dogs&cats&more

The anal glands are actual glands that are located inside and just to the lower sides of the rectum. They naturally fill up with a foul smelling fishy discharge but in normal cases, they express themselves each time a dog defecates, and they can rarely be smelt then. However, small dogs in particular but any kind of dog can have a problem once in a while where the glands start to fill up and are not expressing as often as they should. This becomes itchy and is often noticed by owners when the dog “scoots” or drags their behind along the floor to help them feel better (and sometimes this expresses them too!) And in some cases, the glands fill up so much they cannot express themselves, can even become infected, and you may smell this foul odorous fishy substance then.

Your vet or groomer should be able to express the anal glands for your dog to give her some relief. This may occur once in a while and she may need this bit of help to feel more comfortable. It isn’t uncommon for the anal gland expressing to cause some irritation in itself, especially if they are very full, so the itchiness may continue for a couple of days afterwards, but will go back to normal.

Cats can also need their anal glands expressed on occassion, especially overweight cats who cannot properly reach their back ends.

Never ignores signs of itchiness in your pet.

Christine, LVT

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