Problem Anal Glands

What are Anal Glands?

Your dog's or cat's anal glands are two small pouches or sacs situated at the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock position around the anal opening. Humans do not have any equivalent structures, fortunately!

The anal glands produce a strong smelling runny toothpaste like secretion which is deposited when the pet defaecates. The function is thought to be a scent marking device to map out territories although in the modern urban environment, they are redundant.

They are, unfortunately, a common cause of problems in our pets particularly in dogs.

Bottom rubbing: Dogs and cats who rub their bottoms do not do so because of worms as is often thought. In most cases the anal glands are either infected or simply gummed up.

Bottom Licking: as above.

Anal gland abscess: This is a very painful problem characterised by a painful swelling to one side of the anus. The skin can appear red or bruised in the fair skinned, short haired breeds and if left, a discharging sinus leaking pus is seen at the 4 o'clock or 8 o'clock position. If your pet presents with this condition, he or she needs treatment the same day.

Anal Gland Tumours: These are fortunately not particularly common and are seen as a swelling in the anal gland area often without discomfort. These should be dealt with promptly to give the best chance of a cure.

Treatment for anal glands breaks down into four stages.

1) Manual emptying: This is often all that is required to relieve the pet who simply has blocked glands and a build up of secretions. In very small or young dogs and in cats the anus is gently squeezed to cause the glands to squirt out their contents. In most dogs, however, emptying is best accomplished by introducing a finger into the back passage (rectum) and squeezing the gland down onto this finger. The material squeezed out gives an important clue to the nature of the problem. Dry toothpaste like material or a simple overabundance of normal secretion tends to suggest blockage, whereas foul smelling liquid or frank pus suggests infection.

2) Manual emptying plus antibiotics: Where an infection is suspected, we shall prescribe your pet antibiotics to bring the anal glands back to normal. This is particularly important in the abscess situation where the painful nature of the condition often necessitates painkillers also.

3) Flushing and ointments: Where manual emptying and antibiotics have failed, the next stage is to empty the glands and flush them out with iodine solution and then to pack them with a special ointment. In most cases this is done under anaesthetic so that the patient is properly relaxed (allowing the glands to be filled properly) and not frightened by our interference.

4) Removal of the glands: This is the final action where use of the above methods have failed to give freedom from problems. In many dogs who suffer from long standing blocked glands, removal of the glands not only stops recurrence of the problem but spares you repeated visits to us.

It is a full surgical procedure conducted in our operating theatre but is more of a fiddly job rather than major surgery.

The patient is anaesthetised and the anal glands are emptied and flushed with iodine prior to the clipping of a small area of fur around the bottom. Two incisions are made like the hands of a clock reading twenty past eight and this allows the glands to be dissected out. The wounds are sutured with dissolving sutures tied "inside out" so that the knots are hidden from any post operative licking or rubbing and do not have to be removed at the normal ten days. Most cases go home the same day but with antibiotics and painkillers, as there is no doubt that the bottom is a sensitive area.

Some dogs have difficulty passing faeces for a few days post operatively as they find it difficult to "nip off lengths of the faecal sausage" with their bottoms being a bit tender and numb. However this resolves after a few days and normal behaviour returns. It is extremely rare to have long term faecal incontinence, but such a complication is cited in veterinary literature.

We make a check on the pet after seven days and in the vast majority of cases, that is the job finished. Anal irritation and rubbing usually subsides to a very low level within the first month post operatively.

Cats are fortunately less bothered with anal gland problems and are mainly subject to recurrent blockage when problems occur. Surgery to remove the sacs is technically easier in the cat and we would certainly recommend this if your cat has recurrent bouts of trouble as the cat tends to lick the anus with their rasp like tongue leading to some severely sore bottoms in our feline patients.

There is no doubt that the smaller breeds of dogs fed on mainly soft rations are most commonly presented for anal gland problems. These dogs often pass relatively soft faeces and the glands are not squeezed by the passage of these soft motions. Changing the diet to promote a compact stool, can reduce the incidence of problems in these dogs. Dogs fed on high quality dry foods such as Eukanuba and Hill Science Plan do tend to have more regular bowel habits, passing a small but firm motion which facilitates the passive emptying of the glands as it passes through the anus.

Please ask us if you would like to try a free sample of these foods when you next visit us.

Back to top