| In the movie The Fisher King there is a | | | | save the expense of a vet, however, it is |
| rather humorous scene in which Robin Williams | | | | perfectly acceptable to express the anal |
| character is scooting himself along the | | | | glands yourself. |
| ground by digging his heels in and dragging | | | | |
| his bare bottom across the grass. In a | | | | Expressing the Dogs Anal Glands: |
| jubilant voice he calls out, Do you know why | | | | |
| dogs do this? It feels GREAT!! | | | | Expressing the anal glands is a simple |
| | | | matter. Youll want to hold the tail up and |
| Actually, thats not the only reason. Dogs | | | | pull it gently toward the dogs head. In the |
| will exhibit this behavior if the anus or | | | | other hand hold a tissue or paper towel and |
| hind quarters are itchy, but it can be a sign | | | | place your thumb on the left side of the left |
| of an impacted anal gland which can be a | | | | gland and your forefinger on the right side |
| problem for some dogs. | | | | of the right gland. Squeeze firmly but not |
| | | | roughly and the glands should empty a brown |
| The anal glands are located on either side of | | | | or yellowish liquid onto the tissue or towel. |
| a dogs anus and, in the wild, serve as a | | | | Impacted glands will not empty as easily and |
| method of marking the dogs territory. When a | | | | may require an internal draining technique. |
| dog defecates the glands are naturally | | | | You can do the internal technique at home as |
| compressed and secrete a dark, foul smelling | | | | well, but youll need surgical gloves and a |
| liquid along with the bowel movement. When | | | | tube of KY jelly. |
| the sacs are functioning normally they empty | | | | |
| whenever the animal has a bowel movement. | | | | Internal anal gland expression requires that |
| | | | the sacs on either side of the anus be |
| Sometimes, for various reasons, the dogs anal | | | | expressed individually and will require that |
| sacs may become blocked. When this happens a | | | | you place your thumb on one side of the gland |
| number of problems can develop. Some are | | | | and your forefinger inside the dogs rectum in |
| benign as a foul smell but the can lead to | | | | order to squeeze and express the gland. |
| serious problems like diarrhea and infection. | | | | Impacted glands will be harder to drain and |
| To intervene before a blocked anal gland | | | | the fluid may be thick and pasty with a foul |
| becomes an issue, the glands must be | | | | odor and a dark brown, grey, or black color. |
| expressed. | | | | |
| | | | Infected anal glands may produce a discharge |
| Expression of the anal glands is a simple | | | | of bloody pus and can be an indication of a |
| medical procedure that can be performed at | | | | more serious problem. The infection should be |
| home or by a veterinarian. Some people prefer | | | | fought with antibiotics so a vet should be |
| to let the vet take care of this task because | | | | contacted immediately if the dog seems to |
| they find it to be an unattractive duty. To | | | | have such an infection. |