Have you ever noticed a foul odor coming from your pet’s back end? It's most likely the anal sacs is the source of the problem. What causes it? you may ask.
Well, in some mammals, including dogs and cats, anal sacs are small pouches which store secretions from the glands between the internal and external sphincter muscles. A dog can discharge the material collected in the sac through these ducts when he goes potty, but sometimes the dog can not and it will cause issues, if it’s not a problem, you’d never have a reason to know about them. However, for some dogs and cats, anal glands can be a real health concern. It can cause inflammation and the sacs can become impacted and infected. In severe cases, they can actually rupture. The first sign of trouble is when your dog scoots his butt across the floor.
Some dogs will need to have their glands emptied on a regular basis. While some groomers offer this service, I do not, because I feel it is really the job of a veterinarian. I recommend that a medical professional do the procedure (referred to as ‘expressing’). If the area becomes infected or impacted, understand that the condition is very painful, and should be addressed as soon as possible. They may require pain medication, and perhaps even a course of antibiotics. For some pets with chronic cases, vets may advocate surgically removing the glands entirely.
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