Dogs were born to use their nose and use their incredible sense of smell to understand the environment around them. You’ll often see dogs sniffing each other’s bottoms and that’s because a dog’s anal glands produce an unpleasant, oily liquid used for identification and territory marking.
It’s not a particularly nice subject to talk about, but it’s important to keep an eye on your dog and know what the symptoms are of blocked anal glands. Blocked anal glands can cause a lot of discomfort for your dog, not to mention a costly fee for you. This article will help you spot the symptoms of blocked anal glands, what the treatment involves and how to stop it happening again.
If a dog hasn’t emptied their bowel properly or after a few days of passing soft stools, their anal glands tend to fill up. The pressure of firm stools helps release liquid from the glands. So, a sure-fire way of telling if your dog’s anal glands are full is by checking their poo. There are also certain signs and symptoms to look out for alongside this.
Blocked anal glands are very uncomfortable and unpleasant for dogs. Ever seen your dog dragging or scooting their bottoms along the ground? It’s one of the most common signs that your dog may have blocked anal glands and you should arrange to see your local vet.
Here are some other symptoms to look out for:
A vet or vet nurse treats this by squeezing the anal glands to release the liquid. As much as you want to relieve the pain for your canine companion, it’s important this is done by a qualified person. You could cause more pain or an injury if you try to do it yourself.
Your dog may require regular treatment if it keeps happening. And if their anal glands become infected, they may need a course of antibiotics.
Severe cases may require anal gland infusion, flushing or even removal. It’s a good idea to discuss costs with your vet before starting any treatment.
In some cases, you may just need to change your dog’s diet to firm up their stools.
Yes, all dog breeds can develop blocked anal glands. Around 4% of dogs are affected by it each year. The risk of impacted anal glands is higher in older dogs and there are certain breeds that are more at risk than others. The Kennel Club have more information about this.
Make sure you review the clinical history of your new dog and ask for more details on how the condition has been treated. You’ll need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you’ve been made aware of the condition. Any dog who’s had treatment is likely to have pet insurance exclusions, so it’s worth discussing potential on-going costs with your vet.
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