Know the Signs of Anal Gland Disease

By Cathy Doggins

Does your dog scoot across the floor? While worms are a common cause, the answer can be found in the anal glands. Inside the gland is a liquid used to identify one another. Dogs use the odor as an identifier when sniffing the anus of another canine. Anal gland symptoms include anus licking, smell and scooting.

Where Are the Anal Glands?

The anal sacs are on the sides of the anus inbetween the interior and exterior sphincter muscles. The sphincter keeps feces inside the dog. When feces leave the anus, the sphincter muscle empties the anal sacs, causing the oily liquid to drain.

Anal Sac Diseases

Anal glands can be as small as a pea or larger in bigger breeds. Problems occur when the oily liquid does not empty from the glands. Liquid blocked in the gland will become thicker and thicker. Stagnant fluid can trigger multiple problems and symptoms. Swelling glands are uncomfortable for the dog. If an infection takes hold, it can cause problems such as glandular abscesses. One sign of infection is unusually bad odor.

In rare cases, tumors form in the anal sacs. Tumors affect one of the glands. If the growth is neoplastic, it can move to local lymph nodes, the liver and lungs. If a cancerous growth is blocking any fluid, visit a pet health professional immediately. A dog diagnosed with an anal sac neoplasm has a prognosis of approximately 544 days.Prevention

Pet owners can prevent anal gland problems by watching and acting on any early warning signs. Dogs that suffer from anal gland issues will slide on the rear or lick the anus. The powerful odor is also an indicator that a problem is brewing.

Treatment

Anal glands in a healthy canine will empty as the result of a normal bowel movement. In dogs with frequent issues, an owner can be taught to empty the sacs. A groomer or vet can express the glands during an office visit. Dogs with frequent issues have the anal glands surgically removed.

About the Author:

Ms. Doggins is the writer of many articles on dog anal sacs and training. She enjoys instructing owners about dog diseases and conditions in order to help avoid disease and prevent behavior problems. When not caring for her canines, she can be discovered caring for her very own pets, or as a volunteer at a small pet shelter.

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