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This guide helps you understand and spot an anal gland problem at home: it does not replace your veterinarian's exam. If you see a red, painful swelling, blood or pus near the anus, or your pet strains and struggles in pain to pass stool, call us at 514 223-1197.
Understanding anal glands
The 'anal glands' are really two small pouches, the anal sacs, sitting on either side of the anus, at roughly the 4 and 8 o'clock positions. Their lining makes an oily, very strong-smelling fluid. Normally, they empty on their own when your dog passes stool: a firm, well-formed stool presses on the sacs and squeezes the fluid out. Cats have the same sacs, emptied the same way.
That fluid is thought to act as a scent 'calling card,' a way for dogs to recognize one another and mark their passing: it is likely why they sniff each other's rear ends.
They empty on their own
In most dogs, the sacs empty naturally with every firm stool. Many dogs never need them expressed in their whole life.
A very strong smell
The fluid smells fishy, sometimes skunky. It is often that smell that owners notice first.
A stress release is normal
A frightened or very excited dog, or cat, can release the sac contents all at once: it is an involuntary reflex, not a disease.
Healthy glands: leave them alone
This is the single most important point of this guide. In a dog with no symptoms, the glands empty on their own and many dogs never need them touched. Expressing healthy glands 'just in case' does not help: unnecessary or repeated squeezing can actually irritate the sacs and set up a cycle where they seem to need emptying more and more often. We only step in when there are signs.
Common, and rarely serious
Anal gland problems are common: about one dog in twenty-three is seen for this every year. In the vast majority of cases, a simple expression by the veterinary team settles it, and surgery involves fewer than one percent of dogs. 'Common' does not mean 'harmless,' though: it is often uncomfortable, sometimes infected, and it is worth a visit.
Spotting a problem
When the sacs do not empty well, they get uncomfortable. Here are the signs that should catch your eye.
- Scooting: your dog sits and drags its bottom across the floor to get relief.
- Repeated licking or nibbling of the anal area or the base of the tail.
- A strong, fishy smell that lingers.
- Discomfort or pain when passing stool, or a dog that keeps turning to look at its rear.
- A discharge, or smelly stains where your dog has been lying.
Scooting doesn't always mean 'anal glands'
Scooting is the most common sign of a gland problem, but not the only one. It can also come from tapeworm (its segments look like grains of rice around the anus), a skin allergy, soiled or matted fur, or, more rarely, another condition. That is exactly why we do not just 'express the glands' ourselves: if the real problem is elsewhere, we miss it. A dog that scoots deserves an exam.
When to see the vet, and how fast
Most gland problems are handled with a regular appointment. A few signs, though, call for a same-day visit.
Book an appointment
Book a visit if your dog repeatedly scoots or licks its rear, gives off an abnormal smell, or if the problem comes back after being fixed. Treating it early keeps a simple discomfort from turning into an infection.
See us the same day
These signs point to an infection or an abscess:
- a red, hot, painful swelling on one side of the anus;
- blood or pus, especially draining from a small hole in the skin (an abscess that has burst);
- a dog that cries, growls, or refuses to have its tail or rear touched;
- pain or marked straining to pass stool;
- a dog that is flat, off its food, or seems feverish.
A burst abscess brings relief for a moment, but the wound still needs to be cleaned and treated without delay. And never squeeze a swollen or painful area to try to express it yourself: an infected sac is fragile and can rupture.
Cat straining in the litter box? Don't wait
A life-or-death point, specific to cats: a cat straining in the litter box with nothing coming out looks like a constipated cat, but it is often a sign that its urethra is blocked. That is a true emergency, especially in males: without care, life is at risk in under 24 to 48 hours. If a cat is straining, crying, or constantly licking its rear, don't count the hours: have it seen right away.
A firm lump near the anus: get it checked
Any firm mass or lump near the anus should be shown to the vet promptly, especially in an older dog: some anal gland tumors mimic a simple gland problem, and you cannot tell them apart by sight or touch. One indirect sign worth knowing: drinking and urinating noticeably more than usual. It is rare, far rarer than a simple impaction, but early evaluation changes everything. In a neutered dog or a female, a lump in that area deserves even more attention.
What the vet can do
Depending on the situation, your vet has several options, from the simplest step to the last resort.
- Empty the sacs from the insideThe vet empties the glands internally, with a gloved, lubricated finger inside the rectum. This method empties them more completely and, above all, lets the vet feel each sac for thickening, pain, or a mass. A firm sac that cannot be emptied is a warning sign.
- Treat an infection or abscessIf the sac is infected or abscessed, the care (cleaning, drainage, medication) is done at the clinic, sometimes under sedation because it is so painful. Warm compresses at home may be part of aftercare, but only if the vet has examined the area and recommended them: warm water, never hot, tested on the inside of your own wrist.
- Look for the cause of recurrencesIf the problem keeps coming back, the vet looks for why, a skin allergy for instance, instead of simply re-expressing. They may also set a re-expression schedule tailored to your dog: that schedule is theirs to decide, there is no universal calendar.
- Surgery, as a last resortWhen the disease keeps relapsing despite proper treatment, or in the case of a tumor, the sacs can be removed (a sacculectomy). This really is a last resort: in the weeks that follow, soft stools or reduced control are common and almost always settle; permanent incontinence is rare but possible. Your vet will weigh the pros and cons with you.
Should you express the glands yourself?
This is the question we get asked most. The short answer: rarely, and never on your own initiative.
This is the vet's job
In a dog that is doing fine, there is nothing to do: the glands empty on their own, and squeezing healthy glands 'just in case' can irritate them and make things worse over time. And when there are signs, squeezing blindly is risky: you can be wrong about the problem (scooting has other causes), traumatize inflamed tissue, or burst an infected sac without knowing it.
If your vet has shown you how
Some dogs do have genuinely recurring problems. In that case, and only then, your vet can confirm the need, show you the technique in person for your dog, and ask you to repeat it at home. Follow their method exactly, and stop right away if nothing comes easily, if you see blood, or if your dog is in pain. The external squeeze done at home is still less complete than the vet's internal expression.
What about the groomer?
Ask your groomer not to express the glands 'by default' at every visit. In a dog with no symptoms it is unnecessary, and repeated needless expression can irritate the sacs. A grooming visit is also no substitute for an exam: if your dog has signs, it is the veterinary team that should assess it.
Can you prevent gland problems?
There is no guaranteed recipe, and the science on this is still limited. But a few habits, presented honestly, can help some dogs.
- Firm, well-formed stools. A slightly higher-fibre diet can produce firmer stools that press on the sacs and help them empty on their own. It is often recommended and may help, without being a guarantee: talk to your vet before changing the food, and don't let a diet change delay a visit.
- A healthy weight. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is good for everything and is among the usual advice. Note, though, that the link between excess weight and anal glands is not proven: treat it as a good general habit, not a cure.
- Treating an underlying skin allergy. This is the most useful lever, and the one most often overlooked: dogs whose gland problems keep coming back often have a skin allergy. Treating the glands alone is then not enough. If it recurs, ask your vet to look for an allergy.
- Parasites and fleas under control. Intestinal parasites can cause the soft stools that keep the sacs from emptying, and flea control protects the skin around the rear.
- A little grooming attention. In long-haired dogs, keeping the area clean and mat-free limits buildup of debris, without 'expressing' the glands.
Be wary of 'anal gland' products
Treats and supplements sold for 'gland health' or against scooting are heavily marketed but weakly proven. Their active ingredient often comes down to fibre, the same thing a vet-guided diet tweak provides, without buying a branded product.
Your questions, our answers
What owners ask us most often about anal glands.
My dog is scooting. Should I just get its glands expressed?
Should I have the glands expressed routinely, or at every grooming visit?
Can I express the glands myself at home?
Why does my dog suddenly smell fishy?
Are small breeds more affected?
Could it be cancer?
Related guides
Understand, watch, get seen
In most dogs, the anal glands empty on their own: when all is well, the best move is to leave them alone. Instead, watch for the signs (scooting, licking, a strong smell, discomfort passing stool) and see the vet promptly for a painful swelling, blood, or pus. And remember: in a cat, straining in the litter box is not a gland problem, but possibly a urinary emergency. When in doubt, a call beats worrying.
Unsure about your pet's glands?
Persistent scooting, an odd smell, swelling, or discomfort: our team assesses your pet and, if needed, shows you the right thing to do.