I will start with the basics on this one while you wrap your head around that terminology. LOL!
What are anal glands?
Anal glands, or anal sacs, are actually just scent glands. They live on either side of the anus in both dogs and cats.
These little sacs fill up with material and in a perfect world they are naturally emptied when our pets poop.
Lovely topic isn’t it?
Unfortunately, it is actually pretty common for our pets to have anal gland issues and most first time pet owners are completely unaware of these important little structures.
How do anal glands express themselves?
Under normal circumstances, meaning stools are of normal size, shape, and consistency, the stool presses against the glands and the material is emptied from the sacs when your pet poops.
Sounds like a pretty straight forward biological mechanism.
However, when this mechanism is disrupted we have a problem.
Just ask my main bud Vincent. If anyone is interested he’d happily give up his right anal gland! That is because he already had his left one removed.
Most first-time pet owners have no idea what anal glands are until that moment where they notice a problem with their pet’s bum. I’m sure they feel this is new information they could have lived without!
Signs and symptoms that something is not right back there
The classic symptoms that pets show when there is an anal gland problem include:
- SCOOTING! (AKA Butt dragging on the floor)
- Excessive bum licking
- Tail tucked
- Reluctance to sit or seeming very uncomfortable and painful with the back end
- Foul (and I mean FOUL) odor from the back end
- Chewing at the back end, tail base, or hip areas
- Swelling or a bulge noted on either side of the anus
- Bleeding from the back end
Once you start seeing the symptoms at the bottom of the this list it is more likely that the problem has progressed to an abscessed or ruptured anal gland. Definitely bad times when we get here!
Managing anal gland problems
So you’ve seen your pet scooting for weeks now, but nothing else seems to be wrong with him/her. Well, I would recommend getting him/her seen by your veterinarian.
A few reasons to do this even though your pet seems otherwise healthy:
- First, to confirm if it is an anal gland issue
- Second, if it is the anal glands we want to prevent progression to an anal gland infection or abscess
- Third, to rule out other problems such as intestinal parasites (worms), itching/allergies, tumors, etc
- And lastly, it is cheaper to be proactive versus reactive
Once at the vet, your pet will get a full assessment. This, unfortunately for your pet and your vet, will include a rectal examination.
If the anal glands appear to be too full, your veterinarian will need to express them. Full anal glands cause scooting. So we have potentially figured out the problem with this one ‘easy’ step!
With expression we are able to assess the quality of the contents – Is it normal? Is it too thick? Does it look like pus (infection)? All valuable information that allows us to put together a treatment plan for your pet to help with the long-term health of the anal glands.
In addition, we are able to rule out concurrent issues like inflammation, obesity, rectal tumors, etc. that could be contributing to the problem
Some pups will have a one-off and never have a symptom again after their anal gland expression. Others will have regular symptoms that we try to manage with diet and supplements that aim to increase their daily fiber intake.
An example that can cause a one-time anal gland situation would be something like a week of softer stools or diarrhea. Once we correct the stool quality, things with the anal glands should return to normal and there should not be a need for repeat anal gland expressions.
But not all pups are this lucky. The fate of some is a forever problem. No matter what we do – add fiber, change diet, add anal gland supplements, control inflammation, achieve weightloss, etc. they will still have issues that require regular expressions. The frequency of expression varies from pet to pet. Some require monthly visits and some are good for a few months. Sometimes even a year or more.
Anal gland abscesses and rupture
Pets that have been licking their bum area excessively, scooting, and now appear to be bleeding from the bum area most likely have an anal gland abscess that has ruptured (popped). OUCH!
These can be very painful and need medical attention!
Treatment includes cleaning and flushing of the affected area to help clear out the infected material as best as possible. The other anal gland is also checked out and expressed.
These pets usually have a large opening/wound on the side of the affected anal gland. Sedation and pain medications are likely to be needed and strongly recommended for these pets. Very few are tolerant of treatments without it.
These pets usually go home with antibiotics and pain medications. It can be a bit messy the first few days, but they tend to heal up nicely. I always recommend a follow up 2-4 weeks later to reassess the anal glands for additional or on going problems that may need long-term management.
Note: I have had some patients that give zero indication that there is a problem! No scooting, no bum licking, nothing! Owner just calls to say their pet is bleeding from their bum.
Can I have my pet’s anal glands removed?
Well, yes. But it is not something we readily recommend.
Surgical removal of the anal glands comes with its risks and complications including infection, pain, fistula formation, and fecal incontinence. Things no one wants to deal with long-term!
Surgery is used as a last resort for pets that are so severe that they are constantly dealing with repeat infections, pain, or if there is suspicion of cancer.
The good news
If your pet has never had an anal gland issue I would not recommend expressing them for shits and giggles.
Leave those bad boys alone since they seem to be doing their job just fine without our help!
The less we need to express them the better! For everyone!