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