Instead of their usual dog food, give your pet small servings of a bland diet 4-5 times throughout the day. Choose from:



cooked white rice (no butter or flavorings)

cottage cheese (no liquid)

boiled chicken (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)

boiled turkey (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)

scrambled egg (no butter or oil)

boiled egg (no butter or oil)

boiled potato (no skin or flavorings)

1 Tablespoon per 10 pounds

Note: also helps in digestion, skin problems, and reduces gas

Anal gland problems occur when our pet’s feces is too soft, and while passing through the glands, do not empty them completely. If the glands produce too much liquid, it can thicken and clog they will become clogged. Dogs and cats have two anal glands beneath the skin near their anus. You will know that your pet is having a problem when they begin to lick themselves frequently and attempt to drag their bottoms along the floor. Luckily for you, this is a situation that you can look after at home! However, if the glands have become infected, which would include signs such as, the glands themselves appearing red or discolored, the animal experiencing severe pain, developing a fever, loosing their appetite and becoming lethargic, it is at this point that you need to get some immediate medical help.

Here’s how you can clean out the glands yourself. Enlist the help of another person to help hold the pet and make sure that you both change into some old clothing and wear some disposable gloves. Use an old blanket or sheet to lie underneath the animal as the material that is removed from the anal glands will be smelly and can cause stains on carpets etc. Clip away any long hair beneath the tail so that you can see what you’re doing. With one hand, lift the tail way up over the animal’s back so that you can expose the glands (these will be located at 5 and 7 o’clock positions on the anus). You will be able to feel if they are full. The ducts that will actually empty the glands are located a little bit higher at 4 and 8 o’clock. In a milking type fashion, use your thumb and forefinger to squeeze the glands in a C-shaped sweeping movement. The fluid will probably be a dark brown to clear color, however if it is yellow or blood tinted, it is likely that your pet has an infection and should see a veterinarian immediately.

After you have finished, sooth your pet’s anal area by applying a warm, wet cloth to it. Once the cloth cools, warm it again with water and repeat the process for at least ten minutes at a time, three times per day.

In an effort to eliminate problems of impacted glands, there are a few changes that you can make to your pets regular diet. Increase their fiber intake by adding Metamucil to the food. You could also offer your pet some fresh vegetables such as Carrots, Cabbage or Celery. However, you should be aware that increasing the fiber in your pets daily diet will in addition to helping them express or clear their anal glands, also increase the size of their droppings.

Obviously we as pet owners cannot be with our furry friends 24/7 and as a result they sometimes are capable of getting into trouble when we aren’t around. If our cat or dog has snuck into a garden shed or garage, or has gotten out of the yard and gone exploring, there’s no telling what kinds of messes they may get themselves into.

Think for a moment of all the different substances that can be found in your very own garage or back yard. Now think about how difficult it will be to remove some of those things from your pet’s fur if and when they do happen to get mixed up in them. Let’s go through a few different scenarios so that we can provide you with some easy, home made solutions.

Let’s say for instance that your pet has been rolling around in or rubbing itself against some type of oil-based paint or motor oil. A natural solution, and one much less harsh than using something like turpentine, is to use a Vegetable or Mineral Oil to remove the substance. This will definitely be time consuming but in the end will do the trick. Rub large amounts of oil into the fur and use paper towels to absorb any excess. You may need to repeat the process several times in order to remove all of the paint or motor oil. Once you have finished, use Flour or Powdered Starch to absorb the substance. Use a wide-toothed comb to remove the mixture and then use a diluted dish detergent to bathe the animal and eliminate any remaining oil and powder.

If your pet has come into contact with tar, then you will want to use some Petroleum Jelly or Crisco Shortening to soften it up. Let it soak in until the tar is softened and then you will be able to wipe it away with paper towels. Repeat the process as often as necessary and afterwards wash your pet with soap and water.

To remove latex paint or wax from your pets fur, use Ice to harden the area of hair that you are dealing with and this should make it nice and easy to peel most of the substance away with your fingernails. Wash the rest of it out with soap and water and you’re good to go!

If your pet has an issue with bubble gum stuck in its fur, use your fingers to work some Peanut Butter into the problem area and gently separate the hair from the gum. The oils in the peanut butter will help to break up the bubble gum making it easier to remove. (This is also a great trick for children with the same problem!)

My advice for diarrhea........ starve the pet for 24 hours.. then give just very little food every few (at least four) hours............. they won't die but recover faster!

hexie