The Mysterious Anal Glands

Dog have anal sacs just below, close to and on both sides of their rectum opening.  These oval shaped glands contain a yellowish foul-smelling odour.  When your dog takes a poop, a little of this type of scent marking gets squeezed out via two little ducts.  The fluid contains lots of information about the dog who delivered it (age, sex etc.) and that is one reason other dogs love to come and take a sniff of another dogs ‘bot bot’ or ‘do do’.

Although the sacs are basically ‘self emptying’ there can be occasion that they are obstructed.  The outcome might be discomfort, paying a lot of attention to the area and or dragging the bottom along the ground.  (However the latter two do not necessarily mean the anal glands are the problem).  Best to have your dog checked out because a lot of ‘ground scooting’ can also result in skin being damaged.

There is no need to have the glands emptied on a regular basis unless your vet advises it because some dogs never need there sacs expressed and others require it monthly.  Unnecessarily emptying your dogs’ anal sacs is not recommended and is usually not advised as a regular part of grooming.

Although some dog owners insist on expressing the sacs themselves please ask your veterinarian because there is occasion that the vet will need to insert a finger into your dogs anus to investigate plus there may be other things going on with your dogs body you do not know about.

 

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)