Anal Gland Problems

Visitor Question

My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is constantly lowering his bottom to the floor and then sniffing where he has been. He has scooted a few times but not a lot, and he is licking the area both on the floor and himself.

Could his anal glands need emptying, or could it be due to the fact he has a bad back and has been on pain killers? We've also been checking his temperature.

~~Claire

Expert Reply

Hi Claire,

I suspect his anal glands may be either impacted, infected or both. How are his stools? Sometimes pain killers can cause constipation, but judging by his behavior I'm betting it's the anal glands.

I'm not sure why you've been monitoring his temperature, but until you have your vet check his rear, I'd stop unless it's absolutely necessary.

~~Kelly

Thank you for your reply.

I will visit the grooming lady to see if the glands are impacted, or do you think it would be better to contact our vet? In answer to your question about the temperature taking, the vet has been doing it.

~~ Claire

Reply

Many groomers are capable of expressing the anal glands under normal circumstances. This presents no problem when the glands are healthy, and falls under the heading of routine maintenance. If there's an infection or abcess present, there could be complications during the procedure that your groomer may not be qualified to handle.

Since your dog is already under veterinary care, I'd recommend having your vet take a look this time. If they are infected, your vet may want to follow up with an antibiotic, something your groomer cannot provide or prescribe.

~~Kelly

My Bichon Frise has been licking her bottom a lot lately, but she never scoots. Today, I came home from work to find her licking even more vigorously.

When I examined her, I found that she had a small rupture on one side. The skin edges are quite red and the area has some brown and white discharge. This did happen to her one other time about 11 months ago. Will this heal on its own, or does she need to see the vet?

~~ Dorothy

Expert Reply

Hi Dorothy,

I'm not a vet, but it does sound to me like your dog has an anal gland abscess. I think you should take her to your vet and get an antibiotic to help clear the infection. If you don't, the abscess will likely close up, and the bacteria still trapped inside will continue to build into another abscess.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is feeling better soon.

~~ Kelly

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