Ideally, your pet should express her anal glands naturally when she defecates, but many pets can run into issues. Small-breed dogs, pets with inflammatory allergies, and overweight pets are most likely to develop anal gland problems that require regular manual expression, to avoid painful abscesses. Also, the glands can become inflamed, impacted, and infected if the anal gland fluid is not routinely expressed, because the material thickens, and becomes more difficult to pass.
Without relief, an anal gland can abscess and rupture. A dog with anal gland problems will commonly scoot her hind end along the ground in an attempt to relieve the pressure, but she may display less noticeable signs, which may include:. Your cat may exhibit less obvious signs, such as straining to defecate, and defecation outside the litter box.
Cats rarely drag their hind end on the carpet, and some display no apparent issues, until an anal gland becomes impacted and ruptures. In a perfect world, your pet would express her anal glands naturally each time she defecates, but many require assistance.
If your pet has developed an infection, or her anal gland has ruptured, we will treat the painful, infected gland with anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, and frequent manual expressions to remove all the infected fluid. After an anal gland infection or rupture, we will determine the best schedule for future manual expressions, to prevent reoccurrence.
We can also demonstrate correct nail trimming and ear cleaning, so you can perform the tasks on your pet at home, if desired. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. The abscess will cause a painful swelling and eventually if left untreated, the abscess will burst releasing puss and blood.
Anal sac disease is a common problem in dogs and cats. If you suspect that your pet has an impacted anal sac, call your veterinarian for an exam. An impacted anal sac is easily treated by expressing and emptying the anal sacs. If there is an infection, the anal sacs may be flushed out to remove solidified material and an antibiotic may need to be instilled into the sacs. Oral antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and pain medication may be prescribed for your pet.
If your pet has recurrent severe anal sac disease, surgical removal of the anal sacs may be indicated. Early detection is the key to preventing serious anal sac disease. If there is any redness or irritation around the anus, this could be a sign of a developing anal sac problem. If your pet is chasing the tail, chewing or licking at the anal area or dragging the bottom, make an appointment with Vetsavers Pet Hospital to have the anal sacs checked.
Please call the clinic at to discuss your Dental Cleaning appointment for your Dog or Cat. Anal glands: What they are, why they stink, and how to deal with it. Posted on November 15, by Brent Bilhartz. Why do pets have anal glands? They really stink, though… Should I get it checked out? What can I do to help anal glands be less messy? How to keep your cat off the counters.
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