Everything There is to Know About a Dog’s Anal Glands

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Symptoms of distended anal glands

In other instances dogs can suffer from a problem that is the opposite of spontaneous anal gland release. If a dog experiences abnormal bowel movements, the glands may not empty in their normal fashion.

A dog scoots by sitting on his rear with his hind legs straight out in front of him. He then drags his rear on the ground, often leaving an unsavory brown trail in his wake. Scooting is usually a sign of distended anal glands; however, it also may be triggered by new carpet, dinner parties, or being invited into a new friend’s house for the first time.

Dogs who scoot should have their anal glands checked and, if necessary, manually expressed. Some people do this at home, but most elect to have a vet or groomer do it since the most effective method involves inserting a finger into the dog’s anus.

Some owners are alright with inserting a finger into a dog's anus to clean the anal glands, but if you've never done it before you should first go to the vet to see it demonstrated. It's also wise to find out if it's appropriate to do so in the first place depending on your dog's health. Sometimes after a day or so a dog's bowel movements may become regular again and the anal sac excretion right along with it.

If a dog develops additional and chronic anal sac problems that are making him uncomfortable, there are other options to consider, which we discuss after the break.

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