Image: Dog in park (Image: Faber Leonardo via Unsplash)
The anal glands are a pair of small sacs that sit just inside the anus. They contain a strong-smelling liquid used for marking territory. Anal glands express normally when a dog passes faeces (poo), and sometimes when a dog is scared or excited, they may express their anal glands.
Every day, we see dogs that have been showing signs of blocked anal glands. The signs are scooting along the floor, biting back feet or legs, and the most obvious, a strong fishy smell. If you observe any of these signs, you should call us for a Veterinary Nurse appointment.
In most cases, they are simple to treat, and we do this by manually expressing the anal glands. If they are left untreated, blocked anal glands can lead to more serious problems, such as infections or abscesses.
Any dog can develop blocked anal glands, but it’s more common in overweight dogs (weak muscles around the bottom), dogs born with narrow anal gland openings (makes emptying difficult), and dogs that have ongoing diarrhoea/soft stools (anal glands rely on firm, bulky stools to push past and empty them).
Blocked anal glands are often simple to cure:
Emptying. We will feel inside your dog’s bottom and try to empty their glands. Never attempt to do this yourself unless you have had instruction from your vet and you are confident doing so, as anal glands can burst if they are squeezed too hard or in the wrong way.
Medication. Medication such as anti-inflammatories and/or antibiotics is only usually necessary if your dog’s glands can’t be unblocked, are very painful, or have caused an infection or abscess.
Supplements. There are supplements available that contain fibre and beneficial bacteria, which help to improve faecal consistency, as well as anal gland impactions. We have a lot of success with VetPlus Fibor, which you can buy in practice.
Surgery. If your dog has ongoing anal gland problems that can’t be cured with emptying or medication, your vet may recommend flushing them under anaesthetic.
Keeping your dog slim and healthy and fed a good, well-balanced diet can help produce normal faecal matter and, therefore, normal anal gland expression.
Adding in fibre to your dog’s diet, such as supplements or fibre bran, can help stools be more firm.
Members of our Coquet Pet Club have anal gland expression included in their monthly plan. If you would like to sign up for our Coquet Pet Club, please visit www.coquetvets.co.uk/coquet-pet-club
If you are a client of Coquet Vets and this article has raised any concerns about your pet, please call us today on 01665 252 250 to get your pet booked in for an appointment.
