Impacted anal glands

[Dale Moss]

I'm wondering if this problem in dogs has a homeopathic solution. I have a doggy patient who's doing wonderfully on Sulphur -- he's gone from being a fearful creature to an outgoing, healthy therapy dog. But he has a persistent problem with impacted anal glands, though the frequency with which they need to be drained has been cut in half.
The owners have him on a good home-made diet, with fiber mostly from raw organic veggies like kale or carrots. His BMs are fine and regular. He gets a good amount of exercise and is full of energy. He's a mixed breed dog of medium size (impacted anal glands seem to be a particular problem among smaller breeds).
I've heard of Gunpowder being used to treat infected anal glands, but there's nothing out there in the homeopathic literature about impacted glands -- at least not in any vet literature I've seen. And since humans lack anal glands, there are no rubrics. (I've had a similar experience with anal gland cancer in dogs.)
So any vet homeopaths have any experience with this? I'm aware of all the non-homeopathic treatments for the condition, but I'm sure homeopathy can come up with something superior.
Peace,
Dale

[Shannon Nelson]

Silica?
(Or myristica?)

I have read of this as a consequence of breeding, so maybe (only maybe) palliative measures are an appropriate goal?

Looking forward to hearing what you find!

Shannon

[Dale Moss]

Hi, Shannon
I've tried Silica -- no discernible effect. Myristica, like Gunpowder, would seem indicated where there is infection. In this dog's case, there is none. The problem may indeed be hereditary.
Many years ago I had a dog with the same problem (also a mutt). Based on my memory of her symptoms, I did some repertorizing as a theoretical exercise. One of the leading remedies to come up was Medorrhinum; another was Thuja. It makes sense to consider this problem a sycotic manifestation -- i.e., too much lubricant building up in the gland. So maybe we'll try a sycotic remedy next.
Peace,
Dale

[Hennie Duits]

You probably know this (I did not), but I read that frequently this is
about the stool being either too soft or too hard.

VWIW,

Hennie

Op 8-3-2013 16:17, Dale Moss schreef:

[Irene de Villiers]

I believe you are looking for a medical solution for a dietary issue....though it may also be a matter of age, yo do not state dog's age.

Aal glands get expressed each time stool is evacuated, IF the diet is right.
If the stool is too soft, it will squish through the anus without expelling anal gland contents. If tat happens a few time in a row, the contents of the gland will harden.
Also, if the fatty acids of the diet and the short chain fatty acids made in the gut by beneficial bacteria, are not right, the anal gland secretions will be of wrong consistency.

So I'd study the diet to find out what it lacks or what it contains that is not dog-appropriate, first before looking for a medical issue.
Pet food status in USA is in a horrid state, there is far too much misinformation doing the rounds.
A home made diet is hard to get well balanced without proper knowledge (short of feeding live prey).
Kale and carrots are problematic for dogs. They are NOT appropriate for fermentable fiber to make short chain fatty acids in the gut. SO the gland contents will likely be incorrect.
It's a diet thing.
Home made diets are notoriously lacking in the right fatty acids and an appropriate gut protocol.
Gut life involves a veritable factory of happenings in carnivores, and needs to be protected from toxic items, as those gut bacteria are critical to provide what other creatures get from plants.

Rarely it is a medical issue in old dogs in which they have lost elasticity in the area of anal glands. Also it is medical when an anal gland has ruptured. Tissue damage rubrics for the injury are clearly needed then.
That needs homeopathy - it's then a matter of muscle weakness, old age, digestive inefficiency, potentially fluid and electrolyte issues, etc......and a canine digestive enzyme also may help older animals (Dr Goodpet's canine digestive enzymes especially if the stool consistency is incorrect) - but in a younger animal, it's diet adjustment that makes more sense - diet for correct stool and/or diet for correct anal gland contents (usually fatty acid related).

Namaste,
Irene
REPLY TO: only
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."

[Irene de Villiers]

How so? (What exactly is being claimed?)

There are no genes for the right diet:-)
I know of no genes for anal gland defects either.
REPLY TO: only
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."

[Irene de Villiers]

More likely too little:-)
REPLY TO: only
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."

[latrenda]

I don't know what to do homeopathically, but here are some things that may or may not help (don't know what you tried already)

- Clean the anus daily
- Warm compresses when the sacs start to fill up
I know the dog already exercises, but maybe try increasing.

Dr Pitcairn's book suggest belladonna and/or silicea for absesses and sulphur for impactions. Pitcairn's book also says it can happen in dogs who feel crowded with other animals - not enough space ( read this somewhere else as well) and in dogs who aren't let out often enough to potty

Day mentions Heph Sulph

If none of the above work, they might try massage to the area or even manual expression before they glands get impacted.
I know manual expression is not desirable but might be necessary to head off impaction if nothing else will help.

I would also consider that allergies might be the problem.

I hope you get it figured out.
--

La Trenda

[Ginny Wilken]

I have seen a lot of anal gland issues. I have not ever seen this where it did not clear up as the chronic case presentation was addressed. Of course, most of those cases were tied to vaccine damage, and the rabies vaccine in particular attacks nerves, rendering various parts of the body weak, sphincters, esophagi, and other involuntary muscles. So perhaps looking at the totality of symptoms would be more fruitful in this case, also. Not sure what you've tried, so I don't mean to be dismissive of your efforts.

ginny
All stunts performed without a net!