The Anatomy of … Your Dog’s Anal Sac
First, a quick anatomical overview of your dog’s rear end and a dog’s anal sac. Envision, for just a nanosecond, the point right beneath the tail where your pup poops. Good, that’s plenty; now take deep cleansing breaths while I explain that the anal glands are two tiny sacs situated within that opening, on either side.
This biological feature has existed in wild animals for thousands of years. The material secreted into them is profoundly unpleasant — thick, oily, kinda fishy-smelling. But it’s useful to wild animals like skunks, who can empty these glands at will in threatening situations. Our domesticated dogs have largely lost this ability — but the anal glands have hung around to fill up regardless.
Usually, everyday defecation helps empty a dog’s anal glands, but sometimes — as I’ve discovered with several of my own dogs — that’s not the case. When the glands remain full for too long, they can become impacted and extremely uncomfortable. And if the situation continues to worsen, an abscess can form and then rupture. This actually happened to Maizy, and it required expensive emergency surgery, antibiotics, the oh-so-cruel Cone of Shame, and eight days of stomach-upsetting pain medication.
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Have you ever witnessed your dog scooting around on the floor? It, unfortunately, might mean your dog needs their anal glands expressed (a.k.a releasing a buildup of smelly fluid). Manually expressing your dog’s anal glands can help relieve discomfort that dogs experience when they are full and can prevent any infections from developing. Expressing anal glands is a smelly—and sometimes messy—part of grooming, so most owners prefer to have it done by a groomer or at the vet clinic. However, it is something you can do at home and isn’t too challenging.
Sometimes a dogâs anal sac issues can be a symptom of broader systemic issue. This is where our consultation services can be really help. I often find by looking at the 8 systems cycle in functional medicine, we can consider every element of health and see what might be under lying. So here is how I look at the problem.
The anal glands function is to release pheromones, enabling the communication between dogs and other mammals, including cats. The anal glands located on the lower sides of the anus, produce a fluid with a scent that identifies him or her, communicating sex, health and approximate age to other animals. This is the reason why dogs sniff eachâ others bottoms and love mooching for scents. These sacs excrete fluid when the dog/cat has a bowel movement. Discharge in the anal glands should be liquid and if the ducts are open then your dog should have no issues. As faeces pass through the anus, the anal glands become expressed and voila, pheromones are released and communication with the outside world begins.
A fresh and raw diet is proven to give a better microbiota in dogs (good digestive bacteria to support health and anal sac function) and therefore a better dietary option for anal sac impaction.
I canât tell you how much I talk about anal glands and pooping with people. I can wake up to pictures of my clientâs dogâs poop on my phone (on a daily basis). Itâs a real thing people! Anal gland issues and sloppy pooh are problems that you pet parents come up against every day, so I thought I would talk about anal issues.
Some vets may recommend removing the glands if the problem is consistent and severe but this SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Personally, Iâve seen some awful cases with removed anal glands, as it disrupts the function of the anal sphincter and interferes with the bodyâs ability to cleanse. They are really unwell dogs and end up displaying other issues, longterm, that are incredibly difficult to support. Always seek a second opinion.
Dog Anal Glands: How To Express Them At Home
One of the most common problems we see in dogs are anal gland infections. The anal glands are located on either side of the rectum and serve the purpose of marking your dog’s bowel movements with their own unique scent. Each time your dog has a bowel movement the fluid in the anal sacs should be expressed as the feces passes out. In some cases these glands will become infected or obstructed, and many dogs will have recurring problems with their anal glands. The best way to prevent infection and impaction is to manually express the anal glands. Some people are more comfortable having this done at a veterinary clinic but you can also learn how to do it at your home. The following article is a guide for how to express a dog’s anal glands:
In order to express your dog’s anal glands at home you will need a pair of disposable plastic or latex gloves, Vaseline or some other lubricant, paper towels and a warm soapy washcloth. It is much easier to express your dog’s anal glands if you have someone to help you gently restrain your dog as the expression is often uncomfortable (though not painful unless there is an infection or obstruction) and your dog may feel some pressure while you are pushing on the glands. Stand or kneel behind your dog while your dog is standing up on all fours and your partner is gently but firmly restraining your dog. With the dog’s tail up, insert the lubricated and gloved index finger of your right hand into your dog’s anus. Placing your thumb on the outside of your dog’s anus , bring your thumb and index finger together and run them up and down the left side of your dog’s anus. The anal glands are located at approximately 4 and 8 o’clock and typically range from pea to plum sized (though they are commonly about the size of a small grape). Some anal glands will be firm while others will be more malleable if they are not as full. Once you have located the anal gland squeeze your thumb and index finger together in a squeezing motion and attempt to “milk” the fluid from the gland. The hole that the fluid will come from is just inside the anus- so be sure not to block the opening with your index finger. Using your other hand, hold a paper towel in front of the area as the gland can often express with force and squirt backwards. Normal fluid should be brown in color, with a thin consistency and a strong odor. Thick, chunky or discolored (green, yellow, grey) fluid is abnormal and indicates that a problem could be present. It takes practice to be able to express the anal glands so do not be discouraged! If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian or a veterinary technician to give you some pointers. Once you have emptied the left gland, perform the same procedure on the right gland. Some people are more comfortable using the same hand to express both glands, while others find it easier to switch hands. Once both anal glands have been emptied, use the warm soapy washcloth to wash the area. Anal glands have a very strong, sometimes fishy smell, so it is important to clean up your dog’s bottom as much as possible to prevent the smell from lingering. Need more guidance on how to express your dog’s anal glands, or would you like to see this done by a veterinary technician, so that you can learn in our office and then practice at home? Call us at 802-649-3877.