I will monitor her but I also don't know how much more to restrict her when I'm not home. She is gated in a small area and I'm away for 5-7 hrs, too long to crate her. She does come to work with me 2x a week.
This is the first time I've had an anal gland issue with any dog. IF that's all it was, I'm obviously happy, I just don't know 
I'm glad Tai is feeling better and that it wasn't anything more serious. I'm new to the tripawd thing (4days) so can't comment if it is related to that, but it can be an issue for any dog and not gender related. I wonder if moving differently affects the anal glands that way?
Hey I think that totally makes sense! Neither Wyatt Ray nor Jerry ever had this issue but I know others here have. Stay tuned for feedback.
Paws crossed Tai is back to her ol' spunky self soon. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
All of my pugs have had issues with their anal glands (2 female, 1 male), mostly that they can't or don't empty them properly.
Maggie the Tripug and her sis Tani both would have full glands periodically and I learned how to 'express' them myself at home (major yucky job!). Obie's glands get full too but he is so neurotic about his butt that I have them drained by the vet or groomer.
I've never noticed any behavior changes or acting 'under the weather' when any of the three pugs had full glands, including Tripug Maggie who was a rear amp. The main symptoms that I have seen are butt scooting, licking the anal area, and the always nasty slime-ing of my lap (leaving a nasty smelling discharge when sitting with me).
Did they say anything about the discharge indicating an infection? I know that an infection in the glands could cause pain and discomfort. Or maybe Tai is especially sensitive down there? Also, did the vet check her back as well as her leg?
I hope she feels better soon!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Awww poor Tai! I do hope she's feeling better soon. Lots of good ideas already, just wondering if you've changed her diet in any way or her medication? Anything that would impact on the solidity of her stool? That could stop the glands emptying naturally.
Do hope she perks up soon.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Very common with smaller dogs, male and female, in my experience. Sme dogs have to have them expressed routinely. You would think that with everything our dogs are going through, they shouldn't have to deal with normal vet stuff, but. . .
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Pretty happy to read about this here to be honest (sorry Tai!!). We've been having that issue for the past few months and it's really annyoing (for me and Manni both). Now we never had that in the past 9 years so I blamed it on the diet changes (have been homecooking for that past 6 months as opposed to kibble before) and that he's pooping smaller amounts (which is good because it means he's able to utilize more of the food and nutrients but bad because smaller amounts make for less emptying, my theory at least). We just saw our regular vet because of that and she said that with age not just the connective tissue on my thighs loses density but apparently also the dog's in every area including the anal one. -Never heard that one before, but oh well.
BUT. here we are, not even a week later and Manni is already licking his behind again. I am now trying homeopathic globules, even though I don't usually believe in them so I can give an update in a few days.
If anybody has any other suggestions: Manni's butt would be forever grateful!! 🙂
tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I have a new dog now (a quad) who has serious anal glands issues. She needs her emptied about once a month!!! I had no experience with this either prior but I am told it is totally normal (for my quad) and that is part of her routine. Yeah.. $30 a pop or 'expression'... it's important to stay on top of it as it can cause issues later ...
Good luck but I am happy to hear Tai is doing better in general
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Tracey, how's our girl today??
Something that stood out to me is the possibility of a disc/back issue, or shoukder/neck issue. Those kinds of "sprains" or tweeks can happen out of the blue. It kind of disguises itself sometimes and looks like other things. I have no doubt that her glads needed expressing though!
Hugs to you and that Cutie Pie Tai......And we NEED pictures of her cute self! 🙂 🙂
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks everyone. The doc did a physical exam of her back & hips but noted nothing unusual and she didn't react to him handling her (until he emptied her glands of course!) He said they could do an x-ray if she's not better and I will do that if I don't see significant improvement soon.
She seems better today - getting around a bit more, but again, not like she was a little over a week ago. She twice today (she's always been a good pooper) but not as much as she used to. I haven't changed her food. I'm thinking the poop difference is because she's not walking for as long of a distance as we were (which wasn't that long to begin with). She is eating and drinking fine. I'm not sure how much she is sleeping at night, I feel like when I peek at her, she is awake - sometimes with her head up, sometimes not.
So she is probably experiencing some kind of discomfort, maybe a back or neck like Sally suggests. She doesn't react when I pick her up though. My poor girl.
Today is not her usual day to work with me, but I took her in so that she would rest and not be pacing at the house. She did nap but is not impressed with the camera 🙂
Oh Tai!!!! THAT LOOK!!! OMD!!! Talk about a picture worth a thousand words...and a few expletives!!! 🙂 I know you're miffed...but you are soooo darn cute!! 🙂
Well, feeling a bit better IS good!! And eating, dinking fine..all good.
Guess Vet took her temp? Although, that may have been too much for her after he "unpacked" her anal glands! Blood work up? Yeah, the packed anal gla ds can cause an infection sometimes
KAREN.....great description btw!
Still thinking, in addition to the anal stuff, it's along the lines of something strained or tweaked. If it is something along her back or neck muscles, that would explain it maybe being uncomfortable to put her head in a sleeping position. Just throwing stuff out there. Although she nspped today, so that may not be the case at all.
Hang in there Miss Tai! And keep improving!! And don't be mad when we want to see pictures! That's the price you have to pay when you're so darn CUTE! 🙂
Lpve and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Yup, he took her temp. So no infection.
I feel a bit more relieved knowing this is fairly common - I think it happened once with one of my other dogs a lot of years ago (the anal glands I mean).
I have to remember that as we get older things can take longer to heal. She's still eager to get outside, I just miss her happily bouncing along.
You are so right. Bodies change as we get older so it's only natural that she needs extra time. Did the doc recommend any kind of foods with extra fiber to help her system stay regular?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
When I was in high school, we had a dog that needed his glands expressed quite frequently, and the vet just taught us how to do it. Rural area, so running into the vet was less common, especially for things you could handle yourself.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Oh I had the vet show me how to do it too. Everything I can do myself I will. (I even administered Manni's antibiotics shots after surgery). The vet just does it a little better than I do so to be thorough I take him if I feel I have to.
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
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