Anal Glands can be a pain in the butt!

What are anal glands you ask?  Maybe you really don't want to know, but your dog or cat may need you to be aware of these pesky little things that may cause a pain in their rear.

These small pea sized glands are located on each side of the pet's anus in the four and eight o'clock position.   These glands are sometimes referred to as "scent glands", because they are used to identify the dog or cat's scent to other animals.  The glands empty normally when a pet defecates as the pressure exerted by the formed feces causes the glands to express onto the stool.  They can also empty spontaneously under times of stress and you will smell an unpleasant odor coming from your pet.   In some pets the glands do not empty properly due to thicker than normal anal gland secretions or if the pet's feces is not firm.  When the glands do not empty properly they can become impacted and cause discomfort to the pet or, if left untreated may abscess causing the dog intense pain.

The glands can be emptied when they are not working properly by exerting pressure (anal sac expression) to the gland to relieve the obstruction.  This procedure should only be done by someone that has been trained to properly and fully empty the glands. Your veterinarian, or their trained licensed veterinary technician, uses a gloved finger inserted into the anus to squeeze the material from the gland.  Some groomers are also properly trained to do this, however this should not be routinely done at the grooming salon because normal anal glands should empty on their own.  If the pet is experiencing problems then they should be addressed.  Dogs will exhibit symptoms such as dragging their posterior on the ground (scooting) or licking or biting at the anal area.   Dogs with abscesses will act painful if their tail is lifted or you may see swelling on either side of the anus. Cats may defecate outside the litter box or lick at the anal area obsessively.   In abscess situations the gland may even rupture through the skin on the side of the anus and blood and purulent material will drain from the opening.  Dogs with anal sac problems will be treated by a veterinarian with expression of the gland, sometimes it will have to be lanced and the pet will be placed on antibiotics until the gland is healed appropriately.

Anal gland fluid is normally tan in color and watery in consistency.  It has a foul odor that may occur when your dog is stressed.  Impacted anal gland material is usually brown or gray and very thick.  The presence of blood, swelling or pus indicates anal gland infection.

If you are suspicious that your pet has an anal gland problem, have them examined by your veterinarian or have the anal glands checked by one of our veterinary technicians.  The technicians can express the anal glands and let you know if they are normal or if they are impacted or infected.  If there is any sign of infection they will have the veterinarian prescribe an antibiotic and pain medication for your pet.  Call 586-751-3350 if you have any questions about this or any other subject.

Don't let your dog or cat suffer from a pain in the rear end....