In the past few days I have noticed a strange bulge near my dogs exit only hole. She is having issues sitting and it seems to be somewhat painfull to her. Note: she has been in heat for about 2weeks now. There is a small trace of blood in her stool. I have never seen anything like this before, and I have had many dogs. She is about 12 years old, and she is a miniture pincher-chihuahua mix. Is this common in older dogs? Should I wait till she is out of heat and see if it goes away? Is there an at home remedy to this issue? 
Take her to the vet.
Vet bills are a little expensive… Im trying to get arround that.
Dogs have scent glands near the anus which can become impacted, causing discomfort or abcess in extreme cases. You need to take your dog to the vet to have her examined for impacted anal glands.
It is possible to clear them yourself, though it is best to get a vet to show you first. This is an ongoing problem with our dog, and we have to do it every year or so.
If there is blood and swelling, it needs to be seen by a vet because it’s already infected. If the vet doesn’t drain it, a fistula will form and your dog will have another hole next to its anus, with pus and glandular secretion draining out of it. You really want the vet to clean it out and give you some antibiotics for it. If it hurts, your dog might well be unwilling to defecate and constipation is another problem you don’t need.
Please take her, it hurts a lot. It’s not complicated, it’s just like an abscess.
One of our vets once said “If I’d known what expressing a dog’s anal gland smelled like before starting veterinary school, I would have chosen a different career.”
Please get her fixed up – and maybe while you’re there, get her fixed, period. No need for her to go into heat in the first place (although I should mention that actually has little or nothing to do with anal gland impaction).
I agree with the possible anal gland abscess. It is very painful for the dog and the dog should be on antibiotics. If you are established with a vet explain your financial concerns and they can try to keep costs within you means.
Probably, the best thing for all concerned would be to find her a home where she can expect to have access to proper medical care.
Toby expressed his glands last week. I got home, and the house just reeked. Didn’t know what it was. Later that night on the couch, it happened again. Penny Arcade is right - that smell haunts me.
:rolleyes:
No one takes their pet to the vet each and every single time Fluffy scrapes her knee. The OP was looking for easily explained possibilities, and didn’t ever rule out taking the dog to the vet.
Blood in the stool is not a scraped knee. It requires immediate medical attention. Anyone trying to “get around” that obviously has bitten off more than they can chew.
But thanks for the rolleyes. Brilliant rhetorical devices are always such a delight!
The rolleyes are appropriate because your post was both a knee jerk reaction as well as insulting to the OP. Blood in the stool can certainly be serious. It can also indicate a condition that the only thing a vet can do for you is give you a $75 bill. Getting a quick assessment on the internet for possible causes is certainly not grounds for surrendering a pet, and it’s absurd to suggest otherwise.
The dog has been in pain for days. The dog has blood in the stool, and is unable to sit properly. The only real solution is to take it to the vet ASAP, which the OP is trying to avoid.
The dog needs to be with someone who can provide a higher standard of care. Stating this simple fact is not an insult to the OP. As if you have any standing in the matter. Which you don’t.
We had Valor in the vet last week, and he had to have this done (we’re fortunate to have a vet who doesn’t charge for office visits for guide dogs). We had also had it done by a groomer about two weeks prior. The vet told us that when groomers express the anal glands, they tend to pretty much squeeze the outside of the anus, achieving only superficial results.
It might be sufficient for your dog’s needs, if you want to take that chance. Otherwise, you could take a look at this video. Fair warning: anyone who is already squicked out about the subject of expresing a dog’s anal glands should probably not click on that link, because that’s what it is.
It’s obscene for someone to tell you if you don’t want or have the money to pay for vet bills then you need to give your dog to someone who can afford to take them to the vet.
You can research the issue on your own online and make sure you know it is the right issue that is wrong with your dog.
And most big dogs can express their anal glands on their own but lots of smaller dogs have issues doing it on their own.
Some common signs to tell if your dog needs their glands expressed is swollen reddish butt hole. A little blood might also pass through and be present in their poop. Make sure you check your animals poop on a regular basis to make sure it is healthy looking. For instance my dog had tape worms in her poopy when I first got her and I bought dewormer from the pet store for cheap and got rid of them and she was so happy but make sure to do your research online to properly diagnosed and make sure that is the issue.
I have microbiology, anatomy, and nursing background and in anatomy often times we dissect animals which I would never dissect a dog because I love them so much
But to get to the point you can go online and google how to express your small dogs anal glands. It will be very messy and a foul disgusting smelly fluid with some poopy chucks will be realized. The smell is describe as a foul fish smell and a sign if of your needs their glands expressed is if they butt is reeking of this horrible odor
I recommend using wiki how. How to express your dogs anal glands
It will be messy so you will need to wear gloves and do it in a bath sink or outside. You squeeze the two protruding sacs right under the dogs anus right under the tail so you will need to lift up the dogs tail to find the sacs. You squeeze the left and right sides of the anal sacs which are adjacent and right below from the dogs anus. Also it is recommended to have paper towels or a towel to catch the mess that come out and a mask to cover your nose because of the smell.
Wiki how has some great pictures showing you were the anal sacs are and how to do it by squeezing both sacs at the same time with one thumb and forefinger.
Also some other remedies to make the dog express their anal glands in their own is including lots of fiber in their diet.
Canned pumpkins is recommend as a fiber source.
I hope this can be much help.
You don’t need a vet to necessarily be able to care for a dog. My dog gets the best care in the word and she is very happy and excited and had never been to a vet.
They are way too expensive.
The services I do need like when I got her fixed I had reached out to the humane society. Also for her vaccines. They offer affordable services for your pet.
The humane society recommended me to a pet clinic that helps pets if the owners can’t afford vet expenses and they were extremely good and awesome with my dog. And her getting fixed was totally free.
Just because you can’t handle or afford vet expenses at the Time does not mean you do not love your pet or cannot take care of them.
I hope the issue has resolved in the five years that have passed since this thread was last posted to, before you dug it up.
If your dog has never been to a vet, how on earth does she have rabies or canine distemper vaccinations? You know the latter can be picked up on your clothes or shoes just by walking across grass an infected dog has left bodily fluids/waste on, and then transmitted to your own dog, right?
He or she addressed that right below the part you quoted.
But I agree, if you own a pet, you should prioritize for vet expenses.
Never thought I’d say this, but thank god for 240p max video.
“It’s not an area you want to get involved with if you’re not sure what you’re doing.” Truer words have never been spoken.