Anal gland removal

Re: Anal gland removal

Robin Grimmer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:37:31 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]

I used to do lots of these - but haven't had occasion to do one for absolutely ages - not sure why, but just don't seem to see the awful recurrent infections of days gone by. These days I just tend to flush out and then pack with abs under sedation and this generally works OK.

However when I did operate I always found it a lot easier with the sacs nicely filled. I have tried the rubber kit that used to be marketed - not sure if you can still get it. I did find sometimes it broke up in the sac as you were handling it and then came back out of the duct.

I have used car body filler material 'Plastic Padding' available from any car diy shop with absolute success many times. You mix it up and squirt it into the sac via the duct with a syringe and wide bore needle (with the bevel taken off). Have to be a bit quick so that it doesn't set..

It sets like rock and makes the job a doddle - you just snip round the nicely defined sac - hint - start medially and then go round the back of the and work laterally. Mind the big b.v. medially.

[/quote]

I agree with this entirely. I haven't done one for years but used to do them with this technique. Simple to do and I think the stuff is quite hot before it sets it helps with haemostasis.

Re: Anal gland removal

karen mcgoey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:03:57 GMT

Just did it today - Opened the gland and then excised from surrounding tissue.... it was much easier than I expected. Intradermals in and hope never to see the evil little dog again!! :)

Re: Anal gland removal

Acrobat77 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:04:27 GMT

Another non-filler. How did it go?

Re: Anal gland removal

Niall Taylor — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:42:00 GMT

[quote user="karen mcgoey"]Thanks for the advice - I think I will go ahead and do it without any filler. The dog has been on antibiotics for 2 weeks before surgery -he is an aggressive terrier who does not tolerate expressing the glands consciously so it'll be a relief not to see him again for it after the surgery![/quote]

I haven't packed glands for years - far too fiddly and time consuming for no benefit. You'll be fine - just remember to use subcuticular sutures if he's aggressive!

Cheers,

Niall

Re: Anal gland removal

karen mcgoey — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:35:43 GMT

Thanks for the advice - I think I will go ahead and do it without any filler. The dog has been on antibiotics for 2 weeks before surgery -he is an aggressive terrier who does not tolerate expressing the glands consciously so it'll be a relief not to see him again for it after the surgery!

Re: Anal gland removal

Mark Holmes — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:04:03 GMT

I have done it with and without and whilst I prefer to do it with I would do it without filler if needed without worry. A freind of mine even puts a foley catheter into then and inflates it with the added bonus that it can be used to manipulate the gland. I have never done it that way but just becasue I am comfortable doing it my way and have never needed to.

Re: Anal gland removal

bob lehner — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:43:55 GMT

It sets like rock and makes the job a doddle - you just snip round the nicely defined sac - hint - start medially and then go round the back of the and work laterally. Mind the big b.v. medially.

Re: Anal gland removal

Alan Tevendale — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:06:15 GMT

Again agree with both Lorna and Clive, I prefer not to fill them. Hope the op goes well.

Re: Anal gland removal

Clive Ansell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:43:18 GMT

I have seen others inject that awful rubber stuff, and someone who put pieces of cotton wool in to them. I just carry out an open dissection (described in Bojrab surgery textbook); flush the glands out with chlorhexidine during prep and place a probe or forceps into the gland and incise on to it then just dissect out. I do as Lorna does, a week or so of both pre and post op ab's. never had any problems as yet.

Re: Anal gland removal

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:29:35 GMT

I never fill them, tried it once and found it more, not less, difficult to do. Just be careful when dissecting and use a probe so you know where it is - the wall of the sac should be quite obvious once you've initially located it. I've also found they do a lot better if they get antibiotics a week before and after the surgery, and a week's supply of analgesia. And these definitely need a collar. All of which is entirely anecdotal personal experience