The Importance Of The Dog's Anal Gland

 In the movie The Fisher King there is a rather humorous scene in which Robin Williams' character is scooting himself along the ground by digging his heels in and dragging his bare bottom across the grass. In a jubilant voice he calls out, "Do you know why dogs do this? It feels GREAT!!"

Actually, that's not the only reason. Dogs will exhibit this behavior if the anus or hind quarters are itchy, but it can be a sign of an impacted anal gland which can be a problem for some dogs.

The anal glands are located on either side of a dog's anus and, in the wild, serve as a method of marking the dog's territory. When a dog defecates the glands are naturally compressed and secrete a dark, foul smelling liquid along with the bowel movement. When the sacs are functioning normally they empty whenever the animal has a bowel movement.

Sometimes, for various reasons, the dog's anal sacs may become blocked. When this happens a number of problems can develop. Some are benign as a foul smell but the can lead to serious problems like diarrhea and infection. To intervene before a blocked anal gland becomes an issue, the glands must be expressed.

Expression of the anal glands is a simple medical procedure that can be performed at home or by a veterinarian. Some people prefer to let the vet take care of this task because they find it to be an unattractive duty. To save the expense of a vet, however, it is perfectly acceptable to express the anal glands yourself.

Expressing the Dog's Anal Glands:

Expressing the anal glands is a simple matter. You'll want to hold the tail up and pull it gently toward the dog's head. In the other hand hold a tissue or paper towel and place your thumb on the left side of the left gland and your forefinger on the right side of the right gland. Squeeze firmly but not roughly and the glands should empty a brown or yellowish liquid onto the tissue or towel. Impacted glands will not empty as easily and may require an internal draining technique. You can do the internal technique at home as well, but you'll need surgical gloves and a tube of KY jelly.

Internal anal gland expression requires that the sacs on either side of the anus be expressed individually and will require that you place your thumb on one side of the gland and your forefinger inside the dog's rectum in order to squeeze and express the gland. Impacted glands will be harder to drain and the fluid may be thick and pasty with a foul odor and a dark brown, grey, or black color.

Infected anal glands may produce a discharge of bloody pus and can be an indication of a more serious problem. The infection should be fought with antibiotics so a vet should be contacted immediately if the dog seems to have such an infection.
About the Author

Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

 Kirsten Hawkins

More Articles 

How To Stop Your Dog From Digging Holes In Your Garden - Adam G Katz
First, I need to figure out when he is digging. Since I know the dog and his lifestyle, I can rule out several factors such as boredom or puppyhood or gophers, etc... I noticed that every time he would start digging holes he was in the yard playing...

Health Problems in the German Shepherd Dog - Jayne Shenstone
As with most pedigree breeds, there are certain hereditary conditions that can be a problem in the German Shepherd Dog as well as other health issues that are more prevalent in this breed which need to be considered if you are...

Even Dogs Get the Holiday Blues: Meditation Can Help - James Jacobson
Although your dog may not dread the family dynamics of Thanksgiving dinner or pout if you get him the wrong flavor chew toy, the approaching holiday season can cause stress for your dog. A different schedule than usual, travel or separation from...

How To Train Your Dog In Five Easy Steps - Charles Edwin
Have you noticed that being around a dog that is trained is lovely to be around? Dogs that are trained are less likely to jump up on people, and are less at risk of biting someone. Their manners are very calm in nature and don't get...

The great escape, proof that dog training is important - Ruth Bird
The Great Escape and the necessity of dog training. Even though I try not to go down memory lane too often, every once in a while something happens that triggers my memory, and I am carried backwards in time. Today I took my three dogs for a long...

Characteristics OF The Boxer (dog). - Ron Swerdfiger
Characterisitcs of the Boxer (dog) Is A Boxer Right For You? By Ron Swerdfiger www.web-rover.com Country of Origin: Germany First Registered: 1904 Colors: Fawn, brindle with white markings Coat Type: Short, glossy and smooth Height: 21 -...

Pet Retailing- It’s now more than dog food, it’s fashion retailing - John Stanley
In previous articles I’ve often written about the trend towards lifestyle retailing. This is reflected in trends in the garden and home improvement industries. But, one of the most dramatic shifts comes from the pet industry, which is going through...

Bringing A New Puppy Home To Meet Your Dog - Ken Shorey
Buying a new puppy is an important decision, especially if you already own a dog. It may be a good idea to ask the previous owners or the pet store where you make your purchase how your puppy interacted with other dogs around him. If he didn't get...

4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten - Mark Eckenrode
4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten by Mark Eckenrode You spoil your pooch as close to rotten as you can get, don’t you? Hey, who doesn’t? It’s almost impossible not to, with those adorable, big, beautiful eyes, the little lashes, the...

The German Shepherd Dog - Jayne Shenstone
Dogs called German Shepherds were first exhibited at shows in Germany towards the end of the nineteenth century but they were hardly Shepherds as we know them today being rough coated, short tailed and rather resembling mongrels. The German...