Rockwall Veterinarian Discusses Anal Sac Disease

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Rockwall Veterinarian Discusses Anal Sac Disease

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Rockwall Veterinarian Discusses Anal Sac Disease

When your pet scoots its rear end across the floor it most likely isn’t due to worms. Pets scoot when their anal sacs are uncomfortable. Anal sacs are scent glands located around your pet’s anus, which produce a strong-smelling, oily secretion. The anal sacs empty through 2 openings located at the 4 and 8 o’clock position on either side of their anal opening. Whenever your dog urinates or defecates, anal sphincter muscles squeeze the anal sacs and force the contents onto the surface of the stool.

What predisposes some pets to anal sac disease is unknown. Pets that are very obese tend to have more problems than physically fit pets. This may be due to fat skin folds blocking the pores and preventing them from draining or because it’s difficult for the obese pet to groom itself and encourage natural drainage.

If your pet’s anal glands fail to properly express, they may actually become impacted, making your pet very uncomfortable. Watch for signs of scooting their rear across the floor, chewing near the rectum, or soft mushy stools. The impacted glands can cause discomfort or worse they can get infected resulting in an abscess.

To ensure that the anal sacs are emptying properly, check them on a regular basis. If the glands are full they can be easily emptied while the contents are still fluid. It becomes more difficult to empty the anal sacs when the contents begin to thicken. If you feel as though you can express them yourself, here are some basic directions.

Prepare a warm moist washcloth.
Locate your pet’s anal glands by raising their tail and using your other hand to feel for two lumps at approximately four and eight o’clock on either side of their anal opening.
Holding the cloth over their anal opening to prevent an unpleasant squirt, begin applying firm but gentle pressure to the sacs. This should cause some of the fluid to be expelled through the rectal opening, thereby emptying the glands.
Wipe your pet’s behind clean, and the job should be finished.

If you notice blood or pus in your pet’s anal gland secretions, it is likely a sign of infection. Please call your veterinarian.