DOG ANAL GLANDS ISSUES

I hadn't thought much about my dogs' anal glands. I knew they filled up with fluid and that expressing the glands was important to avoid dog anal glands issues. I also knew that most groomers would express a dog's anal glands as part of their basic dog grooming service. Beyond that it was never a concern, until recently when my dog Jessie went to the groomer for what I thought was going to be a routine grooming service!

DOG ANAL GLANDS AND DOG ANAL GLAND ISSUES

I made an appointment for a badly needed grooming for Jessie. I usually get a bath and groom for her, which includes expressing my dog's anal glands. There's a Starbucks a few doors down from the groomer, so my husband and I went there for a caffeine break.  Afterwards, we planned to food shop at the grocery store in that same shopping center. Then we'd head home and wait for the groomer to call and say that Jessie's groom was finished and we could pick her up.

My dog Jessie on her way to the Vet

No sooner had we started enjoying our drinks when I got a phone call from the groomer.  Actually, the owner of the grooming salon called me herself. She told me that my groomer had put Jessie in the bath and was about to express her anal glands when he noticed a problem. Apparently, her glands were super filled with fluid and extremely tender to the touch.

She told me that they didn't feel comfortable doing the gland expression there, and suggested I take her to the Veterinarian to have my dogs anal glands expressed. 

She explained that if a dog's anal glands are extremely fluid filled, it could potentially be dangerous. They could abscess, and even rupture! I had never heard that before, so of course I was worried. I immediately phoned my Veterinarian's office and was able to get Jessie in to see the Vet later that afternoon.

The Vet examined her and said Jessie's anal glands weren't as bad as he had feared, and he was able to properly drain her anal glands without incident. When I told him what happened at the groomer and that they were the ones who suggested I take her to the Vet, he commented "that was smart! I'm glad you brought her in right away." He said that if we'd waited longer it could have been worse. Possibly much worse.

WHAT ARE DOG'S ANAL GLANDS AND WHAT IS THEIR FUNCTION?

Dog anal glands are two pea sized glands, or sacs, on either side of a dog’s anus. The glands secrete a strong smelling fluid that runs through ducts that open into the dog’s anus. The anal sacs secrete this fluid naturally when dogs have a bowel movement, thus keeping them properly drained. 

The most common purposes of dog anal glands I've found in my research are:  

🐶 The strong scent secreted by the anal glands serves to scent mark a dog's territory and communicate information to other dogs such as; identification of the dog, the dog's gender, health, and approximate age. 

🐶 The excretion from the anal glands acts as a lubricant that helps a dog pass a hard stool.

The anal sacs usually drain naturally when a dog defecates, releasing the anal gland fluid. But sometimes they can get too full and fail to drain naturally. When that happens the anal glands need to be manually drained, or "expressed", either by an experienced groomer or a Veterinarian. Some people actually express their dog's anal glands themselves, but for me that is a bit too much to handle so I leave it to the pros! 

For the most part, the anal glands will drain naturally and you don't need to do anything unless a problem occurs. But sometimes dogs have issues draining the anal glands naturally and they need some help.

WHY DO DOGS NEED ANAL GLANDS EXPRESSED?

For a variety of reasons, dog anal glands can become impacted or infected which can be uncomfortable and painful for your dog.

If it progresses, the anal glands can potentially abscess and could even rupture, which is very painful and can be serious. This may even require surgery for your dog.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR DOG NEEDS HIS GLANDS EXPRESSED? Symptoms of dog anal gland issues:

🐶 SCOOTING. Jessie scoots her bottom along the rug every now and then, but it doesn't appear to be a symptom of an anal gland problem for her. Keep an eye on your dog and if they're scooting their bottom on the floor, give your Veterinarian a call and discuss it with them. 

🐶 BITING at or excessively licking their butt.

🐶 STRAINING when pooping - Jessie did this one night. I couldn't understand why it was taking her so long to poop! Now I know it was one of the symptoms of her anal gland issue.

🐶 BLOOD in a dog's stool could be a symptom of an anal gland problem. But blood in the stool could be caused by a number of things - if you see blood in your dog's stool, contact your Veterinarian immediately!

🐶 DISCHARGE coming from your dog's anus could be a sign of an anal gland issue, or possible something worse. Contact your Veterinarian right away!

🐶 FOUL SMELL coming from your dog's anal area could be emitting from the dog's anal gland sacs.

WHAT CAUSES DOG ANAL GLAND ISSUES

Several factors could cause your dog to experience problems with their anal glands. These include:

🐾 Obesity

🐾 Lack of Exercise

🐾 Not enough Fiber in their diet

🐾 Certain Allergies or Skin conditions

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TREATMENT OF DOG ANAL GLAND ISSUES

Talk to your Veterinarian about what you can do to help keep your dog's anal glands functioning properly.  If your dog is having issues, your Vet may recommend more frequent expression of the anal glands, or may prescribe a medication like Clavamox or Zeniquin, if the issue is significant. 

There are several over the counter dog anal gland chews and supplements that can help keep your dog's anal glands functioning smoothly, such as Native Pet's GlandAid Dog Supplement, or Glandex Dog Anal Gland Support.

Jessie was fine after her anal gland expression and exam at the Vet, thankfully. Her Vet said the hole through which the anal glands get expressed on their own during the dog's bowel movement was a bit small. He suggested that I bring her in every several weeks to have the anal glands expressed for the next few months to get her anal glands back to normal. I will definitely do that, staying on top of my dogs' anal gland health is an important part of overall dog health! 

You can learn more about Dog Anal Glands on the PetMD web site.

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