ht away?

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. This is likely a ruptured anal gland abscess; if she is not in pain and is able to defecate normally I would bathe the area with saline to keep it clean and arrange an appointment for Monday; if anything changes or she becomes unwell you will need to get it checked more urgently

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Anal sac disease is very common in dogs. The sacs frequently become impacted (plugged), usually due to inflammation of the ducts. The secretion within the impacted sacs will thicken and the sacs will become swollen and distended, making it painful for your dog to pass feces.
Redness or swelling around the sphincter is an indication that the glands are becoming infected, as is blood or puss in your dog`s stool or left behind on the carpet after they`ve finished scooting. Another cause of recurrent anal sac disease is change in stool consistency.
Rectal prolapse in dogs occurs when part of the rectal or anal tissue protrudes from the anal opening. A partial prolapse may look like a doughnut-shaped ring of prolapsed tissue, while a complete prolapse will be look like a solid, tubular structure protruding from your dog`s anus.
Common causes of a painless lump on your anus include anal warts (genital warts), external piles (haemorrhoids) and the viral infection molluscum contagiosum.
Hemorrhoids may suddenly become acutely swollen and painful. This occurs when blood clots within the hemorrhoidal veins. This condition is referred to as “thrombosed hemorrhoids.” Commonly a pea or marble sized painful lump will appear externally. Sometimes the entire anus swells, inside and out, producing severe pain.
You should wash or wipe his bum on a daily basis to keep it clean or at the least once a week. Special canine wipes can be used, or you can use a simple damp washcloth to do the trick. Reward him with treats throughout any wiping to get him adjusted to it.
In the case of benign perianal adenomas, you many see one or more small, round, pink, hairless, slow-growing nodules around the anus. Although they usually grow around the anus, they can grow in the prepuce, scrotum, and under the tail.
Calendula Compress

Calendula compresses can help reduce inflammation for dogs with anal gland problems. Simply put a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and add 8 drops of calendula tincture to it. Soak a cloth into the mixture and apply it to your dog`s bottom until the cloth is completely cool.

If you have rectal prolapse, you may notice a reddish lump that comes out of the anus, often while straining during a bowel movement. The lump may slip back inside the anus, or it may continue to be seen. Other symptoms may include: You cannot control your bowel movements, known as fecal incontinence.
An anal abscess is a painful condition in which a collection of pus develops near the anus. Most anal abscesses are a result of infection from small anal glands. The most common type of abscess is a perianal abscess. This often appears as a painful boil-like swelling near the anus.
A pilonidal (pie-low-NIE-dul) cyst is an unusual pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. The cyst is almost always near the tailbone at the top of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts usually occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded.
Check with your doctor if you have any of the following: Bleeding from the anus or rectum. A lump near the anus. Pain or pressure in the area around the anus.
Piles usually look like small, round, discoloured lumps. You might be able to feel them on your anus or hanging down from your anal canal. Your anal canal is the short, muscular tube with blood vessels that connects your rectum (back passage) with your anus.
A perianal hematoma looks like a blue bruise under the skin or a dark-purple collection of blood near the anus. You might also be able to feel a small lump, ranging in size from about a small raisin to a tennis ball. Other symptoms of a perianal hematoma include: bubbling or bulging skin near the anus.
Like other small cuts or tears to the skin, an anal fissure will often heal by itself within a few weeks. However, you should see a GP if you have an anal fissure as they can give you advice and medicines to help ease your symptoms and allow the fissure to heal more quickly.
An anal abscess is an infected cavity filled with pus near the anus or rectum. An anal fistula (also called fistula-in-ano) is a small tunnel that tracks from an opening inside the anal canal to an outside opening in the skin near the anus. An anal fistula often results from a previous or current anal abscess.
If everything goes well, a ruptured anal gland should heal in two weeks. Of course, each dog is unique, so it depends on your dog.
No, it is not recommended that you use baby wipes on dogs, or any other pets. That`s because the pH level on human skin is different to dogs so baby wipes are unsafe because they may cause irritation or itching.
Tumors are usually small lumps or bumps, but they also can occur as hairless, discolored patches, rashes, or nonhealing ulcers. Because skin tumors are so diverse, identifying them should be left to a veterinarian. Tumors may be benign or malignant (cancerous).
The hemorrhoids themselves will sometimes be visible outside of the anus, having an inflamed, dark purple or reddish hue when viewed under natural light. Severe cases of the problem can also lead to visible bleeding of varying degrees.
Bellfor Anal Gland Ointment is a natural care product for dogs. The ointment is suitable for external use and helps to counteract problems with anal bags in dogs.
Other over-the-counter medications safe to use on canine skin include Neosporin—an antibiotic ointment—and Benadryl cream, a topical pain reliever. “Hydrocortisone cream is usually more effective than Benadryl cream,” says Butzer. “But oral Benadryl can help with reducing inflammation in the affected area.”
Topical Antibiotic Cream: As mentioned, the anal gland area is prone to infection because it can get easily in contact with bacteria from the anus. Every time your dog defecates, the area should be flushed and topical antibiotic cream should be applied to the surface.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My Husky has a sore righ next to her anus. It is a small hole about the size of a pea. Should I be concerned enough to take her to a vet right away?
ANSWER : A. This is likely a ruptured anal gland abscess; if she is not in pain and is able to defecate normally I would bathe the area with saline to keep it clean and arrange an appointment for Monday; if anything changes or she becomes unwell you will need to get it checked more urgently

Read Full Q/A … : Ask-a-Vet Online Q & A Library – Organic Pet Digest

Q. My cat is excessively scrstching herself., to the point she has sores. She is strictly an indoor cat. Did have flees been treated for 2 months
ANSWER : A. For every flea you see on your pet, there are 100 more in the environment. Get your pet on a good topical or oral flea control through your vet. In flea control, you get what you pay for. Consider asking your vet for a dose of Capstar. It helps get the problem under control by killing the fleas on the pet starting in five minutes but only lasts for 24 hours.

You need to treat your home environment. If you use a pest control service, tell them you are having a flea problem and they can adjust their treatment. Use a premise spray that also contains an IGR, insect growth regulator. This keeps eggs and larvae from maturing into adults and helps break the life cycle. Also, vacuum EVERY DAY, throwing out the bag or emptying the canister every time into an outside receptacle and spraying the contents with insecticide to kill the fleas you’ve vacuumed up.

Treat your yard too, since fleas are opportunistic and will hop a ride into your home on your pant leg without you knowing it. Concentrate on areas under bushes, in the shade. Fleas are less likely to be located in open sunny areas where it gets hot.

If chemicals are a problem, you can use borax. Sprinkle it into rugs, into corners and under furniture, use a broom to work it into the fibers and let it sit for hours, days even. It won’t hurt you or your pet to have it present. Then vacuum it up, reapply as needed. Food grade diatomaceous earth can be gotten from a health food store and worked into the rugs and corners in the same way as borax. These treatments aren’t as fast and effective as chemical insecticides but they can help.

You might want to consider boarding your pet for the day at your vet, to give you the opportunity to flea bomb your house without having to worry about your pet being exposed. They can bathe your pet and give a dose of Capstar while you treat your home.

Be patient, you may have to repeat these steps multiple times 10-14 days apart to help break the flea life cycle.

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Read Full Q/A … : Cat Excessive Licking, Scratching, and Chewing Causes

Q. My puppy has a hard time staying by herself, she cries and chews her crate. How can I make her more comfortable being alone?
ANSWER : A. Crate training is an extremely slow process, so you should be taking baby steps:

First, lure her into the crate with high value treats and close the crate door, then toss several treats inside the crate. During this process do not make eye contact, speak to, or hand-feed her. Toss in more treats and stand up. Then, toss in some more treats and take one step away. Return to the crate, toss more and take a few steps away. Return, toss treats, take 5 steps away. Return, toss treats, take 3 steps away. The key is to randomly change up the length of time you are gone, slowly adding and subtracting seconds. Slowly work your way out of sight. Then, quickly return, and walk out of sight but stay out of sight a few seconds. Return, toss treats, walk out of sight a few more seconds, etc. Take it slowly.

Finally, when you let her out ignore her, don’t make a big deal of it.

Read Full Q/A … : If Your Dog Hates His Crate

Q. My 5 month old dog woke up today very lethargic and not very hungry. His feces smells very bad and it has an orange colored mucus in it. only 5 lbs
ANSWER : A. This could be many things, however first I’d ask you (if we could talk) if your puppy is vaccinated against parvo? That’s a serious viral disease that produces very bad-smelling bloody diarrhea. If he’s not vaccinated against parvo, please take him in to see a vet right away.

Otherwise, if he is vaccinated against parvo, he could have intestinal parasites, he could have eaten something that’s upset his GI tract, or he could have a bacterial infection, for starters. The orange color you mentioned has me especially concerned – I’m worried it could be blood. Regardless – he’s not eating, and he’s lethargic, so he likely feels pretty awful. I recommend you take him to see a vet right away who can figure out what’s going on and treat it appropriately.

Read Full Q/A … : Causes of Blood in Dog Stool

Q. My 12 year old cat is constantly grooming and scratching to the extent that she is pulling her hair out in spots. She is also losing weight.
ANSWER : A. Weight loss in older cats, especially when coupled with continued or increased appetite can indicate diabetes or hyperthyroidism. I recommend getting your cat in to see your vet as soon as possible for an exam and comprehensive labwork.

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Read Full Q/A … : Cat Excessive Licking, Scratching, and Chewing Causes

Q. I think my cat was bitten on his front foot by a vole. It is tender, he’s careful of it. I see no wound, possible slight swelling of pad. Take to vet?
ANSWER : A. A vole’s teeth a quite sharp but small. The puncture wounds would be very small and may even close over, so that you can’t see them. First, if your pet is not current on rabies, go to the veterinarian right away. A vole is a type of rodent, and rodents can carry rabies (although voles are not major carriers). Better safe than sorry. Otherwise, wash the affected foot with warm warm and monitor carefuily. If the foot becomes swollen, develops an odor, feels very warm to the touch, or you see oozing pus, head to the vet. Also, go to the vet if the cat continues to favor the foot more than a day or two.

Read Full Q/A … : Old Maid Cat Lady: Spotlight: Plasma Cell Pododermatitis …

Q. Year 3 my dog loses patches of hair on back, stomach and neck. Vet has tested, but has not found anything. Patches are a red and scaly by hair lin
ANSWER : A. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Read Full Q/A … : Prednisone Side Effects in Dogs – Buzzle

Q. Cat has sores on mouth, neck. Given antibiotics and ointment, doesn’t help. Won’t stop scratching, blood everywhere. Mouth doesn’t seem to bother him
ANSWER : A. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Read Full Q/A … : My cat has sores on his neck and head what is it …

joliana smith

My name is Sarah Smith and I am a dog owner, lover, and trainer. I have been working with dogs for over 10 years and have a passion for helping them learn and grow. I am a certified dog trainer and specialize in positive reinforcement methods. I believe that all dogs can learn and that the best way to train them is to build a strong relationship based on trust and respect.