I ran across this article I wrote about Alvin's anal gland surgery. If your dog is a candidate for this operation, ask your vet the following questions prior to scheduling surgery for anal gland removal. The responses listed here are from Alvin's vet (also the surgeon):
How many surgeries of this type have you performed?
In
25 years of practicing, I've done hundreds of anal gland removal surgeries.
None have resulted in incontinence. Note: We
confirmed this response when we talked to one of the vet techs in the office.
She had checked into the vet's anal gland surgeries when her dog was scheduled
for anal gland removal. She called owners whose dogs had undergone the surgery.
None of these dogs were incontinent post surgery.
What can happen during surgery to leave a dog incontinent post-surgery?
Cutting
a nerve or muscle can cause incontinence post surgery.
Where is the surgical site?
The
glands are located on the sides of the anus at about 4 and 8 o'clock. They will
be removed and the skin stitched.
How long is the hospital stay?
You
can check in the dog at the hospital beginning at 7:00 A.M. on the day of surgery.
You can pick him up after 10:00 A.M. the day after surgery.
Does a dog require a special diet after surgery?
The
dog will usually eat his normal diet.
How long is the recovery period?
The
recovery period is 10-14 days. The dog will wear an e-collar until the stitches
are removed at the end of the recovery period. The e-collar prevents the dog
from disturbing the surgical site by licking or biting the stitched areas.
What are the restrictions during recovery?
No
running or jumping is permitted.
Leash
walking only is allowed.
Lots
of TLC should be given. We went shopping for a soft e-collar. Experience
(Simon's knee surgery, Alvin and Simon's neuter surgery) has taught us that the
hospital will provide an e-collar, but it's plastic and bangs into walls, door
molding, and human legs.
Here's the soft ecollar we got him at Amazon:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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