Any ideas? Is this colitis?

[Blanketback]

My puppy has had infected anal glands for the past few months, and he's been seeing the vet to have them expressed. At first, there was bloody discharge with his stool - this is what made me think he had a problem to begin with, and I could see the staining around his rectum, but he didn't scoot or lick the area.

So the liquid that's been expresses lately is a whiteish opaque, no longer bloody. It was accumulating in the right sac, but 2 weeks ago that one was empty and the left one had the substance in it instead.

His anus can go from fine and discharge-free to dark pink and sore looking, with the dark staining around it. He was fine until he started having symptoms of a season allergy, with the anal gland infection seeming to occur at the same time.

My vet suspected that a big beef bone could have caused it, but she asked for a fecal to rule out giardia, or any other parasites. This came back negative.

So right now I'm wondering if it could be stress induced? He's been on the same kibble ever since he was 8 weeks old, and he's now a year old. If it was an allergy that was kibble related, wouldn't this have been an immediate reaction?

He's back to the vet on Thurs. to have them looked at (yeah, I know, what a broken record that is) and he's been taking silicea for the past 10 days. I've been adding psyllium husk, coconut oil and pumpkin to his meals, which is Fromm's LBP. Coconut oil was also applied topically.

Does anyone have any thought about this? I like going in asking questions, lol. But I don't really know where to start. His stools are picture-perfect and he's not itching, his coat is glossy and his eyes and ears are clean and clear at the moment. This is frustrating, to say the least. I'm really trying to keep him off abx and the vet agrees with me, but this has to stop.

[JakodaCD OA]

he sounds like a candidate for possible fistula's in the future

Normally dogs never have to have their glands expressed, to be continually doing it, is not good in my opinion, it's just making the problem worse.

If his stools are good and he isn't itching, BUT needs his glands expressed, that's your problem right there.

Many dogs that develop true Perianal Fistula's, have underlying problems as well, allergies being one of them.

If I were you, I would seriously consider having the glands removed, it most likely will not cure his "allergy" problem, but it will sure get rid of the gland issue..

[Marnie]

Has anyone suggested infection? That would be my first thought. Allergies. Intolerance to certain foods.

[Blanketback]

Thanks for the replies. When the problem first started, it seemed so simple - he had staining on his rectum that was the same substance that was expelled from his glands.
But then it got complicated when, a month later, one sac was empty and the other had the white fluid, while the red staining came back.

This was when the vet said it could be two different issues, with the huge beef bone possible giving him a bout of colitis. The next visit, the troublesome sac was empty as it should be, but the other one had the white fluid. The staining was back, though. So we opted for the extravagant fecal sample, with multiple samples in case any parasites didn't shed in just one bowel movement.

So tomorrow what will it be? The fecal sample was negative, so that's not it. He hasn't has any bones, so that's not it. I'm thinking it's stress induced right now, if it's not his diet. Either one could do it, from what I've been reading. The glands themselves are now a separate issue, it seems. Colitis is just a name they slap on to any blood in the stool, but I want to know the cause of it. And there again, there's no blood in his stools either, just the staining around his anus. What the heck cause that? I'm going around in circles, lol. I guess an allergy test is next, and if it comes back that he's allergic to dust mites.....uh oh.