Is your dog doing the ‘butt-scootin’ boogie’? If you don’t address it soon, it could end up being a very expensive endeavor – to their health and your wallet.
What are ANAL GLANDS?
Anal glands are located on either side, and just below the anus of your pet. They excrete a scent that identifies your animal to other animals, telling them such things as your pet’s species, sex, health and approximate age. The anal sacs are supposed to work during activity and each bowel movement. They secrete a brown, oily
substance, with a very strong odor. Both cats and dogs have anal glands, but dogs apparently experience more problems with them than cats do.
Anal glands fail to expel naturally for a number of reasons, most common of when is when the dog’s stools are soft (from diarrhea, for instance). Insufficient pressure on the anal glands from a solid stool will prevent the glands from emptying. Whenever they fail to vacate properly, there’s a chance of them becoming impacted, and subsequently, infected. If there is impaction or infection, it may be necessary to flush out the affected sac, to remove the solidified material. Since these conditions are painful, many pets will require a sedative or an anesthetic for this treatment. Therefore, it’s important that they be checked and ‘expressed’ regularly, by your veterinarian or groomer. Most dog groomers offer this as a regular service.
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Anal Gland Issues?
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An easy way to prevent irritated or impacted anal glands is to walk your dog frequently and keep them at a healthy weight. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise, are at greater risk for problems with their anal glands.
For a better visual, watch the following video. We recommend and use gloves, though.