Dogs Anal Glands - How To Keep Them Healthy
Checking your dogs anal glands while grooming and regular dog baths is
imperative to make sure the glands are in ideal health. It is most likely one of the least enjoyable chores for canine owners, although for years a lot of people that had pets did not know that canine anal glands existed.
How a Dogs Anal Gland is Drained
Canines will drain these sacs while defecating. As the stool moves out of the anus, the pressure will generally clear the anal sacs; however, because of the domestication of dogs, some of our canine friends have trouble emptying their glands. Impacted anal glands are most common in small dogs and are exhibited by your dog scooting on the ground or licking and biting at his rear and you will probably notice a dog odor.
Why Expressing Dogs Anal Glands is Important
When emptying of the sacs does not occur, they can become clogged and it is very unpleasant and painful for your dog. They must be expressed or infection and abscess can follow if the impact isn’t alleviated. The
normal size of the sacs is that of a kidney bean but when they are full the glands will enlarge and feel hard. Usually, the impacted glands will be extremely sensitive and your pet may react as if in pain when you touch near that area.
Where to Find a Dogs Anal Glands
Anal sacs are located on either side of the lower half and just inside your pet’s anus. They are lined with cells that consistently exude a very pungent discharge. If you look closely, you will most likely see the tiny ducts through which a unpleasant smelling liquid seeps. In the wild the secretions are used to mark territory, but in the domestic canine they have little use apart from the attention they receive from other canines, who (for reasons humans find impossible to comprehend) find it appealing. There is no obvious scent to humans when your pet is bathed regularly and your dogs anal glands are healthy. Other canines on the other hand have no trouble the odor.
Expelling the Sacs
To get around the cost of having the sacs expelled, you can do this yourself; however, some dog owners feel it is well worth having a veterinarian perform this procedure, at least the first time . To express the glands, wear a throw away latex glove. Holding a tissue, place your thumb and forefinger on both sides of the anus and press gingerly. Anal sack fluid should exude from the ducts without much pressure and you will likely feel the glands decrease in size as you gently squeeze. If you are unsure about doing this or detect anything curious, consult your veterinarian. It is best to have someone hold your dog still, while you do this.
A Change of Diet
Your veterinarian may propose a diet high in fiber if you find your pet
is having consistent problems with blocked anal sacs. The additional fiber will help to express the anal glands when your dog defecates.
If Infection Happens
If anal sacs become infected they will enlarge and may burst through the skin by the anus. This will produce a painful draining abscess and will need appropriate veterinarian care and most likely manual expressing of the sacs until the abscess has gone.
Re-occurring Blocked Glands
If the impacted anal sacs become a chronic issue for your dog, they can be surgically removed. This can often result in a more pleasurable relationship for you and your furry friend.
This is considered routine surgery but there are potential problems because of the many nerves in that region and fecal incontinence may arise if too much damage occurs. Additionally, if your dogs anal glands tissue was not entirely removed, they have the potential to keep on secreting fluid. When this builds up, the result could be an abscess and possibly a persistent
draining tract from the sac to the skin. If this occurs the veterinarian must go back and remove the sac tissue to have a desired outcome.
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