Anal Glands Expressing- depends on food?

[akilupo]

I have had to have Aki's anal glands expressed twice in 6 days. Aki is currently on kibble and he has been on this kibble for 6 months. Prior to this, he was on raw diet and though his rear smelled metallicy, it was not to this extent. He is 3.5 years old, and the groomer said it was because he was getting older and because of the way frenchie's bodies are shaped, they are unable to express their glands as easily. I am switching him back to raw asap. But, do you think the anal gland expressing will continue to happen regardless of what he is on? Has anyone else had this experience?

[kasia]

my frienchie has not had this problem as yet (and hopefully won't), but i do think there is a connection to the food. not that raw will guarantee you'll never have problems, but i'd imagine bone in the diet would help in this area. why did you switch him from raw to kibble?

[akilupo]

I switched from raw to kibble because a vet tech made me feel bad for feeding raw. He said it was not a good idea and said it could lead to medical conditions, etc. He did not know that Aki had been on raw the whole time they had seen him. So, I caved and switched to kibble. Also, I adopted a puppy who was on kibble, so it just seemed like the right thing to do. Aki's blood work was fine on the raw, and I have already put him back on the raw. His stool looked nice and firm this morning. I just hope we don't have to do the anal gland thing again anytime soon.

[kasia]

good to hear that he's doing better.

as for the scaremongering about raw - i'm sure you know that it's unfortunately common amongst veterinary personnel, often because of lack of knowledge about raw feeding. you are seeing the benefits of raw feeding already, and you had no problems in the past, so i hope you'll continue. the puppy can be switched easily too - i switched my mooi cold turkey when i got him at 3 months, with no problems.

[gmacleod]

...because a vet tech made me feel bad for feeding raw. He said it was not a good idea and said it could lead to medical conditions, etc.

A vet tech isn't even a medically trained professional ;) In some cases, you're talking of sensible and knowledgable individuals. In a great many more, they're little more than a glorified receptionist. And none have medical or nutritional training that qualifies them to be giving you advice at all. Doesn't make everything they tell you rubbish by any means, but you certainly shouldn't allow an untrained and unqualified person to "make you feel bad" for a sensible dietary choice that they know nothing about (including even how long you'd been feeding it).