
The best way to stop this (and prevent further anal gland issues) is by using a “ cone of shame” or an inflatable collar, which may not be possible for all dogs or a dog diaper to cover the area. Most dogs will worsen the condition by continuously licking the area to ease up the pain and discomfort. Blood around a dog's anus and/or in stool.A dog's persistent licking of the afflicted area.Your dog is scooting its rear end along the floor.If there's a dog anal gland problem, you may see the following symptoms: The obstruction, often referred to as anal gland problems in dogs, means that the liquid inside the sacs builds up, resulting in an infection and rupturing the sacs ( 13). This fluid then flows through two small tubes in a dog's body that open on either side of the anus. The consistency of anal sac fluid can be watery, creamy, thick, or pasty, and there may or may not be solid materials in it ( 12). They are similar to the scent glands found in skunks ( 11). They are small sacs filled with glandular cells that produce a potent yellow fluid consisting of both oils and sweat ( 9, 10). Scientists still don’t know what use the anal glands have to dogs, although many ideas have been tossed around ( 7, 8). They're generally divided into two condition categories: those without abnormal growths and those with abnormal growths that are cancer-related, which are very rare ( 4, 5, 6).Īnal gland disease occurs due to impaction, also known as a blockage of the two ducts that remove the dog's anal glands' excretions via openings on either side of the anus. This article explains what they are, how to help or prevent them naturally, and how to treat anal gland problems in dogs, including foods or special for these cases. How Do You Treat an Impacted Anal Gland?ĭog anal glands problems are fairly common, appearing in about 2 – 12% of cases with dogs ( 1, 2, 3).What Happens If You Don't Express your Dog's Glands?.Can You Express Your Dog's Glands at Home?.What Happens When a Dog's Glands Are Full?.Do All Dogs Need Anal Glands Expressed?.How Often Do Dogs Need Anal Glands Expressed?.

