Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common disease entity of the anal region in dogs and cats alike. All dogs can be affected with no specific breed predilection. The most common form of IBS is impaction of the anal glands.

Anal glands may become impacted, infected, abscessed or cancerous. Failure of the glands to express during defecation and poor anal or rectal muscle tone leads to retention of the anal gland contents. Such retention may predispose to fermentation, inflammation, anal and/or colonic cancer and secondary bacterial infection.

Clinical findings are related to pain and discomfort associated with sitting. Scooting, licking, biting at the anal area and abdomen, tail chasing, painful defaecation with straining are also common. Sometimes these signs can be mis-interpreted as a worm problem. In impaction, hard masses are palpable in the areas of the glands around the anus. The glands are packed with a thick, pasty, brown puss like secretion, which can be expressed with large amount of pressure. When the glands are infected or abscessed, severe pain and often discolouration of the area are present. Allowing this problem to persist without treatment can lead to anal tumours or cancer of the colon.

Fortunately this condition can be avoided completely by feeding your pet a high fibre diet from the puppy stage. Although this type of diet may not be as palatable as tinned food, perseverance will pay off in the longer term with a healthier, less problematic life for you and your pet. The reason behind a high fibre diet for your pet is that it allows for the roughage to form a large, solid, bulky motion from beginning to end thus providing the stimulation of the anal gland region during defaecation. This will eliminate the problems and complications associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

NB: We strongly discourage the feeding of tinned food/convenience foods to your pet.

We recommend you start your puppy on our own Canine Health Food that is high in fibre, free of additives, flavourings, and high in white meat protein. This is the ideal feed for the prevention of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is very competitively priced compared to generic feeds found in the supermarket. The quality of the food that you choose is very important and will determine your dogs overall development. Canine Health Food is exclusively available from us here. A dry, high fibre, crunchy diet is recommended for the feeding of your cat in the prevention of this problem.

NB: Remember, the way you start out with your pet will be the way that you continue and will determine your pets overall development.