Anal glands?

[Ana]

I feel bad posting so much, but I can’t stop worrying and things keep coming up.

So I looked at my bun’s butthole and thought I saw her anal glands, but not sure.  She hates being put on her back.  When she got spayed a month ago I assume the vet cleaned them and she clipped her nails.  Now I’m confused.  When do I need to do it?  How can I tell if they need to be done.  I saw a youtube video and it seemed like the lady dug into the glands to clean them out… Not sure I can do that!

[BunnyLiz]

O boy! I need to do that too.. ill be honest. Ive been putting it off lol

[Cassi&Charlie]

Don’t feel bad posting, it’s a forum…and without posts there would be no forum

Umm, I don’t dig in cause it’s a sensitive area and i’d feel like I was hurting them. I kinda gently scrape with the cotton bud as quickly as possible because Layla HATES being put on her back.

[KatnipCrzy]

It is very common to clip the pets nail while they are under for spay/neuter- it never gets any easier than when they are “sleeping” and laying on their back.

The glands may or may not have been cleaned.  Since rabbits are usually spayed/neutered when they are young-  (approx 4-6 months) I am not sure how many vets check the glands.  From my understanding and experience- young bunnies are more likely to not have an accumulation of gland “gunk”.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

First-take a deep breath It’s really not that hard-just a little ick!!

Have you looked at the picture on BB under monthly maintenance? It really shows where they are located.

All you need is:
Some toilet tissue
A couple of cuetips
A glass of warm water
A garbage bag

Stick the tissue up your nose It’s smelly
Dip the cuetips in the warm water
Spread the gland open gently (while she’s on her back, you might want a partner to assist)
Wipe gently with the cuetip
Put it directly in the garbage bag.
All done!!

It can be light-to-dark colored
and it can be mushy ear-wax consitency to a hard chunk that comes out completely in one peice.
It will be stinky

You may even open her glands to find they are completely clean!

[Lightchick]

When I asked my “vet”–I get whomever happens to be in the office, not a specific person–about anal glands, she told me I didn’t have to worry about it, that the bun would clean them themselves.

Which, of course, I don’t believe, because I hate my vet-office, but I’ve been too chicken to deal with the gland-cleaning, too. Lizzy only tolerates being on her back if I hold her close to me, which doesn’t leave me any working room. Robbie will NOT allow himself to be flipped.

I’ve lucked out, and had them at the Bunny Bunch for other reasons, and had them groomed while there, so far. But the Bunny Bunch is too far away for monthly grooming…

There was a thread lately with a video I’ve been meaning to check out…I wonder if that’s the one you’re refering to…

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/forumid/1/postid/79326/view/topic/Default.aspx

[MimzMum]

Oh good! I thought I was the only one with the chicken vet! ^_^ Thanks, Lightchick, now I feel better.

My vet won’t do them either and claims the bun cleans them. Yah, right…if they did, would they SMELL that bad??

She really must think I am stupid. I feel sorry for other bunny owners who go to her and she tells them the same thing. She doesn’t have any interest in learning about it either, I’ve tried. How on earth she raised her own rabbits without doing this I’ll never know.

Does anyone know, however, what happens if the glands DON’T get cleaned? I’ve never seen anything posted on that.

And please pardon me for saying so…but I think that using a word like ‘anal’ or ‘rectal’ or just ‘bottom’ would be a preferable way to refer to this area…but that’s just me. ^_^

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

My guess would be that the wax would get harder and chaff the skin…But I’m not too sure what would happen.

[Sarita]

I had a vet tell one of my rabbit friends he prefers not to clean the anal glands because he’s afraid it would cause some damage and was not needed..

[Beka27]

bad Beka.

i have never done this. i’m also the one who does vet nail trims, so don’t tell me you’re comepletely surprised… lol!

i think we should post all of the info we know on this topic, pics and articles, and have an official “anal gland day” where we all look for them or try to clean them, you know… give it our best go…

what d’ya think?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I like that idea, shall we make a new thread or do it here?

[Beka27]

i’ll email you…

[MimzMum]

Oh Beka…there isn’t an EWWWW loud enough! rotfl! ^_^

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