Anal Glands

[Fran Sheffield]

Hello,

Would those who are vets or have an interest in animal treatment
give your thoughts on this difficult to nail case? Many thanks.

8 year old black Labrador dog.

Brought in for long-term recurrent ear infections with mites -
bilateral but R often < than L. Shakes head with
infestation/infection. Chocolate, brown discharge that can become
chunky/spotty as problem progresses. Faint yeasty smell. No
modalities.

Other problems:

- Epilepsy - currently being controlled by sodium valproate and
phenobarbitone. Was able to see a video record of dog having a
seizure. Becomes poorly coordinated, as if drunk. Remains conscious
and able to respond to commands - seems overly happy and eager to
please - also part of normal state. Very wobbly walk if called - <
hind legs. Towards end of seizure, wobbling, drunken movements become
so pronounced that dog loses balances and crashes into
furniture,floor. No dribbling or incontinence. Lasts about 2-5
minutes. Occurs every 1 -2 months. Before medication, seizure would
become so severe that dog would be bent on floor in banana position
with nose to tail - would be distressed at this point. No modalities.

- History of repeatedly blocked anal glands. Approx every month would
discharge over floor/carpet a large amount of mid brown,putrid, watery
mucous - very offensive smell. Surgical removal of glands 2 years ago.

- ? Gluten intolerance + food intolerances - rumbling abdo and
diarrhoea. < dry dog food, bread, wheat products, anything with
additives. OK with meat and rice. Gross feeder.

Sleep - snores and sleeps with head propped against wall at 90
degrees. Prefers L side.

Thermal - neither hot or chilly

Temperament - clumsy, boisterous, foolish, very friendly, happy even
when sick, needy. Attached to wife of family - has to be constantly
beside her and receiving attention to the point of obsessiveness -
seems to arise from anxiety on separation - happy and contented if
with wife. Husband described him as "pest". Had been a guide dog puppy
for the blind - being looked after by this family before his training
school. Once at the school, had to be returned to family as pining for
wife and therefore not suitable for training. No known fears.

No other remarkable symptoms or history.
Treatment

Responded well to Sulph for 3 weeks then relapsed with no improvement
on change of potencies. Discharge had completely disappeared between
doses. Dose repeated on return of symptoms.

Prescribed Stram. Good response for 2 weeks A/A and then relapsed - no
response to potency changes.

Calc-c. No improvement.
Any comments would be appreciated, especially re the anal glands and
peculiar discharge as this had been such a strong feature of the case
prior to their removal. Hard to repertorise or MM with our human
books.

--
Best regards,
Fran mailto:FranSheffield@homeopathyplus.com.au

[d_barbara_hamilton]

Hi Fran,

My first thought on reading was Stram., until I saw it had been given and
presumably exhausted its action. What is not mentioned is when this all started,
apart from the clue about being distraught at separation from the wife. Have you
considered Pulsatilla also (esp. the ears) ?

I found the sleep position most unusual - if I've understood it correctly! It made
me wonder if the dog received any shots ? For instance - if I got it right :

SLEEP; POSITION; head; upright (SRIII-62) (2) : ant-t., led.

Good luck Fran. Not easy to do animals at the best of times.

BW, Barbara

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Fran Sheffield wrote:

[Joy Lucas]

That is what happens to anal glands because domesticated animals lose
the ability to discharge and it can be done manually by a human or the
dog will lick or rub them. the discharge is nearly always very smelly
(meant to be for territorial marking etc), but as they have been
removed are they part of the case?

With all that medication for the epilepsy will a homeopathic rx work
sufficiently and what is it that is being treated - just the ears or
the whole case. What sx came first? What was the dog like before
training school as 'being by the side obsessively' is part of the
training almost. Sounds like a lovely doggie Best, Joy
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.blogspot.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Magda Aguila]

HI Fran,

First, I would change the diet. Dogs are carnivores. They do not make the
enzymes needed to digest, metabolize or in any way utilize grains. They
have no amylase in their saliva to assist with grain digestion. Only alpha
amylase is found in animals. Pancreas, liver and small intestine are the
main sources of serum amylase. In the healthy dogs and cats most amylase is
derived from the small intestine. Many dogs with seizures have a elevated
levels of amylase in their blood, due mainly to commercial foods. Most
commercial dog foods are mostly grains. This is one of the most common
maintaining causes that keeps dogs' cures from happening. I have seen huge
improvements with ear issues, skin issues and behavioral issues once the dog
is eating a species appropriate diet, which translates to raw, meaty bones.
Here are a few good links on information:

http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html

http://www.rawmeatybones.com/

http://www.rawlearning.com/
Then, I would investigate vaccinations. Dogs are overly vaccinated on a
regular basis. Distemper and Rabies vaccines are the most dangerous and
they do serious damage to the nervous system. Get information on the
relationship between the appearance of the seizures and vaccines. Usually,
chronic vaccine reactions appear anywhere between 3 months and a year after
the last vaccinations. Of course, you will need to include the rubric <
vaccinations, etc., in your case.

Look at remedies like Belladona which I find to be often needed in most
dogs' cases exhibiting nervous system issues such as convulsions, epilepsy,
compulsive behaviors, over activity, lack of focus and high reactivity to
sound, light, and movement.

I will be glad to help you with this case and especially give you
information on diet change for the owners as well as give you lots of
information regarding the chronic effects of vaccinations.

The issue with the anal glands is but a small part of the case. Anal Glands
are the "fingerprint" of dog's identity. They are designed to be released
when stool passes thru the anus. If the stool is too soft (as it commonly
is with grain laden commercial foods) the glands will not be expressed,
causing blockage and in many instances infections. A change in diet will
make a huge improvement with this issue and most likely, will "cure" it.
Vaccinations are also a big causative effect for the problem. Thuja has
many times palliated this symptom, but if the diet is not changed, the
problem will eventually return.

HTH

Magda Aguila
Aquiline
Animal Nutrition and
Homeopathic Consultations
Ask me about Juice Plus
http://www.juiceplus.com/+ma21937

[Fran Sheffield]

Hello d_barbara_hamilton,

Monday, January 16, 2006, 10:45:59 PM, you wrote:

d> My first thought on reading was Stram., until I saw it had been given and
d> presumably exhausted its action. What is not mentioned is when this all started,
d> apart from the clue about being distraught at separation from the wife. Have you
d> considered Pulsatilla also (esp. the ears) ?

This could be a very good remedy for this dog - perhaps a case of
overlooking the obvious?

d> I found the sleep position most unusual - if I've understood it correctly! It made
d> me wonder if the dog received any shots ? For instance - if I got it right :

d> SLEEP; POSITION; head; upright (SRIII-62) (2) : ant-t., led.

Yes, the vaccination issue certainly needs looking at.
Many thanks.
--
Best regards,
Fran mailto:FranSheffield@homeopathyplus.com.au