I had the pleasure of meeting this gorgeous boy called Moopy – what a darling dog he is! His owner lives in Aberdeen but is from Melton Mowbray where we live as a family (read about our Gamechangers connection!).
I had already met him and his owner in a teleconsult, but as she was visiting friends and wanted to discuss his long standing anal gland problem, she arranged to meet me at my unit for a proper consultation – I was delighted to meet him properly!
Moopy is an 8 year old rescue who (like most rescues) has not a single nasty bone in his body and he was such a good boy when I gently squeezed his glands that his owner says ‘leak’ regularly and leave smelly stains on the carpet that bother him (and his yoga instructor owner!).
Anal gland problems are very common and can be very distressing if not treated correctly. Smaller dogs seem to suffer more than the larger breeds and although not painful to have their glands expressed, many dogs do find it very distressing (especially the more sensitive breeds such as Greyhounds and Terriers).
Anal glands are positioned just at the exit of the anus and express a small amount of strong smelling liquid everytime they are squeezed by faeces moving past them of just the right consistency. Their role is scent marking on every mound of faeces that they produce. If your dog suffers from softer than normal faeces or from a bout of diarrhoea, the glands are not squeezed as they should and they can get blocked and then leak or are painful to your dog.
What can help blocked anal glands?
As the cause is usually soft poos or diarrhoea, it is important to find a diet that really suits your dog. Dry foods tend to harden poos more than wholefood homemade cooked food, so if it is a chronic problem with your dog, consider switching over to one of the top dry foods we recommend that does not contain soya as this can often be a cause of soft poos.
If your dog does not suffer from soft poos, then it is important to bulk out their faeces as they pass the anal glands and the ideal diet is wholefood plant-based with natural fibres. Psyllium husks can help as well as nutritional yeast to bulk out smaller poos. Fleetful make delicious ginger treat packs that contain both these ingredients that may help not only ‘treat’ your dog, but sort out any concerns that you may have with blocked anal glands – and they are very therapeutic to make!
Another option is to add a spoonful of bran to your dog’s food daily – this seems to work well in most cases too. If your dog is not keen on bran, then nutritional yeast added to their food daily can also provide the fibre needed (and extra nutrients too!)
And what about Moopy?
“I just wanted to let you know that Moopy is loving his new food from Hownd and Solo Vegetal that you recommended. He has always been a fussy eater but since we’ve been feeding him these tins and the Solo Vegetal dry, he gobbles everything up and then comes looking for us to get his post-dinner biscuits! I’m so pleased, it’s such a relief to know that he’s enjoying his food! Stools are good too so no more unwanted bun leakages either! Win win win!!”
So sorry, but while we’re on the topic of poo (!), we now sell strong biodegradable tie handle poo bags that celebrate the fact that you are feeding plant-based as the writing on them is –
NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS (poo emoji)!
Remember that plant-based dog poo although a little bit more in quantity from all those healthy fibres; has far less of a scent with hardly a whiff compared to meat-based fed dogs – so well done to all of us!!

Making a Vegan Dog Food Diet Affordable
We are so passionate about plant-based feeding in dogs, that we want to support you and hopefully make it affordable for you
How much oil should you feed your dog?
Something that so many owners who transition to plant-based notice with their dogs – how soft the fur becomes!
What should you be aware of when choosing to homecook?
I have been contacted by so many owners feeding their dogs plant-based and some of their dogs have had issues with painful urinary crystals…..
Poisonous foods NOT to feed your dogs
The majority of foods we eat and feed to our pet (especially plant-based) are healthy and good for them, but these are the few exceptions to be aware of
How To Transition Your Dog Safely
Gradual changes allow the appropriate changes of digestive enzymes and intestinal microbiome
The most effective Omega 3’s for your dog
We recommend these Omega 3 capsules above the other brands as they …..
Do dogs on a vegan diet live longer?
We have Bramble the dog who wanted to live forever as proof that vegan diets help our pets live longer healthier lives
Will a vegan dog food diet affect my dog’s behaviour?
Owners of dogs on plant-based diets do report that their pets appear happier and calmer
Never use the word VEGAN!
Only by convincing vets that it is the way forward, will we together have any success as plant-based feeders of ensuring that it becomes a very viable and superior option to feeding our dogs
But aren’t dogs carnivores?
The maned wolf really blows the theory of our pet dogs needing meat in their diet completely out the water
Am I alone wanting to feed a vegan diet to my dog?
An online survey in 2019 revealed that around one in three owners may be willing to consider switching to a vegan diet for their pet in the future
How do I get my dog’s plant-based diet fully balanced?
This is one of our biggest concerns as pet owners that we are not getting the balance just right for the health of our pet