You may not know that your dog has anal glands. They are located on either side of your dog’s rectum and produce a very pungent fluid. These same structures are slightly modified for use by a skunk to spray, so you can imagine that they are capable of some real stink! For dogs, they seem to serve little purpose other than marking and identification. Their scent tags his body and his feces as his to all who might be interested. Because the glands occupy real estate so close to the anus, they can become infected and then clogged. The region around the rectum is full of nerves and irritation or infection in this area can be a real pain in the rear!
For many years, people were advised to empty the glands whenever the dog was bathed, but our recommendations may have caused more trouble than they were worth. You see, a normal dog’s anal glands are able to drain without intervention when the dog defecates. He should not need help from anyone, not even you. So when people started to squeeze and express anal glands, it became almost like when people inflame pimples trying to squeeze and get rid of them. Infection was sometimes forced backwards and probably every time, the dog was uncomfortable and the sensitive tissue was traumatized.
Now we know better. A dog’s anal glands should be expressed only by a veterinary staff member (and a veterinarian, if possible) and only when there is a problem suspected. If your dog is scooting, licking or draining foul fluid from the glands, there is a problem and you need to see your vet. The dog might need antibiotics, pain medication, a minor procedure (under sedation) or even an actual surgery to remove the diseased glands.
If you have a normal dog (no matter who tells you to), please, don’t squeeze his glands. If you do, you are more likely to create scar tissue and swelling that could lead to a permanent problem down the road. After all, if you have never smelled anal gland secretions, consider yourself lucky. Don’t hurt your dog for no good reason, trying to do what is best. Let us keep the gross stories of anal secretions in our hair and love your dog from the front half!
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