Canine Medical Information and Anal Glands
Dogs provide humans with love, companionship, protection--and the occasional "ewwww" moment. If your dog is scooting along on his bottom or licking constantly under his tail, chances are he's got impacted anal glands.
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Identification
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Anal glands, or anal sacs, are two glands located just inside the dog's anus. There's one on each side; if you imagine a clock face on your dog's bottom, the glands would be at approximately the four and eight o'clock positions.
Purpose
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The glands produce a smelly brown fluid that your dog uses like a business card. Every time she defecates, a little bit of the fluid is excreted, leaving a short "biography" for the next dog that comes along. Dogs communicate volumes through scent; this is one of the reasons that their "hello" often involves sniffing each other's tails. Each dog produces a scent that is uniquely her own.
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Potential Problems
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Problems can occur if these glands become impacted, or full of material. Due to either a diet that doesn't produce the proper quantity or quality of stool, genetic predisposition, too-thick secretions or physical build, the glands can become too full and need emptying. They can also become infected due to bacterial invasion. Your dog may scoot along the ground dragging his bottom, or may lick constantly at the area.
Solution
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If a dog's anal glands have become impacted, they must be emptied. This can be done by pressing on the glands one at a time, starting at the bottom and squeezing upward. Hold a rag or cloth to the dog's anus to catch the fluid, and be warned: It smells horrible. Wearing gloves would be a good idea. Many groomers offer this service as part of the grooming process, and it makes sense to do it before bath time, to help get rid of the offensive odor.
Other Issues
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Anal glands that seem to get impacted frequently, or that abscess, will need to be taken care of medically. As with all matters concerning your dog's health, your veterinarian is your best resource.
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