Rabbit Vet Care

Let’s talk about ANAL GLANDS. If you’ve been spotting your dog scooting his bottom all over the place or excessive licking the anal area, there’s a good chance that they have an anal gland problem.

Dogs often scoot their butts in order to try to relieve an itch caused by irritated anal glands. If the glands are past the point of just expressing the fluid from them, and there is swelling, it could mean the glands have become impacted. In this case, we recommend scheduling an appointment so we can quickly relieve the impaction and discomfort.

While anal gland problems can look and sound scary, they are no cause for panic, and a great many dogs will experience them at some point. If this is the first time your dog is experiencing such problems, bring them in for a checkup. If we recommend that your dog’s anal glands be expressed routinely, post-covid social distancing we can show you how to do this at home.

This doesn’t sound like the most pleasant thing to do with your pet, and involves squeezing the glands at suitable intervals. But knowing how to do it yourself can save you from the inconvenience of having to call us and get your pet here should the problem recur. With technology these days, you can find countless helpful videos to walk you through the anal gland expression process. If this is not an area where you feel comfortable doing it at home, we are always here and offer curbside drop-off.

However, with all of that said you do not want to express the glands unnecessarily, as excessive expression can lead to discomfort. If your dog appears comfortable, does not seem overly smelly in that area and shows no symptoms of anal gland issues then no need to do anything.

Some dogs unfortunately encounter recurring anal gland issues. Do not be tempted to ignore an anal gland problem in hopes that it will go away. When left untreated, anal glands can become impacted or infected.

When expressing the glands, if you observe the fluid appears thick or pasty, or if nothing is coming out, call us. Likewise, if your dog yelps or appears to be in pain as you express its anal glands, that could be a sign that the glands have become impacted, and that your pet should be seen by us.

If your dog seems to suffer from chronic anal gland problems or infections in that area, that could signal that it’s time for a switch to a more fiber-rich diet, or surgery to have the anal glands removed. To prevent anal gland problems, it’s a good idea to put your dog on a fiber-rich diet from the get-go, as it is a lot easier to prevent anal gland problems through diet than to get rid of an existing one. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight and ensuring they get sufficient exercise are also keys to preventing anal gland problems.

windwardanimalhospital.com

If you need us, please call (770)569-7298 to schedule an appointment.

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