Dog Anal glands … a very stinky problem with an easy and cost-effective solution.

Sure, it’s not the most pleasant subject, but it’s a really important part of your dog’s health. If the anal glands aren’t functioning correctly, they can cause discomfort and even infection.

I’d like to share with you an easy way to help express dog anal glands naturally.

First, ponder this…

To help the anal glands to function properly, dogs need to consume the right amounts of fiber. Sadly, due to a lack of good fiber in the average canine diet, many dogs have to have their anal glands expressed manually … meaning the vet or groomer squeezes them by hand to get the fluid out.

Anal Sac Disease in Dogs

If you’ve seen your dog scooting across the room on his bottom, it could be a sign of anal sac disease.

Dogs have two small pouches on either side of their anus. They make a smelly, oily, brown fluid that dogs use to identify each other and mark their territory. It’s why they often sniff each other’s behinds.

Anal sac disease begins as an uncomfortable impaction and can progress to an infection or abscess.

Symptoms

• Scooting

• Licking or biting his rear end

• A bad smell

• Constipation or pain when pooping/sitting

Stages of Anal Sac Disease

Normally, when a dog poops, the fluid in his anal sacs is squeezed out, too. It’s when they aren’t completely emptied that problems develop. The fluid inside can become so dry and thick that it plugs up the openings. This is called impaction.

Thankfully, impacted sacs are easy to treat. The glands can be gently emptied, or expressed, with your fingers. You may have to do this regularly, and to save a trip, your vet can show you how.

If your dog repeatedly has impactions, you vet may suggest adding more fiber to his diet. This increases the size of his poop, which puts more pressure on the sacs to empty naturally.

If your dog doesn't have a problem, there is no need for you to empty his sacs.

Left untreated, the impaction will turn into an infection. Look for yellow or bloody pus oozing from his sacs. This painful condition can cause your dog to act fearful or angry. Your vet will wash out the sacs and give your dog antibiotics.

An untreated infection will develop into an abscess (a swollen, tender mass of puss) and could break open. Your vet will open and drain the abscess and usually prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Daily warm compresses can help, too.

If your dog keeps having problems, your vet may want to remove his anal sacs with surgery. It’s a simple procedure, but can result in complications like fecal incontinence (when his poop leaks uncontrollably).

Prevention

Put your dog on a healthy diet and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. Small, obese dogs are at the highest risk of anal sac disease. Also, if you dog have problems with his anal sacs, have your vet check them at every checkup.

HOW TO EMPTY YOUR DOG’S ANAL SACS

If your dog suddenly takes scooting along the carpet to wipe her butt, you may be in for a real treat — the dubious pleasure of expressing your best friend’s anal sacs. Lots of licking or chewing of his rear or tail is another sign that it’s time to get rid of fluid build-up.

Anal sacs, or anal glands, carry some smelly fluid and occasionally need to be expressed, or emptied. Many dogs express them by themselves every time they poop — the sacs are around a dog’s anus — but occasionally the sacs fill with fluid and your dog needs some help to release the fluid.

If you’re not 110% sure you want to take on the task of expressing your dog’s anal glands, don’t hesitate to turn the nasty job over to trained staff at your veterinary office. The cost is minimal, especially compared to the damage you could cause (and the smell you’ll be exposed to).

If you insist on expressing the anal sacs yourself, here’s how to do it:

Suit up with a clothespin, heavy-duty rubber gloves, welder’s apron, rubber boots, and tongs so that you look like Michael Keaton changing diapers in Mr. Mom.

Okay, you don’t need to go to these extremes, but the fluid is stinky and nasty, so wear old clothes and nose plugs if you need to.

• Fold several paper towels together in a huge wad.

• You want an absorbent pad to catch the liquid.

• Lift your dog’s tail and place the paper towels over his back side (and wonder when commercial television will pick up on this type of ad).

• Note the position of the dog’s anus in relation to the paper towels.

• Use your thumb and forefinger to gently squeeze at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions, using the anus as the clock face.

• Keep your face out of the way!

• Throw away the paper towels.

• Disposing of the towels in a covered trash basket is a good idea.

• Wash and rinse your dog’s rear end really well.

Expressing the sacs during bath time makes sense, always remembering that a clean doggie rump is a healthy doggie rump.

If your dog shows discomfort back by his butt and his anal sacs aren’t producing any fluid, he may have an impacted anal sac, which requires veterinary intervention — soon!