Is dog lethargy normal after very impacted anal glands expressed?

If Zoey's anal sacs were really impacted, it may have been uncomfortable to have them expressed and he is still feeling uncomfortable. In addition, going to the vet is stressful for some dogs. I would keep an eye on her, and hopefully she's back to normal tomorrow. If not, I'd consider taking her back into the vet. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I suspect that this has nothing to do with the anal gland expression. Loss of appetite and lethargy can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Sonu evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

It could be that Lucy's anal sacs were impacted and the vet expressed them. This can cause some discomfort for a bit of time afterward. She should return to normal in time. I'm glad the medication is working for her ears!

Poor Cassie, it's likely that she's feeling unwell as these anal gland infections can be pretty painful and also cause a fever. Although Enrofloxacin is a powerful antibiotic, she may benefit from pain relief and anti inflammatory medicine to help her recovery. Also, if its not been done already, emptying and flushing the infected gland will resolve the infection much faster than medicine alone will. There are some side effects to antibiotics, she may be experiencing those. I strongly recommend returning her to your vet as soon as you can for them to determine what extra treatment she may need. As always, do not give any human medicines unless under direct guidance from your vet.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is concerning that his lethargy has been persisting for so long. It is difficult to say what this could be, but some dogs are hardy enough that the only symptom they may show of being ill is lethargy. I would certainly recommend having him checked out by a vet to be sure we are not missing a medical issue. They can perform a full physical exam to check for any areas of pain or infection, and may recommend additional blood tests or x-rays depending on what is found on the physical exam. For example, some problems I commonly see after grooming visits are skin or ear infections. If this is detected by the vet, they can recommend medications to help clear the issue. If he physically checks out fine, it is possible this may be a purely behavioural issue, in which case the vet can also provide advice on how to help as well. I hope this helps, and that Chewy is feeling better soon!

I hate to hear that Scout has an anal gland infection. I would recommend to call his veterinarian and discuss the lethargy. The lethargy could be a reaction but could also be due to the abscess. I would not advise to stop the medication without talking to Scout's doctor. Make sure you are giving the medication with food. I hope he starts feeling better!

Yes, licking is a common behavior after anal gland expression because of the mild irritation that can be caused when you milk the full or impacted [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/conditions-of-the-anal-glands) until they are empty. This should passwithin 24 hours, but if it appears overly irritated you can apply a thin layer of Desitin (baby rash cream) to the skin around the rectum. Consider using an e-collar (cone) to prevent excessive licking.