Why do my dogs anal glands swell?

These are small scent producing glands found at the end openings of the animal’s anus. They appear as small sacs almost the size of a pea and produce a foul smelling porridge like material that is emptied during the passing out of faeces. These glands also release their strong smell when the dog is frightened. Your dog may sometimes identify other dogs with the smell from this gland and also at times it may identify whether the dog is a male or female. Well, there’s no need to get into much detail regarding those aspects but such is the nature of the common dog.
 
In certain dog breeds however, these glands may fail to empty and may swell due to the pile up of the pasty material. Why this happens is not yet clear but assumptions point out that this could be the cause of physical excretion jams, muscle weaknesses and also the lack of fiber in the animal’s diet. Irritation then begins and the dog tries to relieve himself by biting the area or rubbing his anus against something. In most cases the dog will hurt himself in this process and thus you will begin to notice some traces of blood close to the anus. In this case you need to be alarmed as your dog will be facing a serious problem that requires immediate attention.

The irritation can be stopped by the removal of some substances from the blocked glands. You may also get the opportunity to learn how to empty the dog’s glands but it gets a bit complicated when it comes to some dog types. Your vet may show you how to carryout this process and this will certainly be very important when it comes to taking care of your dog to prevent this from happening in the future. The amount of times the glands need to be emptied will vary according to the dog. These glands may be removed surgically but this will only be the case when the problem gets out of hand.

The gland becomes an abscess when it gets fully infected. The anus too will appear to have some degree of swelling that can discharge blood or pus. This can also be excruciatingly painful for the dog. When this happens you will have to take your dog to the vet immediately. If this gland gets infected it will lead to serious problems that could prove fatal for the animal. Nevertheless, try to see if your dog is able to empty this gland so that you’ll be made aware of any problems that may arise.

Moreover, dog owners are advised to pay close attention when it comes to identifying any problems that are associated with their dog’s health. In this case you will have to look into your dog’s behavioral pattern. It is easy to note that your dog is not feeling well if he will not want to do certain routines that he usually does. He may also become not as active as usual especially when it comes to the highly energetic dog breeds. If you notice such dramatic changes, take your dog to the vet quickly.

Disclaimer

This pet health article is for reference only.

If your pet is showing any symptoms or distress, and you suspect your pet is ill CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.