Confused….back end

Naya

Moderator
Location
Bristol, UK
2 weeks ago we removed a tick just above Harleys tail. Since then she is constantly trying to get to her back end. She can’t quite get there so nibbles / grooms her tail or back legs. She was wormed 5 days ago. She sits down, then spins trying to get to something. She does this at least once every other hour. She doesn’t smell so don’t think it’s anal glands. We’ve checked her over several times and can’t find anything. Any suggestions? I’m going to call the vet tomorrow but thought I would ask on here in case anyone has experienced this before?
 
Fingers crossed for Harley's vet visit. Sounds like a little infection which should be easily treatable, but big hugs for her with her anxiety, it's awful when they don't understand and get so upset.
 
Hope Harley’s itch has abated?

I’ve found two ticks attached to me lately, two separate times. One on my lower arm near my wrist. The other on my side near the bottom of my ribs. I had to really yank them off cos they weren’t letting go. One took off a chunk of skin (micro chunk!) cos it was holding on so tightly. I do confess to feeling a bit squeamish even though blood, etc does not phase me. But somehow having that little button of a tick attached to me, with wavy legs, was rather yuck! Anyway, it left *no itch* or other effect. The one that took off skin left a pink mark until the site was completely healed.
 
Oh!! I didn’t mean for my post to illicit sad faces!! I was just saying that the tick did not itch. So I was wondering whether they actually make dogs itch? Perhaps Harley’s itch/irritation is from something else?
 
I’ve found two ticks attached to me lately, two separate times.
Sounds horrible @M.F. , I really hate those little buggers :cautious:
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I walk on the mountain and brush past long grass and bushes, so it’s bound to happen. Snowie sleeps on our bed, so they might’ve crawled off him onto me (not my husband!!). There is a small yuck factor, but I guess it’s par for course, like flies and mosquitoes. I haaaate mosquitoes! The odd tick I can manage. I don’t use any tick or flea chemicals on Snowie, and I certainly wouldn’t use them on myself! If it were really bad, I’d use a neem-lemongrass repellent spray (smell is overpowering, which I don’t like), but one or two I can handle! And they only appear in spring with the first rains and warmer weather.
 

Naya

Moderator
Location
Bristol, UK
Vets think it might be her anal gland on the left as was solid. We have to give her metacam for 4-5 days and see if she stops. If she doesn’t we have to go back next week. The good news is that she has lost weight so is down to 31kg from 33kg. We are going in the right direction 😊
 
Do not read further if you’re squeamish. 😜 You’ve been warned!! You can massage her anus with some cream (calendula cream is very healing), and this might soften the anal gland contents so that Harley can squeeze it out herself. I’ve done it for Snowie when his anal glands have been problematic, and he’s squeezed out some “juice”. Tip: while massaging, hold a paper towel over the area to protect yourself from squirting!! Snowie once squirted with such force, I got a direct hit in my hair!! Eeeuuwww!!!!!!! I wouldn’t squeeze the glands—apparently you can cause soft tissue damage. You can try adding fibre or bone to her diet to harden her poos so that they press on the glands when evacuating, which helps to squeeze them.

I hope Harley feels better soon!
 
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