Black paste from anal gland

[RandyC]

We used to have our dog ChewChew's anal glands expressed at the groomer once every few months. We stopped going to the groomer during the pandemic. When we joined HA! we learned that it's not unnecessary (or good) to have the gland expressed, so we haven't had that done for him in more than 2 years (maybe even close to 3 years).

For a few days, we noticed that ChewChew's poops came out like logs with indentation across length-wise. We wondered if full anal glands would be the reason (would it?). Yesterday morning, he only pooped out a small piece of flattened poop. Last night, he got into his poop position but only a drop came out. We have seen log shape poop with indentation from him before, but it only lasted a day or so. I don't remember seeing a flattened poop before.

We were worried that maybe full anal glands were blocking the way (is that possible?). We decided to try expressing the glands ourselves for the first time. My wife was able to squeeze something out of the left gland. A black paste-like substance came out.

What would be the reason for the indentation on the poop/flattened poop? Why was it black paste (the video we watched had clear fluid coming out of the dog)? Should we be concerned?

ChewChew's BEAM is/has been good, especially considering this long, extreme heat wave we are experiencing is Southern CA. In the past, he'd have lower energy during hot weather.

Thank you for your help and feedbacks!

 

[HA! Support]

Hi Randy.

I've tagged @Dr. Jeff. In the meantime, can you provide a bit more info? What is ChewChew's age? Have there been any dietary changes recently? Any new meds? Has he pooped today at all?

Kim
Holistic Actions! Support

 

[RandyC]

Hi Kim,

Thank you so much for the tag and the questions.

ChewChew is about 12 years old. He had been raw fed with various meats/bones and organs since we got him over 10 years ago.

He got pretty sick with GI issues at the beginning of 2021 (later we realized there had been symptoms /early warning signs through the years). We started working with @Dr. Jeff in February 2021 (so grateful we found Dr. Jeff and HA!).

When ChewChew first got sick we didn't know what he could eat and he seemed to do ok with beef so we stuck with that while trying several remedies. So for almost a year ChewChew had only beef (ground, roasts, shank, steaks, stews) and eggs (and supplements: Fiber Plus, MitoMax, Ion Biome).

About 4 months ago, we started adding varieties back into his diet. We started with SmallBatch beef sliders (beef heart, liver, kidney, bone, and veggies and fruits). Then seaweed calcium. Then fish oil. We started slowly/small amounts, then increased over time. He seemed to respond well with the varieties. His poop was well formed more often and his BEAM increased.

In the last month or so we were less careful/less slow with the changes in the diet. We switched up seaweed calcium with eggshellent. Gave whole beef tongue and ground pork. Shared cucumber slices, watermelon, baked sweet potatoes, and blueberries when we are eating. Also, the last week or so we changed up the compositions of his meals more dramatically. Instead of beef grounds/SmallBatch beef sliders/beef organ grounds/pork ground everyday, maybe only 1 or 2 kinds of meat in a day. Too many varieties was making meals too complicated and started to create waste. His poop during this more dramatic change was mostly soft formed and sometimes soft serve.

His last remedy was sqtip dose of sulphur 30c on 4/22/22.

He pooped 3 times during our morning walk today. The first and the 3rd times were small. The 2nd time was about his normal amount, still with indentation.

 

[RandyC]

Just thought of a couple of food we added in the recent months. We added apple cider vinegar to his food and water about a month ago for flea repellent. Last week we added BioBrilliant for dental health (this is completely new to ChewChew but so far we only sprinkle a very small amount on his food).

 

[Dr. Jeff]

We were worried that maybe full anal glands were blocking the way (is that possible?)

It's very unlikely that full anal glands could block the way tho they may be contributing to the shape of the stool.

What would be the reason for the indentation on the poop/flattened poop? Why was it black paste (the video we watched had clear fluid coming out of the dog)? Should we be concerned?

No need to be concerned. The black paste may either be a manifestation of his current DEB (dynamic energy balance), or secondary to the amount of time the anal sac material has been sitting in the sacs. The secretion becomes thicker, darker and pasty (and inspissated) the longer it sits.

 

[RandyC]

Thank you so much for your feedback @Dr. Jeff !

Both yesterday and today during our AM walks, he would squat and very little or nothing would come out. Then he'd try again after a couple minutes, about normal amount of stool would come out, indented/flattened.

Would all the changes in the food or his current DEB cause anal glands to fill up quickly/faster? It seems like in a few days since we observed the indentation on his stools, the indentation became more and more pronounced, then the stool became flattened.

If the black paste is a manifestation of his current DEB, is it possible to interpret it (such as detoxification of the body)?

We are wondering/more worried about the cause of the stool shape. Is there anything we should do right now other than observing his BEAM? We started doing warm compressing, assuming anal gland is the reason. Are there other possible causes?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Would all the changes in the food or his current DEB cause anal glands to fill up quickly/faster?

Yes and yes!

If the black paste is a manifestation of his current DEB, is it possible to interpret it (such as detoxification of the body)?

Yes, it is possible but the answer will depend on the complete context of his current totality of symptoms.

We are wondering/more worried about the cause of the stool shape. Is there anything we should do right now other than observing his BEAM? We started doing warm compressing, assuming anal gland is the reason. Are there other possible causes?

Yes and yes.

The next thing to do is to have your vet do a rectal to rule out any rectal, colonic or prostatic abnormalities.

Please let us know what your vet says and how ChewChew's BEAM is in a few days.

 

[RandyC]

Thank you @Dr. Jeff!

Please excuse my ignorance. Could you explain what a rectal is? What's the procedure like?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Could you explain what a rectal is? What's the procedure like?

That's when the vet puts on a glove and inserts her finger into the rectum to feel around. It's also how vets express anal glands.

 

[RandyC]

Thank you @Dr. Jeff !

We got an appointment with our local vet next Wednesday, the earliest availability they have. Will report back what the vet says.

By any chance you'd heard of Dr. Deborah Smith (https://www.treehousevet.com)? Saw her on Yelp. It'd nice to have a local holistic vet (or a conventional vet who supports the alternative approach) in our area.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

YW Randy.

By any chance you'd heard of Dr. Deborah Smith

I have not but @Dr. Christina is at the holistic vet conference right now so when she gets back (or before) we'll see what she says.

 

[RandyC]

Thank you Dr. Jeff.

Would love to know if @Dr. Christina has any thoughts.

 

[Dr. Christina]

I do not know Dr. Smith, Randy. She sounds fairly holistic. It would be good to read the article on selecting and working with a holistic vet. When you first meet with her, you will be ready to evaluate her. Be sure to schedule a well pet visit, or something basic that Dr. Jeff suggests, with her rather than waiting for a crisis.

Also, keep reading our resources on homeopathy to understand the way the body responds to treatments. If you can schedule the time, one member benefit is to take the live and live streamed weekend classes I taught in 2018 and 2019. You will learn lots! You can read Dr. Jensen's book as well.

You may want to purchase Don Hamilton's Homeoapthic Care of Cats and dogs on Amazon. His chapters 2 and 3 are worth reading monthly!

Also click on the homeopathy button in the resource library for much more.

Dr. Christina

 

[RandyC]

Thank you, @Dr. Christina, for pointing me to those resources. I'll go through and read/watch them. I purchased Don Hamilton's book on Amazon last night.

We'll be looking for a new local vet (hopefully holistic or integrative). In the last few years, every time we saw the vet we felt a decline in his, shall we say, BEAM. Yesterday when we saw him, it felt like he has lost his passion in what he's doing and the communication wasn't good. It's a shame. We really liked him when we first started going to him years ago.

Please let us know what your vet says and how ChewChew's BEAM is in a few days.

The vet said he felt a very small mass (about 5mm) close to his anus on the left. He said he doubts it's big enough to cause an indentation. He told us to schedule an appointment with a specialist (internal medicine). His office gave us a list of a few animal hospitals to contact.

We also did the annual blood panel test and urine test. I missed the call from the vet earlier today (probably regarding the result), and I haven't been able to reach him yet.

ChewChew's BEAM has been good. He has been more playful and engaging. Whenever we call his name and run, he'd come chase us (probably because he gets treats ). He's running at a much faster speed than the last 2 years, at a speed like when he was younger . He displays playful behaviors daily, and walks with "lighter" steps.

 

[ChristineL]

ChewChew's BEAM has been good. He has been more playful and engaging. Whenever we call his name and run, he'd come chase us (probably because he gets treats ). He's running at a much faster speed than the last 2 years, at a speed like when he was younger . He displays playful behaviors daily, and walks with "lighter" steps.

This is great to hear! Keep doing what you're doing to keep him happy. If you haven't already, checked out the article on Happiness protocols...

 

[RandyC]

Thank you @ChristineL ! I think I have read about the Happiness protocols, but I'll revisit it again.
When our pets look happy , we are happy.

Our vet just called me back, he said the blood test mostly looks normal, but urine test shows infection. He said he recommends treatment (antibiotics) since dogs don't usually show symptoms.

We don't want to give antibiotics if there are other better ways. Any thoughts/suggestions, @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina ?

Thank you!

 

[Dr. Jeff]

urine test shows infection. Any thoughts/suggestions, @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina ?

Sure. Extra fluids (strucured water if possible), viamin C (to bowel tolerance), cranberry extract and d-mannose.

Regagarding homeopathic medicines, that depends on what his body is saying (via the internal and external symptoms).

Perhaps share the urine test results with us when you get them.

 

[RandyC]

Thank you @Dr. Jeff ! We have HMDM call with you tomorrow (Friday), and also previously scheduled an appointment with you for next Friday. Look forward to our calls.

When I spoke with the vet today, I asked him for a copy of the test results. He said he will give them to me when he prescribes the antibiotics so we don't get multiple copies (we asked for and recieved a copy of his notes from the office visit yesterday). I told him I just want the test results. But he insisted on holding on to them.

I'll call his office again tomorrow and tell him no antibiotics and to forward us the test results.

 

[RandyC]

Perhaps share the urine test results with us when you get them.

I contacted the vet's office this morning and received the test results. Please see the attached.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Thanks for sharing Randy (or Sherry)! As we just discussed, please let me know what happens with your quest to find a local vet to recheck the urine.