Terrible Odor

[Trish]

This might sound really strange but my 4 month old Basenji boy sporadically emits a foul odor from his butt - truly repulsive. I externally compressed the anal glands as instructed by my breeder (who said she has heard of this happening although none of her dogs are affected) and nothing happened - no discharge. The smell appears at random times - when sleeping, when excited - there really is no pattern. Any insights in dealing with this issue is greatly appreciated.

[tanza]

@trish - Vet visit, for sure this is an anal gland issue. Anal glands will express/leak during sleep and/or excitement. It is not uncommon to any dog.

[Zande]

May be a simple matter of change of diet, but definitely a trip to the vet in the first instance. This is not uncommon.

[Mildred Mayhem]

My 3 year old B had that issue when she was younger. Our vet said that smaller dogs can't always pop their own anal glands, and that she may need it done for her about once a month. It was difficult even for the vet to express them. After awhile, as she got bigger, it stopped being a problem. I hope your B's problem will improve as he gets bigger, but definitely have him checked out by your veterinarian.

[Zande]

@mildred-mayhem The trouble with that is, the more often you manually clear the glands, the more often you have to keep doing it.

If possible it is better to add fibre to the diet and get the dog to express them normally. It is of course also possible that there is a problem, hence an initial trip to the vet is advised.

Some Basenjis' anal glands are very deep and difficult even for a vet.

[JKent]

What consistency is his poo? Many sources suggest that poo that is too soft makes it difficult for the glands to express during defecation.

[Beth314]

I'm having this same problem. Yesterday I had to strip my bed, washer/dryer running in the extreme heat we're having is no fun. I can almost tolerate the couch but not my bed. My B always seems freaked out about squirting this stench and, in her gallant effort to clean up her own mess, soaks the area making it worse. This happens when she's sleeping; and I'm sleeping too but wake up to this frantic licking/cleaning she's doing.

I've read this and other threads about this problem. Surgery seems extreme and very risky. I've read here expressing the glands manually is not a great solution either but I'm at my wits end with this. I'm looking into a doggy diaper for nights. I hope she's grows out of this.

[Zande]

The point about expressing the glands manually is that, once you start doing it, you have to do it more and more frequently.

Change of diet is a better way to go. A great deal more in the way of fibre. Certainly not surgery. I am not aware of the varieties of kibble etc available to you - but firmly suggest you seek something very high in fibre and add as many fibrous veggies as you can !

[tanza]

@beth314 - Have you been to the Vet with your pup?

[eeeefarm]

@zande said in Terrible Odor:

The point about expressing the glands manually is that, once you start doing it, you have to do it more and more frequently.

I've heard this a lot but it doesn't match my experience. My girl Lady had a problem with very thick secretions as she got older, and she would have problems expelling them. When I caught her scooting, I would express the glands. This was painful for her but she knew I was helping, so she didn't object, but she did whimper as I did it. Generally that would solve the problem for some considerable time.

My boy Sunny had an infection from an impacted gland, and after we sorted that I kept an eye on things and expressed his glands when he was showing any signs of difficulties. Again, it isn't something I had to do often, and he never again had an infection.

My other three seemed to manage on their own most of the time, but if I saw leakage or noticed an odour, I would deal with it.

[Beth314]

Vet appointment in this new (to her) state next week. I got her off of her raw diet once she got used to kibble and now feed Honest Kitchen kibble along with my home brew which includes broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, pureed. I noticed the Honest Kitchen bag says "no potatoes" like potatoes are a bad thing?? I do put potatoes in my home cooked food, so not sure if that's good or bad. I add rice too as the "no grain" feeding is now "out" - lots of problems with no grain diets according to 2 vets I went to early on. I'll plan to add pumpkin next up.

How do you learn to express anal glands? Gulp.

[tanza]

@beth314 - Expressing the anal glands can be discussed with your Vet

[tanza]

@beth314 - Sweet potatoes is the accepted addition as opposed to white potatoes and with no skins. I give mine Sweet potatoes, along with many other veggies... both steamed and raw...

[elbrant]

@tanza said in Terrible Odor:

with no skins

Why no skins? A lot of the nutrients are actually in the skins... just curious.

[Zande]

@beth314 said in Terrible Odor:

lots of problems with no grain diets according to 2 vets I went to early on.

Mine have been on grain free kibble for years. Nary a single problem. Had to because of Hoover's internal problems and it was easier to feed everyone the same diet. Fixing separate menus for the pack was too much hard work !

I have no idea what your vets are talking about - but would be interested to know. NOT, I hasten to add, that I will abide by their advice !

[tanza]

@zande - It is claimed that grain free causes Heart issues. That said, I have used grain free for many years with no issues. Lots of information about this

The FDA has alerted pet owners that there may be a link between grain-free diets and a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), says Emily Wilson, DVM, a veterinarian with Fuzzy, a pet
telehealth company.

[eeeefarm]

@tanza To add to your post, it appears to be a taurine deficiency that may affect some dogs. U.C. Davis took a hard look at it, and concluded that there appears to be a "combination of dietary, metabolic, and genetic factors" involved. So you might never see a problem, where someone else with a dog with different genetics and environment might well run into trouble.

My own personal feeling is that our foods, and indeed our environment have changed quite a bit, between use of GMOs and various modern farming methods, pesticides, etc. which makes me wonder about all the various allergies that both pets and humans seem to be prone to these days, as well as cancers that used to be quite rare. Once upon a time you could feed the cheapest food out there and still dogs lived to a "ripe old age", like my girlfriend's two farm dogs that survived to late teenage years despite eating table scraps and bottom of the barrel kibble. These days getting 15 years out of a German Shepherd is unusual. Hers was 16, and her mutt close to 18 when they died. Anecdotal evidence for sure, but makes me wonder....

[Beth314]

@zande The vets are only citing recent scientific research about heart problems and grain-free diets. Not every cigarette smoker will die of lung cancer; most won't ??? Not every dog fed grain-free diets will have problems. We're all doing the best we can given current research; grain-free diets could be considered a fad diet when it was applied to all dogs; not just for dogs with specific issues. Obviously we feed what we want to ourselves and our pets. Opinions run high; anecdotes are not science.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

[DebraDownSouth]

@tanza This study they based it on has been debunked pretty thoroughly as to how valid it is. Furthermore, serious questions have been raised about the study---including using a breed prone to taurine deficiency.

From the FDA::
The agency outlined the multiple potential factors that can, alone or in combination, contribute to dogs developing this rare and scientifically complex disease. The agency concluded that there is nothing inherently unsafe about a grain-free diet.

Dr. Steven Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, acknowledged that the “complex scientific messaging” on DCM and diet has contributed to misinterpretation about the safety of a grain-free diet. Dr. Solomon encouraged dog owners to select the diet that works best for their pet’s nutritional needs and previewed more multidisciplinary, scientific collaboration between the industry, veterinarians, scientists and other researchers that will further the understanding of DCM."

(Sorry I lost the link to this:
"Here’s what we know so far about this report:

Per the FDA report, “the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States. As of April 30, 2019, the FDA has received reports about 560 dogs diagnosed with DCM suspected to be linked to diet. Tens of millions of dogs have been eating dog food without developing DCM.”

That’s 560 dogs out of 72 million. Approximately one in four dogs will get cancer every year and nearly half of all dogs over ten will die from it. Now, that’s something to be concerned about, in comparison to the 0.000007% chance of DCM. "

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/research-updates-on-diet-associated-dilated-cardiomyopathy-2/

https://kohapet.com/blogs/news/confused-about-the-fdas-grain-free-dog-food-warning

BUT there are studies indicating grain free may be a factor, especially in breeds with taurine deficiency issues

https://skeptvet.com/Blog/2021/03/grain-free-diets-and-heart-disease-in-dogs-two-new-studies/

[tanza]

@debradownsouth - There are many studies to grain free, I have fed grain free for many, many years with no issues and have no considerations to change...that said I do mix up my Basenjis kibble with grain free and Natural Balance limited that doesn't have pees/etc....but then I change up their food source every couple of weeks.... I was just putting that out there for Zande to look at. I am not saying right or wrong, only what I do...