Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
This is an intestinal disease that can be chronic (long term).
The Symptoms:
- Diarrhea or very soft bowel movements, which may come and go
- Elimination more than usual
- Only passing a small amount of feces at a time
- Straining when trying to eliminate
- Visible bloating of the Beagle's stomach
- Excessive gas
- Abdominal discomfort - Your Beagle may not want to run around or play and may want to retreat to his bed for another quiet spot to rest
- Occasional nausea and vomiting
- Treatment
- A change to the Beagle's diet
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Anti spasmodic/tranquilizer combinations for abdominal bloating and pain
- Medication to minimize gastrointestinal gas
Home Care and Prevention
It will be important to give your Beagle all prescribed medications and to follow meal changes. Do not feed table scraps or other non-approved foods, including rawhides which are potentially harmful treats. If conditions do not improve after treatment has started, it will be important to bring your Beagle back to the veterinarian. Because stress may play in this disease , potential stressors in the home environment should be identified and minimized.
Anal Gland Tumors
These glands are found anywhere around the dog's anus, at the base of the tail and surrounding the male genitalia. Perianal gland tumors are often benign and occur frequently in male, un-neutered dogs. Female dogs can be affected, These tumors are dependent on testosterone and will often disappear on males after neutering. In less than 5% of the cases, perianal gland tumors are malignant (fast growing).
The Symptoms:
The first sign s a lump near the Beagle's anal glands. The area may be red in
color. Your veterinarian will do an ultrasound, blood tests and a test of the urine. These often to not cause pain, but may cause a sensation that prompts the Beagle to lick the area; sometimes compulsively.
Treatment
The most common treatment is surgery for removal of the tumor; sometimes followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
Tip:
Secretion from the anal glands does not indicate a tumor. All dog have a set of anal glands, 1 on each side of the anus. These are usually not noticeable. They hold an oily substance that is released in tiny amounts when dogs meet each other as a marking and identification signal among canines.
Every now and then, they may become engorged (filled with too much fluid) or impacted (the fluid begins to solidify). Signs of this other than visually seeing swelling of the glands, is that a dog will scoot his/her rear across the grass or carpeting in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.
Sometimes the skin will break open when a dog does this and not only will the fluid break out, it will release a very over-powering stench. If you notice that the glands are swollen, the groomer or the vet can attend to this. If the glands pop open, the broken skin will be vulnerable to infection.