Many domestic dogs, and on rare occasions, cats, will experience irritation and discomfort within their anal sacs found under the tail. Here, we will explain what anal glands are and how they can cause problems for your pet. We will also look at the symptoms of full anal glands and also how your veterinarian can help with various solutions to this annoying problem.

Dogs and cats both have anal glands anatomically positioned on either side of the anus, just below the skin and wedged inside the anal sphincter muscle that surrounds the anal opening. These glands, sometimes called anal sacs, produce a thick brown liquid, with a very foul odor. These sacs express their contents onto the feces onto each bowel movement when functioning properly. This secretion on the feces is believed to serve as a means of marking territory in wild canines and felines, such as wolves, jackals, coyotes fox, tigers, etc. Domesticated dogs and cats will commonly use urine and feces to scent mark territory, instead. This is why a pet dog or cat will often sniff another dog's feces, and then urinate or defecate on top of it.

Occasionally, the small ducts that drain the anal sacs become clogged with this thick secretion. When this occurs, the anal gland becomes swollen with trapped liquid and painful. Dogs and cats will attempt to relieve the discomfort by scooting their rear quarters across the ground or by biting and chewing at that area. The intent is to release the trapped liquid. Scooting has often been misinterpreted to mean a dog has worms. Though this may be true in some rare cases of tapeworms or pinworms, it is most usually due to full anal glands. In Southern California, one major alternative diagnosis is skin allergies because dogs and cats alike release large amounts of histamines from the tender skin under the tail and anus. If these symptoms occur, especially if they have persisted for several days, it is important to seek medical assistance for your pet at SOVG.

Your veterinarian or the trained veterinary staff will be able to assist your pet in releasing the accumulated pressure in these glands. This is a learned technique, takes time to perfect and should not be attempted by pet owners without experience. Especially in cats. They do not appreciate rough and clumsy squeezing of a tender behind. The technique most often performed through a quick procedure of gently squeezing the gland while performing an internal rectal digital exam. Your groomer may also be trained to perform an anal gland expression and may do this routinely during your pet's grooming. However, doing this when no problem exists is potentially harmful due to recurrent bruising and scar tissue formation that can eventually interfere with anal gland anatomy.

Your veterinarian will assess your pet's condition to determine if any other treatment is necessary, such as antibiotics for an infection or biopsy for analysis of any irregular lumps and bumps. Occasionally, anal glands become infected and will need much moreaggressive treatment which sometimes includes a surgical procedure to clear up any infections. Even less often, but of critical importance, anal gland tumors can occur in dogs, unlike cats. Blood tests can be used to help confirm suspicions in most dog cases.

Though no one understands why some dogs are more effected than others, early attention to symptoms will certainly eliminate some of the more serious complications, such as infection. Those pets that suffer from chronic problems (more than 3-4 times per year) with their anal glands may benefit from an elective surgery that removes both anal glands. This delicate operation is not for every dog, but your veterinarian can help you decide if your dog may be a good candidate for this procedure. Adding Quaker Instant® oatmeal can bulk up a pet’s stool and correct around 90% of the chronic cases by adding more squeeze power to each stool and forcing the liquid out under increased pressure during defecation. Using 1-2 ounces for 10-20 pound dogs/cats and 3-8 ounces for 30- 100 pound dogs once daily is effective. Mixing the oatmeal with hot water, or even better yet, soup broth, makes it meaty and super appealing for your pet at breakfast each day.