Hi, Pam,
Yes, "board certified" means that a vet has been certified to do
surgery. They can do it anyway, but a board certified surgeon has a lot
more experience behind him/her. You are more likely to hear of the
risks of any surgery going to a surgeon.
I can't say why the glands won't empty. I know that sometimes we have
used warm moist packs. (Hot wet towels work well...er..not TOO hot.).
If I were you......even though you love your vet (and why not?) I would
just ask for a referral to a second opinion. It is standard in vet
practice and if your vet is really super as you say, the vet won't mind
the second opinion.
There IS a risk of incontinence, so I might ask about that as well.
Just be in mind that surgeons love to "surge" <G>; whenever I ask a
surgeon about surgery they give glowing opinions of it. Personally, it
hasn't been my favorite thing in life perhaps as I was the patient. <G>
Now, if we could trade places I might like it more.
I hope this helps!
Suze
"Pamela A. Brown" wrote:
>
> Hi Susan,
>
> <<<<<<<<<<We do have to get them regularly emptied. >>>>>>>>>
> But they are saying that hers are closed and can't be emptied. Do you think
> it is because she hasn't had hers emptied for such a long time in the past?
>
> <<<<<(my vet is board certified >>>>
> I am a little dense here. I seen others refer to their Vets being board
> certified. Board certified in what? Do you mean like a certified heart
> cardiologist? So the Vets are board certified in surgery?
>
> <<<<<Did your vet not tell you of the risks involved?>>>>>>>>>>
> Didn't mention too many of the risks. Just assured me that he had no fears
> for her since she did very well with her teeth cleaning with nothing
> alarming them. Also told me this morning that he does anal gland surgery
> about 2 or 3 a month. I thought this was kind of high since I am in the
> country and he is a country Vet. Although his practice has 3 Vets working
> there. I do want to trust him, he has been there for me in the past before
> I ever used him and saved a puppy for me.
> I know this doesn't apply, but his office is so well organized and all the
> employees are super nice and my old Vets office was a fiasco with changing
> employees and Vets all the time. It is just a comfort feeling dealing with
> this new one and I have now for the last two years.
> Oh, what to do, what to do!
>
> Pam
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Susan A. Schlenger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 8:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] Anal Glands
>
> > Hello, Pam,
> > We have had a pet therapy bitch here for some years who has
> problems
> > with her anal sacs. We do have to get them regularly emptied. They do
> > get impacted and uncomfortable on a regular basis even with emptying
> > them. But we've managed pretty well over the years by just being
> > vigilant. When I asked about the surgery (my vet is board certified and
> > happens to love surgery) I was told that it is a dicey one; apparently
> > some percentage of dogs recover with damage to the sphincter muscle and
> > incontinence. We elected not to do it.
> > Did your vet not tell you of the risks involved?
> >
> > Suze
> >
> > "Pamela A. Brown" wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Cheryl,
> > >
> > > The thing that worries me is that I don't want to put her through
> anything
> > > on just the MAYBE assumption that they will rupture. I think I will
> take
> > > your advice and seek another Vet for an opinion.
> > > This Vet I am going to now has been in the business for at least 30
> years
> > > and he is considered a very good farm animal guy. The office says that
> they
> > > have done many of the anal sac removals so I really am not worried about
> > > them doing the surgery.
> > > I just don't want her in any kind of pain, she is my skin, she would
> crawl
> > > inside of me if she could to be near me.
> > > I certainly agree with you though, ( if it ain't broke, don't fix it. )
> > >
> > > Pam
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Dave Van Winkle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 2:37 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] Anal Glands
> > >
> > > > Pamela,
> > > > I would get a second opinion and leave them alone if they aren't
> bothering
> > > > her. If it ain't broken don't fix it. Also, ask if your vet has done
> many
> > > of
> > > > these procedures before. It's a very delicate surgery and not one for
> a
> > > > novice. I had one of my dogs anal saks removed by my Board Certified
> vet
> > > and
> > > > the dog came through it just fine. No problems but I have heard of
> some
> > > that
> > > > have in the hands of an inexperienced vet.
> > > > Cheryl Van Winkle
> > > > www.portraitcavaliers.com
> > > >
> > > > "Ideas are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your
> > > > hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose
> them
> > > > as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny."
> C.Schurz
> > > > 1859
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel List
> > > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Pamela A. Brown
> > > > > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 7:00 PM
> > > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > > > Subject: [CKCS-L] Anal Glands
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello,
> > > > >
> > > > > Last week my 10 year old girl had her yearly checkup and my Vet
> > > > > couldn't get
> > > > > her anal glands expressed. He said he didn't want to hurt her
> > > > > any more and
> > > > > said that he would try again next week when she was having her teeth
> > > > > cleaned.
> > > > > Tonight when picking her up, they suggested having her anal glands
> > > removed
> > > > > since they didn't have any more luck on getting the glands empty.
> > > > > They said
> > > > > the glands were the size of a dime and hard and it seemed that the
> > > opening
> > > > > had scared over.
> > > > > I am puzzled at this and don't know what to do.
> > > > > My girl has never showed me any signs of discomfort or scooting.
> The
> > > last
> > > > > time her glands were expressed was two years ago by a different Vet
> and
> > > I
> > > > > don't remember the difficulty in doing it.
> > > > > This Vet thinks that they will rupture soon and it would be better
> to
> > > take
> > > > > them out.
> > > > > I would appreciate all comments on making this decision.
> > > > >
> > > > > Pam Brown
> > > > > Ohio
> > > > >
> > > > > =========================================================
> > > > > "Magic Commands":
> > > > > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
> > > > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
> > > > > to start it up gain click here:
> > > > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
> > > > >
> > > > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
> > > > > Search the Archives...
> http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
> > > > >
> > > > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original
> author.
> > > >
> > > > =========================================================
> > > > "Magic Commands":
> > > > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
> > > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
> > > > to start it up gain click here:
> > > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
> > > >
> > > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
> > > > Search the Archives...
> http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
> > > >
> > > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original
> author.
> > >
> > > =========================================================
> > > "Magic Commands":
> > > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
> > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
> > > to start it up gain click here:
> > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
> > >
> > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
> > > Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
> > >
> > > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
> >
> > --
> > Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
> > "...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
> > to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
> > "Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
> >
> > =========================================================
> > "Magic Commands":
> > to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
> > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
> > to start it up gain click here:
> > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
> >
> > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
> > Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
> >
> > All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
>
> =========================================================
> "Magic Commands":
> to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
> to start it up gain click here:
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
>
> E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
> Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
>
> All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
--
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
"...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
"Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
=========================================================
"Magic Commands":
to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL
to start it up gain click here:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html
All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
