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