Dog Anal Glands

What are the purpose of dog anal glands? Could expressing them create a problem? Is there an link between diet and impaction? Here's what you should know to help your canine.

Dogs have a small sac-like gland on either side of the anus which secretes their particular scent. These glands are probably what dogs are smelling when they sniff each others behinds. They are used along with urine to mark territory and are designed to empty naturally during defecation.

Anal Gland Problems in Dogs

The poor diet of dogs who eat commercial pet food has much to do with the impaction and infection of these tiny glands. Lacking nutrients and especially lacking fiber contribute to the problem while expressing manually may contribute as well.

Either way, it can hurt. A dog may drag his butt along the floor trying to express it himself or sit gingerly off to the side to avoid pressure when they are impacted or inflamed.

Expressing Anal Glands

Anal gland problems in dogs may actually get worse with repeated expressing because they aren't suppose to be empty! By forcing them to empty by expression, it signals the dog anal glands to make more!

Anal Gland Surgery

If you are considering surgery, here's what you should know:

• Anal gland removal is done under general anesthesia.
• One or both anal glands are removed as needed but:
• There is a risk of fecal incontinence with any surgery around the anus and the risk is higher when both anal glands are removed.
• Tumors of the anal sacs can spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen.

A Natural Way To Help

Adding more fiber or whole grains to his healthy diet will bulk up the bowel and put more pressure when pooping. (If you're not sure if you are feeding a healthy diet, check out the page on Dog Nutrition.)

If your vet has to express these glands, ask him to put a small amount of Panalog into the anal sac afterward. It's an antibiotic and cortisone ointment for the ear, but it works. If you are one of my regular readers, you know I never encourage the use of either antibiotics or cortisone but in this instance so little is absorbed into the body, it will have no side effects.

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