Natural Dog Health Remedies

Dog Anal Glands

Problems with dog anal glands, such as anal gland abscess and impacted anal glands are common in all dogs, but especially among small breeds. Good news - homeopathic remedies and herbs can help soothe canine anal glands. Also this page shows you how to manually express your dog'a anal glands.

Dog anal glands ... not a savory topic, but anal gland problems are rather common and, as dog parents, we should know how to deal with them.

What are Dog Anal Glands?

Anal glands, or anal sacs, are a pair of small scent glands located on each side of the anus, slightly below the anal opening, at about the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. They open to the outside by tiny ducts. The sacs contain a powerful, foul-smelling substance that contains pheromones. In dogs, this substance is used primarily to mark territory, as a form of communication, or to express extreme fear.

Ordinarily, the anal glands are emptied out ("expressed") during defecation, when the pressure of the stool presses on the glands so that some of the secretion is deposited on the stool. The secretion has a very strong distinct odor which is very unpleasant to us but was probably useful to dogs, especially in the past, for marking their territory and "communicating" to other dogs.

If your dog is healthy, well-exercised, and on a natural well-balanced diet, he most likely does not have any problems in expressing his anal glands voluntarily.

However, for various reasons, sometimes some dogs are unable to empty their glands on their own at all. This leads to build up and thickening of the secretion and clogging of the duct. The anal sacs become impacted and this condition is very uncomfortable for the dogs.

Let's look at two common problems with dog anal glands in more detail:

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Impacted Dog Anal Glands

As mentioned above, when the dog anal glands become inactive and are not emptied out, the anal gland ducts may become clogged. The glands will then be overfilled with secretion, and a condition called "anal gland impaction" results.

Some common reasons causing impacted anal glands include:

  • Inappropriate diet (e.g. a diet high in grains can cause inflammations of the GI tract because dogs cannot digest grains well. Grains can also often cause allergies in dogs. Allergies and inflammation of the GI tract can cause anal gland problems as well.)
  • Constipation or infrequent bowel movement.
  • Stool too soft.
  • Inadequate exercise.
  • Frustration in the dog from, for example, having to share small space with other dogs and therefore not having enough space to exercise.

Signs of Impacted Anal Glands:

Dog Anal Glands

  • Dog constantly scooting along the floor in an attempt to empty the sacs, sometimes leaving behind unsightly brownish "skid marks"
  • Dog constantly licking the anal area
  • Some dogs may chase their tails
  • Strong, foul-smell from the gland area

Treatment:

Impacted dog anal glands can be emptied out manually by a veterinarian or a groomer. You can also try to do it yourself if you don't mind the smell!

Expressing your dog's anal glands is relatively easy (though not pleasant!). Here's how:

  • Hold up the dog's tail and pull it gently upward.
  • Hold a tissue with your free hand (preferably gloved), place your thumb over one anal gland and your fingers over the other (the glands are located on each side of the anus, slightly below the anal opening, at about the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions).
  • Press in - use gentle pressure - and squeeze like you are milking a cow.

Dog Anal Glands

To help increase blood flow and soften the tissues around the glands and thereby promoting expression of the sacs, try using a warm herbal compress before manually expressing them.

If you have herbal tinctures of calendula, chamomile, or red clover, add about one teaspoon of any of these tinctures to a quart of warm water. Soak a small towel in the herbal solution and hold it to your dog's rear end for 5 minutes or so. After compression, express the glands manually as described above.

Alternatively, use this natural herbal and homeopathic combo:

PetAlive AnalGlandz for Pet Anal Gland Health

This natural product contains soothing herbs such as chamomile, dandelion, and yarrow, as well as homeopathic remedies such as silica. Silica supports the natural emptying of the anal sacs and it also helps keep the anal ducts open. Add a few drops of this product to warm water and use the solution in a warm compress.

For some dogs, it takes several sac expressions before the sacs are emptied out. If you notice that your dog continues to scoot on the floor or lick himself even after sac emptying, check the anal sacs, and if necessary, express them again. However, if the sacs are empty but scooting persists, it is likely that your dog has some other problems, e.g. tapeworm infestation, allergy, or even lower back pain.

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Anal Gland Abscess

If an impacted anal sac is not expressed, it may become infected and an abscess can form within the gland and rupture out through the skin. Sometimes, an infection can be caused by bacteria that have made their way into the glands, probably through the ducts.

When the abscessed material overflows the sacs, the skin over the sacs breaks open and the pus drains onto the skin. As you can imagine, this is a very painful condition for dogs.

Signs of Anal Gland Abscess:

  • Swelling on either side of the anus
  • Anal area becomes red (purple at a later stage)
  • Pain, sometimes severe, near the tail or anus
  • Dog constantly licking the anal area
  • Dog may whimper with pain and discomfort
  • Dog may develop constipation as the pain in his rear end deters him from relieving himself

Treatment:

Conventional treatment of anal gland abscess is to surgically lance, debride, drain and flush the sacs with an antiseptic solution, and administer antibiotics.

If you prefer to use a more gentle homeopathic treatment, discuss the problem with a holistic vet.

The common homeopathic remedies used to treat anal gland abscess include Belladonna and Silicea. Belladonna can reduce the intense pain whereas Silicea helps the discharge of pus and promotes healing.

Watch this video for a good overview of anal gland problems in dogs. It also shows you how to express the glands:

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Preventing Problems of Dog Anal Glands

Healthy Foods

As mentioned above, a well-balanced, natural diet with high-quality protein and grain-free diet supplemented with probiotics and digestive enzymes is important.

Adequate Exercise

Regular exercise will also help the anal glands to empty naturally. If possible, take your dog out to exercise at least 15-20 minutes twice a day. Taking your dog out regularly also allows him to have frequent bowel movements.

Allergies and Dog Anal Glands

Some veterinarians suggest that anal sac problems in dogs may be related to allergies. If your dog has problems with his anal glands and he is constantly licking and scratching himself, it may be that the two problems are related - be sure to consult with your veterinarian.

In the meantime, give your dog some Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil or flaxseed oil, to alleviate his itch and skin irritations.

Besides anal gland problems, there are various other problems
that can cause a dog to have bad odor.

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