Expressing Your Dog's Anal Glands - Vets4Pets

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Expressing Your Dog's Anal Glands

Dog’s anal glands are typically the size of a small grape and sit just inside the bottom. Some dogs naturally empty their anal glands when they poo, however, sometimes this doesn’t happen and the anal glands can get blocked. Typically, this is more common in overweight dogs and certain breeds such as Miniature Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Beagles.

Untreated blocked anal glands can be painful and irritating for your dog, but your vet can easily resolve this issue by manually emptying them.

Signs of blocked anal glands in your dog include:

• A foul smell
• Discomfort when sitting
• Rubbing their bottom or shuffling across the ground
• Excessively trying to lick their bottom

We would always recommend speaking to your vet if you believe your dog’s anal glands need expressing, so if you spot any signs of blocked anal glands please contact your local vet.

Take a look at our video from our vet and practice owner Jules, who will show you how your vet will treat blocked anal glands.

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Tutorial

Our top tips for expressing your dog's anal glands:

1. We recommend wearing gloves and either applying lubricant or wetting your fingers slightly with water.
2. The anal glands are located around 4 to 8 o'clock on your dog's bottom.
3. Use cotton wool to catch any discharge.
4. With your thumb and index finger apply some pressure and push upwards towards the bottom and you should start to see some discharge.

If you have any concerns about your dog's anal glands please contact your local vet.

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