Dog anal glands: spotting the signs and knowing when to see the vet
Is your dog dragging its bottom along the ground, licking its rear end or smelling of fish? Its anal glands may be bothering it. Normally, they empty on their own. Your job: spot the signs and hand it over to the right professional. Emptying the glands is a job for the vet or a trained groomer, not for you.
What anal glands are for
A dog has two small sacs sitting on either side of the anus. They hold a secretion with a very distinctive smell, a sort of scent-based ID card that the dog leaves behind to mark its passage. In most dogs, these sacs empty on their own with every well-formed stool: nothing to do, the body handles it.
Spotting the discomfort day to day
- It drags its bottom along the floor, rear end down, like a sledge on the carpet: this is the well-known "scooting".
- It licks or nibbles insistently at its rear end, often always in the same spot.
- It struggles to sit down, wriggles about or gets up quickly, as if the position were uncomfortable.
- A strong, lingering fishy smell hangs around it or on its bed.
Why this isn't something to do yourself
Wanting to relieve your dog yourself comes from a good place, and there is nothing shameful about wondering whether you should. But emptying the glands by hand is a technical procedure: pressed too hard or in the wrong place, the area is easily injured and can become infected, right up to an abscess. Another common trap: emptying the glands "just in case" on a dog that shows no signs at all. Far from helping, this reflex can upset glands that were working perfectly well on their own.
The vet, the safe choice
- They empty the sac safely and ease the discomfort.
- They look into why it keeps happening (stools, weight, allergy, infection).
- They take care of an abscess, an infection or pain.
The trained groomer, for upkeep
- They can carry out a comfort emptying on a dog that empties poorly.
- Provided there is no swelling, no pain and no blood.
- At the slightest unusual sign, it's back to the vet.
Helping the glands empty on their own
Well-formed stools naturally press on the glands each time they pass. Here are the levers that really make a difference.
0 / 5From simple discomfort that sets in to the sign that calls for the vet.
Worth a check-up
- The "scooting" or the licking of the rear end lasts several days.
- The glands become blocked again and again.
Without delay
- A red, hot, painful swelling near the anus.
- A discharge of blood or pus, possibly a gland abscess.
- Anal Sac Disease in Dogs (maladie des glandes anales), Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual
- Consensus de dermatologie vétérinaire sur le prurit du chien, World Association for Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD)
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my dog's anal glands are full?
You can spot discomfort without handling anything: the dog drags its bottom along the floor ("scooting"), licks or nibbles its rear end, struggles to sit down, or gives off a lingering fishy smell. These are signs to observe and report to the vet, not to confirm yourself by pressing on the area.
Why empty a dog's anal glands?
You don't empty them as a matter of course: in most dogs, they empty on their own as well-formed stools pass through. You only step in when they are genuinely blocked and uncomfortable. Emptying the glands "as a routine" on a dog with no symptoms can even keep the problem going; it's the vet who decides whether it's needed.
Who can empty a dog's anal glands?
The vet, or a trained groomer, never you by force. Emptying the glands by hand is a technical procedure: done wrong, it risks injuring the area or causing an abscess. At the slightest swelling, pain or discharge of blood or pus, it's the vet, not the groomer.
My dog drags its bottom along the floor, what does that mean?
"Scooting" often points to bothered anal glands, but not always: fleas, an allergy, a worm or a urinary problem can cause the same signs. Rather than drawing your own conclusion, have your dog examined: the vet rules out the other causes before mentioning the glands.
How often should a dog's anal glands be emptied?
There is no universal schedule: a dog whose glands empty well on their own has no reason to be emptied regularly. The frequency depends on each dog and is decided with the vet, based on symptoms, never "just in case".
How can I prevent anal glands from becoming blocked?
The best lever is a regular transit with nice firm stools, which naturally press on the glands each time they pass. A healthy weight, good hydration, physical activity and a suitable diet (fibre on the vet's advice) all help a great deal. If the discomfort keeps coming back regardless, talk to the vet about it.
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