Home Remedies for Anal Gland Problems in Dogs: Tips and Tricks

For Sandy, who wrote:

I would love to know what u recommend for anal glands? I was told to give 100% pure pumpkin, start with 1 Tablespoon and add more if needed. It does nothing! She never scoots, she just constantly licks, and releases them. I've heard lentils help? But they didn't give any info. Like how much, how often. Oh and I've also tried oatmeal help please?! Thx!

Start putting a teaspoon of organic Unrefined virgin coconut oil in her food each time you feed her. You don't have to melt it.

I had heard that garlic was toxic but when my cat seemed to be dying, what did that matter? I now use raw garlic regularly as an antibiotic & antifungal & I believe it has been effective. I give him about a dime's size (USA), cut in tiny pieces & mixed into his raw hamburger or raw chicken & often mix in a teaspoon or so of nutritional yeast as well to encourage him to eat all his food.

I can't recall the site, but I believe it was 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil for every 10 lbs of weight. This was the dosage for overall health, digestive, shedding, cleaning plaque from teeth, etc. I was giving to my dog daily but I have reduced it to 2-3 times a week. My dog's weight is 60 pounds and I usually give her a heaping teaspoon (a little under the recommended dosage). Her coat is very shiny, and her shedding has decreased. My cats won't take, I liquify the coconut oil and use a syringe to give to my cats once a week. The solid will liquify at 72 degrees or warmer, make sure if you melt it, that it is not too hot to give by mouth. They also have a coconut oil softgel that is easy cosumption and to put in ears to clear up mites or parasites in the ear. I suggest you research yourself -- just "Google" coconut oil uses for pets. PSS - I take coconut oil myself.

In response to...."Lorayne from Sun City, Az

I disagree with some of your foods listed. Actually Garlic is not only SAFE for dogs it is good for them. It helps repel fleas, mosquitos and clean the intestinal tract of parasites (worms HATE garlic) We give all three of our pitties one 1000mg liquid-gel every day (regular human vitamins) They love it and actually beg for it. My girlfriend has to sprinkle powdered capsules on her dogs food and some people chop raw cloves for thier dogs. We give the pills to ours straight and can hear them pop the pill and chew it up! Also walnuts are not toxic either. You just limit them because of fat. We give these on occasion when we are snacking on them.

Avocado is controversial, from my research the skin and the pit are toxic, the meat is the controversial part... Some authorites say its perectly safe and even nutritious and others say it is also toxic. There is even a dog food that contains avocado. So to err on the side of safety our family has decided not to give avocados to our dogs. There are too many other options that are known as safe.

I have also given our dogs coconut oil but I suspect a link between it and nail fungus in dogs with a weaker immune system. They get it very rarely as a treat for example with thier monthly worming which is 1 can of tuna fish (if packed in oil I don't add extra oil) 1 capsule of Black Walnut Hulls - Heart Worm prevention (found at health food store or cheaper online) 1 tsp finely chopped raw green pumpkin seed - Intestinal wormer (found at grocery store, health food store or online) 1 capsule of echinacea, 1 capsule acidopholis and 1 capsule of ginger. It does not look appetizing but they gobble it up.

Tuna fish or canned chicken has been the best thing I have found to get anything in them, they always lick their bowl clean. I have three larger dogs weighing an average of 60lbs so adjust to your dogs weight. I learned all of this right here on EarthClinic.com. Thank you to everyone who contributes!

My little chihuahua would yip whenever he would have a bowel movement. His stool was also hard and light in color and hard to pass. Thank God for this site it saved me a vet bill. I remembered reading about coconut oil for people. I went to the kitchen and got a small amount on my finger, pried his mouth open and smeared in his mouth. I thought he would really protest, but he seemed to like the taste. Sure enough the next day he had a very healthy bowel movement. It turned out he had a swollen anal gland. I put witch hazel and hydrogen peroxide on it. It ruptured, drain and his fine now. I LOVE THIS SITE!

I read an article in a natural dog publication I receive about giving a dog with anal gland iissues unsweetened coconut and coconut oil (both can be purchased at a health food store). The coconut bulks up the stool with fiber and the coconut oil softens the bulked up stool a bit. For a dog about 30 lbs., you work up to 1 teaspoon of the coconut oil, and work up to 2 teaspoons of the unsweetened coconut. The coconut has to be soaked in water until its wet so it can be digested more easily. I only began this remedy 2 weeks ago, but don't notice my dog "scooting" as much as he used to.