How To Recognize and Treat Chronic Anal Gland Problems In Dogs

Have you ever seen dogs sniffing each other's bum? Well, I've seen it a couple of times and always thought it's kind of amusing until one day a veterinarian friend of mine explained that dogs do this as a way  greeting each other.

See, dogs have this anal glands and they express liquid in minute amount from it and apparently, it's a kind of calling card to get to know each other and hence, the typical friendly bum sniffing we see. It's the canine equivalent of a hand shake or formal introduction.

Cool !!

And these anal glands mind you, some pets have HUGE problems with it, while others have none. Most of you dog lovers know what they are, but here is a picture to help see better:

ANAL GLANDS

Anal glands are simply parts of your pet’s anatomy that lie just under the anus at 4 and 8 o’clock. The glands are designed to excrete a smelly fluid when your pet defecates. They give a particular scent to the stool. The glands can become blocked if your pet is not defecating regularly or there is only a small stool volume. The problem is most common in small dogs.

When a dog is not producing hard enough stools, the anal glands can become irritated and infected, and become engorged with fluid and bacteria. It doesn't have enough pressure to expel on its own

and this leads to infection and irritation on your poor doggie's bum.

SIGNS

Your pet will scoot across the floor or your new rugs rubbing its rear-end, excessive licking, chewing, or biting underneath the tail. It looks like it has a hard time to defecate, a sudden foul odor and frequently turning to look at the bum. The area around the anus can be seen swelling.

CAUSES

Traditionally, owners have attributed this to "worms". But many vet disagree. In most cases, the problem is caused by feeding the dog overly rich foods and table scraps.

Some cases are due to the pet being overweight or just genetically predisposed to the problem (toy poodles and miniature schnauzers fall into this group)

A few cases are due to intestinal parasites (hookworms or whipworms) which cause chronically loose stools which could not express out the anal sac contents normally.

Some practitioners believe that allergies play a large role. They lead to chronic inflammation and filled glands. The inflammation from allergies causes the gland ducts to enlarge and close over. Hence the glands FILL up and your pet has a problem.

SOLUTIONS

Treatment options will depend on how serious is the problem at the time of examination. If it seems serious or overwhelming for you, do consult your vet. But if you think you can handle it yourself, then by all means. It's not exactly fun, but it can help ease the problem.

• Put on a face mask and latex exam gloves.
• Place your pet in the bathtub and apply lukewarm water to clean his bottom.
• Lift your pet’s tail. The glands lie at 4 and 8 o’clock.
• Squeeze your thumb and forefinger together on the right side of the anus (4 o’clock) and the left side (8 o’clock). Apply moderate pressure. This will relieve the pressure and pain.
• If nothing comes out, adjust your angle and repeat. A brownish foul-smelling fluid should come out.
• When you're done, infuse the anal glands with antibiotic ointment.

Note: If this is very painful for your pet, take him to your veterinarian.

For post-treatment, you may use antihistamines- both natural and conventional. Benadryl can also be used for big flare ups of your pet's skin, dosing him at .5mg per lb ( I give 50lb Jessie 25mg of Benadryl at night). Do it twice a day if needed.

Vitamin C which also has some antihistamine qualities is also suggested. The Vitamin C dose is 100mg per 10lbs twice daily.

Essential Fatty Acid supplements. IF your dog has allergies, he needs to be on these. Use supplement which contains EFA’s. The omega 3 dose suggested is 1000 mg per 10lbs daily. This is equivalent to giving 1 tablespoon of flax per 50lbs daily to your dog.

Probiotics are increasingly being used for dogs. These beneficial bacteria play a role in normalizing the overactive immune system. You won’t see an instant response, but you may see some marked overall improvement after using probiotics for 4 weeks.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Feed your dog a simple food that he is less likely to react to. A commercial diet of fish and sweet potato work very well, and with this there is less itching and licking. But every dog is different, so you have to try different foods; there is not just ONE right food.

The principle is to think simple, minimal ingredients, avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Try the new diet for 4 weeks.

Neutraceuticals* (simply means natural foods) are important in providing balanced diet and beneficial for maintaining the health of your pets long-term. It has a physiological benefits, provide protection against chronic disease and may assist your pets to live longer life.

(Neutraceuticals are products that ranges from Essential Fatty Acids, Probiotics, and even Colostrum. And also from isolated nutrients, specific diets, cereals, soups, and beverages)

Find out more about home treatment for pets here:

The Veterinary Secrets: Treat Your Pets At home