LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Hi Dawn,

Try bathing your dog's rear end. There may be some anal fluid still draining if it was a big back up. If that doesn't help, you should give your vet another call. The vet should have been able to tell if your dog had an anal gland infection, but maybe he/she missed something.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I just got home from taking my Dog to his vet , he had a foul odor for over a month and I couldn't figure out what it was , well , the vet gave him an anal cleansing, she said he had a lot of fluid backed up , we have been home now for 3 hrs , but he still has that odor to him , is this Normal ?

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi Anh.

Did the babysitter feed your dog the same type of food? If not, the food your dog received my have caused softer stools that don't help the glands express much when your dog has a bowel movement. The build up of glandular fluid in a warm enclosed space creates ideal conditions for bacteria to flourish and form an infection.

I'd recommend that you make sure your dog receives the same diet you always feed when he's at the sitter's. That should go a long way toward preventing a recurrence after the current infection is defeated. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog got anal gland infection after I sent her to babysit with 2 other dogs. What caused my dog that? What should I prevent for my dog before I send her to babysit? Thanks.

-- Contributed by: anh

Hi Andria,

I would recommend switching to a premium dog food that doesn't use cheap fillers and a lot of grains. A food that is highly digestible usually produces firmer stools. If you're already feeding a premium brand, you might want to try adding a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's daily dinner. Pumpkin is high in insoluable fiber, and it helps firm the stools which in turn helps the anal glands express more efficiently when the stools are passed.

Hopefully this round of antibiotics will completely eliminate the infection so it doesn't rebound once the course of medication is finished, but that's something you'll want to watch for.

We have have a number of dog food articles in our Dog Supplies category, but you might want to take a specific look at our article on Orijen Dog Food.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has had this problem twice within 30 days. Now that we know what it is we think he has had this problem before. The liquid seems very thick like peanut butter. The vet is now prescribing antibiotics for our pet. What food would you suggest for his diet? Max is a 14lb. shih tzu.

-- Contributed by: Andria

Hi Donald,

I'm going to recommend a trip to the vet to address this problem. Odor issues are often a sign that the glands are either working improperly or they are infected. Your vet will examine the glands and likely express them. He or she will analyze the condition of the secretions and try to identify any abnormalities. It's also likely the vet will recommend a change in diet if the glands aren't secreting properly when your dog defecates. Hopefully, all of this should eliminate the problem, but you may have to follow up with occasional appointments for expressions.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the vet is able to help.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have 2 black labs,1 male ,1 female. The female releases this horrible odor from her anal glands almost daily. whatever she is near has to be laundered right away. what can be done with this problem? Please help

-- Contributed by: donald

Hi Joan, and welcome to the site.

It definitely sounds as though your dog is experiencing some irritation around her glands. It would be best to make an appointment with your vet to have the glands examined and expressed. Your vet will make sure whether or not the glands are infected and will prescribe an antibiotic for your dog if they are. This is the quickest way to resolve the problem and help your dog feel better.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my littlr Dachshund bites at her rectum often, and smells

-- Contributed by: Joan

Hi Marion,

Surgery should never be the first option when dealing with anal gland problems, especially when the glands are only being expressed twice a year.

First, you might want to consider going to a different vet the next time your dog needs expressing. At the appointment, specifically ask your vet if the glands appear to be infected. If they are, an antibiotic may be useful to clear the infection away. This alone might resolve the problem if there's just a simple infection involved.

Second, your dog's diet may also be part of the problem. A diet that is higher in fiber usually produces firmer stools that help evacuate the gland secretions when your dog defecates. If your dog's stools are currently soft, you can either change to a higher grade dog food or try adding a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin to his daily dinner. Pumpkin is high in insoluable fiber and is a very good stool firmer.

Giving both of these options a try is preferable to resorting to an irreversible surgery as an immediate option. I hope you find these suggestions useful, but if your dog continues to have anal gland problems after that, it may then be time to consider the surgery.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 18-month-old Catahoula has been to the vet twice for this issue. The symptoms are simply excessive licking and obvious sudden discomfort causing him to reach for his rear. The vet depresses the glands & said if he has to do this more than twice a year, I may have to have the glands removed. He has not given me any other options, medicine or suggestions otherwise. My dog was in very much discomfort the last time my vet expressed his glands.

-- Contributed by: Marion

Hi Cheri,

I don't believe that the gland is ruptured, but it could be infected and this might cause a thickening of the gland contents to a pasty texture. This would make it more difficult to express the gland. Under the cir...stances, I think it would be best to ask your vet to express the gland for you. It is possible to damage the gland during expression, especially in a situation like this, so let your vet be the one to do it. If the gland is infected, your dog will likely need an antibiotic to help clear it.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Can these sort of things happen if your dog isn't defecating enough? Strange question perhaps but my dog will only go once a day and I just noticed the same discharge noted in other comments.

-- Contributed by: Kevin

i cleaned one side of my dogs anal gland and the other side feels like a ball everytime I squeese it, it moves around, and I cant get it. Does this meen its ruptured?

-- Contributed by: cheri

Hi Tricia,

When the normal anal gland secretions become pasty, it's usually a sign they have become infected. My best advice would be to let your vet finish the job and possibly administer an antibiotic to prevent the infection from regrouping.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Last night I expressed my dogs anal gland it felt swollen and hard. But a dark brown paste came out alot. This morning I look at the area and it is a little pink and still little swollen. Is this normal? Should I try ist again.

-- Contributed by: Tricia

Hi Janie,

Thickened secretions are usually a by-product of an infection. I think you should ask your vet directly to clarify the term "cell change" for you. Some vets use this term to describe a pre-cancerous condition, but that doesn't mean this is what your vet meant. And yes, the glands can be surgically removed if they are causing a chronic problem.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything works out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Our 6 year old Peckipoo had an abscess anal glad about a month ago. The vet. pack the area and put her on antibiotics. Two weeks later her anal glands were filled up again. When we took her to the vet (we saw one of the other verts) her cleaned the area out and put her on antibiotics again. He told us that the stuff coming out was thicker and that it is usually more fluidy. He wondered if there could be a cell change occuring. What did he mean by that? He also mentioned that if this keeps occuring we might want to have the sacs removed. HE said that the surgery is a lot easier than it used to be. Please tell me what you think he meant by cell change and what your opinion would be one having the sacs removed.

-- Contributed by: Janie

Hi Stacey,

At just 12 weeks old, I'd suspect a case of worms, rather than anal gland problems at this point. I suggest you take in a stool sample to your vet for analysis. Most cases of worms are very easy to get rid of.

Thanks for your question, and congratulations on your new puppy!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Regina,

Check out our article on Dog Anal Glands for tips on how to express the glands yourself.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I just purchased a new puppy today. She is a toy/teacup chihuahua that is 3 months old and only weighs 1.75 pounds. The breeder told me to feed her 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of yogurt twice daily until she reaches 16 weeks old to prevent low blood sugar (a condition she says is common of young toy breeds). I gave her the yogurt as instructed, and at her feeding time I gave her 1/4 small can of soft dogfood. She ate both, but after eating the dogfood she began dragging her bottom across the room several times over and over. After about 15 minutes she vomitted up the dogfood. Could she have a problem with her anal glands, and is this a common problem among toy/teacup breeds?

-- Contributed by: Stacey

Several weeks ago, my dog began emitting a horrendous odor from her bottom. It came on rather suddenly as a faint foul scent and as the week progressed the smell was so bad it caused me to gag repeatedly. We brought her to the Vet, and her anal glands were expressed. Quite a bit of discharge was relieved. The course of antibiotics has been completed and the scent did go away. But now, it has been about 3 weeks since she finished the medication and we are beginning to notice the odor returning. She does not lick, nor does she scoot. Her anal area looks normal to me. No redness, swelling or noteable discharge. Her stools have not changed...moderate in size, brown, semi-hard...healthy looking. If not for the odor, we would not know anything was even wrong. We have had this dog for 4 yrs, she is an eight year old, 78 pound coonhound. Is this a relapse of her condition last month? I cannot afford bringing her to the Vet on a monthly basis to have her glands expressed. I am uncomfortable doing this myself. It is disgusting!! Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: regina

Hi Sommer,

Yes, you can express your dog's anal glands at home. You'll find directions in our article Dog Anal Glands. Since your vet chose to go with antibiotics first without expressing the glands while the dog was there, you should call him first to find out if it would be alright to do so now. The vet may have suspected an abscess was about to burst, and was trying to be cautious about it.

You might also want to try adding a couple tablespoons of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's daily dinner. Pumpkin is high in insoluable fiber, so it firms the stools and helps the glands express properly when your dog defecates. This may keep the anal secretions to a minimum, and hopefully help the entire situation.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 3 year old labrador mix has been having a problem with a yellow colored liquid coming from the anal area. This liquid has a very foul smell and she doesn't seem to like it any less than I do. She does not act physically uncomfortable, but I know this is not normal. I have taken her to the vet with concern for this issue and they took a very precautious step and prescribed antibiotics. I can't say that I have noticed any real difference in her. I have had her anal glands squeezed on several occasions and within a few weeks to months the problem reappears. I would like to be able to express her glands at home, so that I don't have to take her to the vet or a groomer every month for just this. This could become very expensive. I am wondering is this such a dangerous procedure that I should not do it at home and if they were to treat the glands for infection what type of treatment have you heard is most common. Also, are there any natural remedies?

-- Contributed by: Sommer

Hi Scott,

There is a lot of bacteria in the colon, so it's possible your dog developed an infection from that source. Sometimes it's helpful to add a little more fiber to a dog's diet to firm the stools and help the glands express properly when the dog defecates. You can easily do this by adding one or two spoonfuls of plain canned pupmkin to your dog's daily dinner.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find this suggestion is helpful to your situation. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Nicki,

I'd begin to address this problem by having your vet examine the glands to determine if there is an infection. This may be why they bother your dog so much. Once this has been sorted out, you may still need to break the urge for your dog to continue to lick the area obsessively. I would ask your vet if an Elizabethan collar would be useful in this incidence. Your dog would only have to wear it long enough to get his mind off of his behind.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find these suggestions useful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi there. I have a 7 year old chocolate lab, neutered male. He is my life !! Recently, he was "leaking" and off to the vet we went. He has an infection in his left anal gland, and with an antibiotic he is on his way to being back to normal. My question is....what would have caused this, and how could I prevent this from happening again ? Any suggestions and/or help would be appreciated. THANKS !

-- Contributed by: Scott

My dog licks his behind quite a bit. It seems like he is expressing his glands when he does this because you can smell it afterward. We have expressed his anal glands, but it doesn't seem to help. There doesn't seem to be any swelling or pain. I would really like to stop this behavior.

-- Contributed by: Nicki

Hi Patty,

Although I think it would be best to have your vet do the expression this time as part of an anal gland health exam, you will find directions on how to express the glands yourself in our article Dog Anal Glands. I hope you find them helpful, and thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, my Yorki (8 yrs old) seems to be in love with his rear end. She constantly licks, chews, etc. The last couple of days, he seems very agitated. She will sit on his rear for a minute and jump up, run around and cleans herself again. Today, she started to trimble alot. I have never expressed her anal glands because I have no idea how and when! Please advise. Do I need to take her to the Vet?

-- Contributed by: Patty Goossen

Hi Jaya,

We have a related article that explains how to express the glands yourself, although I always think this is better left to the vet. Check out Dog Anal Glands. I have always preferred to allow the glands to work on their own as much as possible, rather than going with routine expressions. Sometimes it's helpful to add more fiber to your dog's diet to firm the stools. This helps the glands to express properly when your dog defecates. You can easily increase your dog's fiber intake by adding one or two tablespoons of plain canned pumpkin to her daily dinner. Most dogs love the taste.

Thanks for your question, and I hope these suggestions are helpful.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Lisa,

The coloring of your dog's skin in those areas seems a bit unusual. Most dogs' bottoms and bellies are a light flesh tone, although you may see some freckles. I think this would be worth asking your vet to take a look at during your dog's next scheduled exam. If you don't have one approaching soon, go ahead and make an appointment now. Skin diseases are easier to treat at the onset than they are once they have firmly taken hold. This could turn out to be nothing, bit I think you'd feel better if you knew for certain.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, Thanks for such comprehensive information. I recently change groomers as I moved away. The new groomer does not express anal glands!! Twice I have picked up my beloved 9 year old Maltese / Bichon Frize and been squirted with the most foul smelling stuff. Thinking it was urine I just didn't know what to do... then it twigged, Urine does not smell so bad ANAL GLANDS !!

She has been licking down there more and its redder so I grabbed a big wad of toilet paper and squeezed gently but firmly and voila, the same oily substance appeared!!

How often will I have to express?? And exactly the most efficient way to do this?? Thank you Jaya and Dax

-- Contributed by: Jaya

I have a 17 month old female spayed puggle, we have noticed lately that her anus is almost black and her belly is darker brown then usual, is this due to her just getting older, should the anus be almost black in color? Thank You Lisa

-- Contributed by: Lisa

I have an 8 yr old female Maltese. Seems she's done some scooting most of her life and I routinely have her groomer to express her glands whenever I have her groomed (every 3-5 weeks). Last month I took her to the vet for distemper shot and asked the vet to express her glands. I so happens that she had not been scooting but I noticed the glands were full. Since that time, she has been scooting and bumping on the floor/ground more than usual. The anus has been red and I've applied human antibiotic cream but didn't do much good. I took her to be groomed 2 days ago and told my groomer about it. She expressed her glands and told me later the color of the oil was somewhat yellowish instead of brown. She said to watch her for a day or two and if her irritation and scooting persist, she may be infected. It is MY opinion that the vet did something wrong (6-8 weeks ago), that caused this problem. Should I take her to the vet to check for infection or do you have any suggestions so that I can escape their "high" vet fees. Thanks so much for any advice. Sharon in Nixa MO

Hi Sharon,

I can't say whether anything the groomer did caused the infection, but I always think the expression is best left to the vet. If your dog's anal glands are infected, she'll need an antibiotic to clear it away. Unfortunately, there's no home remedy that I can recommend in this situation.

Thanks for your quesiton, and I hope your dog's problem clears up quickly.

-- Contributed by: sharon

Very informative.

-- Contributed by: Frida

My dog has been farting alot and it smells like a skunk. He emits the same smell when protecting the family or when he is scared. Is this his anal glands? He has only scooted a couple of times in the past year that I know of and he very seldomly licks his behind. What is your opinion? I have tried to express the glands and nothing is released.

Hi Gina,

The smell may involve the anal glands or it could be coming from his bowels. How are your dog's stools? If they are mushy and contain mucous, this would be further indication of a bowel infection.

Sometimes a less digestible dog food also leads to greater odor. I would evaluate the brand you're serving now and see if an upgrade is in order.

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to contact your vet if you need to.

-- Contributed by: Gina

Hi, I've been a mobile pet groomer for almost 3.5 years. Our company doesn't express anal glands as a rule. We don't have the medical training neccessary to diagnose and treat any health issues that may occur as a result of the process. When a customer requests the procedure, I explain that I feel it's best for them to have the vet do it in case of any complications. Yesterday, I told a customer she should take her 11 year old Poodle/Shih Tzu mix to her Vet for a bad cough. Today, while her vet was examining the dog, he told her that I should be expressing the anal glands and because I haven't been, that she should get another groomer! My customer (of 3 years) got upset and called my boss to see why I wasn't doing it. Am I being too cautious, is the risk of an unknown infection being present or an abcess occurring really so small? I'm really confused. Thanks!

Hi Lezlie,

Actually, I happen to agree with you and your company's policy. Although some groomers do provide this service, most only do it only upon specific request. If the glands are working properly, there's no need for expression at all. If there is a problem, it's really a medical issue, not a grooming issue. What happens if the gland is abscessessed and expression makes it burst? A groomer is not trained to handle a medical emergency of this nature.

I think the vet was wrong to implicate that you as a groomer should be the proper person to handle the anal gland problem, but that's just my opinion. I feel there should be a definite line between the vet's responsibilities and the groomer's, otherwise there might be a question of whether you're performing veterinary medicine without a license. I say, err on the side of caution and continue to direct customers to their vet for all anal gland issues.

Thank you for sharing your situation.

-- Contributed by: Lezlie

I have expressed my dog's anal glands every couple of weeks when it would start to smell but now that he has been neutered it seems we have to do it every couple of days. Is this normal? I don't mind expressing them but I am concerned that he may be is constant discomfort. Any ideas/suggestions? Thank you!

Hi Rose,

No, it definitely isn't normal to need to express the anal glands every few days. I can't say whether this is related to the spaying procedure, but I do think it's worth asking your vet about. There's a chance that one or both glands may have become infected and need treatment.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: rose

Hi,

I have been concidering taking my dog to the vet as she has been leaving behind little drops of light colored blood with her glan secretions. It smells really bad too. In the past I noticed as well large pools of, what I thought at the time was pee but now realise was anal glan secreations, this has not happended in a while but I do notice her licking at her behind and a foul smell will overcome the room. I would have to say her stoll is perfect, never runny or soft, could it be possible it is to hard? and should I get her to a vet asap? These little drops of blood have been going on for about 3 months I would say and after research I understand what it is as she has been fixed.

Hi Amy,

Yes, definitely ask your vet to examine your dog's anal glands. It sounds as though they are infected, and possibly abscessed. The abscess can heal over, refill and burst again, so it's important to get treatment and stop the cycle.

Best wishes for your dog's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Amy

my 1 1/2 yr. old poodle got up this morning and kept licking his anal area to the point of soaking it.. He just couldn't stop.. I tried to put a cold compress on him,which helped a little.. Now he just wants to be held... Should I make a appointment with his vet tomorrow or should I call today "Sunday" .. He seems calm now. Thank you for your time Bonnie

Hi Bonnie, it definitely sounds like your dog has anal gland irritation, but it doesn't sound severe enough to warrant an emergency vet trip. You're doing well with the cold compress, so unless you see any signs of an abscess, I think it's safe to wait until Monday. However, do be sure to let your vet know what's going on.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Bonnie

I know all about the anal gland and how smelly it is, but nothing seems to take the smell off my dog, do you have any suggestions on what to use?

Hi Tracey,

You can thoroughly shampoo your dog's rear, but if there is a problem with the anal glands you'll still get that smell. I suggest you ask your vet to examine your dog glands to see if they need to be expressed. Your vet will also be able to tell if they are infected and if this is contributing to the order you have noticed.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Tracey

I have a nine-month old goldendoodle. Occasionally, when he gets up from laying or sitting in a certain spot, there will be a small spot of a horrible smelling stain. And then he smells too. Is this abnormal or something I should be worried about?

It sounds like your dog's gland are overly full. This is one of those rare occasions where I recommend asking your vet to express them. You may also want to increase your dogs fiber intake by adding a spoonful or two of plain canned pumpkin to your dog's dinner each night. This should help firm the stools a bit so the anal gland express properly as the stool passes through.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Doodle Mom

My 6 month old lab got tangled in the fan cord and took off running in the house, expelling this horrible odor. I later saw where he had sprayed down my hall on the tile floor and on my bedroom carpet. How do I get rid of this odor from my house?

Expert Reply

Hi Sherry,

What you need is an enzymatic cleaner that will literally feed on the bacteria contained in your dog's secretions.

I've always had very good luck with a product called Outright. You basically mix it in a 50/50 solution with warm water and then soak and scrub the soiled areas. In the case of your carpet, you'll want to make sure you soak it right down to the pad to make sure you get every last bit of the trapped bacteria. This should take care of the problem, and you can find this product at most pet supply stores.

If it doesn't, you can try a steam cleaner filled with a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar.

Hopefully one of these suggestions will do the trick and leave your home smelling fresh again.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Sherry

Our Aussie is six months old, and the foul odor has been secreting from his rectum for the past several months.Sometimes more often than other times.Will it get worse or better as he gets older?

Expert Reply

Hi Aussiepup,

Your puppy's anal gland problem will likely get worse if it is left untreated. I think it would be a good idea to let your vet take a look at it. In some cases, surgical removal of the glands eliminates the problem entirely. The good news is that dogs have limited use left for these glands, so they can get along without them.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: aussiepup

my dog came home from hunting with a red and swollen anus. there is a large bump at the top of his anus not the bottom and then a long "line" that sort of looks like a worm at the bottom. what is up?

Expert Reply

Hi Tiffany,

There could be several things goin on here. First, you dog may have a slightly prolapsed rectum. This happens sometimes when a dog strains too hard while defecating.

Second, there's a chance your dog was bitten by an insect and the region is slightly swollen because of it.

Third, there's a chance your dog might have scooted in something that is now causing a bit of a rash.

Whatever the cause, it would be a good idea to allow your vet to take a look at it, just to rule out any serious problems.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: tiffany

Is there something I can do to prevent my dog's anal glands from becoming overly full? It is a regular problem for her and I can't afford to take her to the vet every week to have them emptied. Is there a certain kind of food or medicine I can give her to prevent the problem to begin with?

Expert Reply

Hi Julie,

Anal gland problems can be difficult to address. First, it's important to feed a high quality food to ensure digestibility. This results in firmer stool that help evacuate the glands.

Second, you can naturally increase the amount of fiber in your dog's diet by adding a big spoonful of plain canned pumpkin to each meal. Hopefully this will provide additional relief.

Finally, it is possible to express the glands at home. Just follow the directions provided in our article Dog Anal Glands. This will save you the fee you'd have to pay a vet or a groomer.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find these suggestions helpful.

-- Contributed by: Julie

Hi Amanda,

Typically the anal glands will only express when your dog tenses his rear. If your dog is leaking while at rest then the glands may be overly full. I'd suggest taking him to the vet to have them examined and expressed by the vet if needed. That should take care of the problem.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

When my dog is relaxed his anal gland will depress. Is there something wrong and/or is there anything I can do to lessen this?

-- Contributed by: Amanda
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