How Do You Know If Your Dog Needs Glands Expressed
If you’ve ever had a dog in your home, chances are that you’ve dealt with anal gland issues. This is because dogs have two small glands on either side of the rectum that produce a smelly, oily substance called “substance P.” When this substance builds up, your dog will likely experience discomfort and pain as well as behavioral changes like excessive licking or scooting their butt on the ground or rug.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pup, there’s no need to panic. But it’s important to know whether they’re having problems with their anal glands so that you can get them fixed before it gets worse! The good news? It’s usually pretty easy to tell if something isn’t right with your four-legged friend by simply paying attention to their behavior. Besides helping them feel better (and not making them smell like ass), knowing about canine anal glands can also help prevent future health issues from arising due to improper waste disposal. So here are some red flags for determining if your companion needs help expressing their anal glands…
If your dog is too young or too old
There are some exceptions to the rule, but generally, it’s best not to express your dog’s anal glands if he/she is very young or very old. If you have a puppy or kitten, you can try expressing them in a few months when they’re older (and more able to hold their anal glands in), but if your pet is still a puppy and needs this done today, it might be best to wait until he/she has matured a bit more.
If your pet is elderly and unable to physically handle this procedure, there will be other signs of poor health that should be addressed by a veterinarian instead of trying home remedies such as gland expression.
If your dog’s anal glands don’t empty during pooping
If your dog’s anal glands don’t empty during pooping, they can become impacted. This can be a problem for your pup if he or she has a medical condition that affects the ability of their body to naturally express these sacs. Anal gland problems are more common in older dogs, but younger dogs can have an issue too. For example, hypothyroidism is a disease where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones needed by the body and this causes many symptoms including weight gain and hair loss. Hormone deficiencies like this one may also cause your dog to have trouble with his or her anal glands and need them expressed by a professional groomer or vet technician.
If you suspect that your dog needs his or her anal glands expressed because they haven’t emptied during defecation and/or there is evidence of leakage from them (white mucus), it would be best for you to bring him/her into see their veterinarian so that he/she can check them out thoroughly before taking any action on how best proceed with treatment options available in order to relieve any discomfort experienced by this individual animal patient! They may recommend draining some of those bits manually at home if no other signs present themselves during examination but since we don’t know what kind of impact was left behind after doing so without supervision first would mean risking further damage being done while trying our luck at doing so ourselves; especially when considering all possible outcomes which could occur from improper care afterwards such as infection developing due to unclean equipment not being used properly etcetera – most likely needing antibiotics prescribed then too!
If your dog has frequent diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common symptom of anal gland problems. But it’s important to note that this is not the case in all cases; diarrhea can also be caused by other things, like food poisoning or a reaction to medication. Make sure you consult with your vet if any of these situations apply to your dog before assuming she needs her glands expressed.
If you’re still concerned about whether or not diarrhea is related to anal gland problems, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Diarrhea isn’t always caused by anal gland issues; it could be something else entirely! For example, pets who have recently eaten something they shouldn’t have might experience severe stomach cramps and/or vomiting as well as frequent bowel movements. This could be due to anything from an upset stomach (e.g., because they ate something bad) all the way up through more serious conditions like parasites or cancerous growths in the intestines themselves—so before worrying too much about diarrhea being caused by an abscessed gland issue alone just remember there’s always room for other causes out there too!
If you smell a foul odor
If you smell a foul odor coming from your dog’s bottom, it means that their anal glands are full and need to be expressed.
However, if you can’t smell anything, don’t worry too much about it—your dog may just have very small or nonexistent anal glands.
To tell if your dog’s anal gland needs to be expressed, lift up their tail and take a look. If they have large swellings on each side of their anus (called “anal sacs”), then these need to be squeezed out once in a while so that they don’t become infected (or cause other problems).
If you think your pup might need its glands emptied, follow our step-by-step guide below:
If your dog licks or scoots their butt on the ground or a rug
It’s common for dogs to lick or scoot their butt on the ground or a rug. If your dog does this, it could be a sign that they have a problem in their anal glands.
Anal gland problems can be painful for your dog and are often accompanied by other symptoms, including:
- Your dog licking or chewing at his tail base
- Scooting (or dragging) their bottom across the floor when trying to get comfortable
- An unpleasant smell coming from your dog’s rear end
Your dog’s anal gland should be expressed only under certain circumstances.
If you’re wondering if your dog needs their anal glands expressed, here are some tips:
- If your dog is too young or too old. If your pup is between 2 and 4 months old, it’s normal for them to have a swollen or full-feeling anus. You can also assume that older dogs (over 8 years old) might need this done on occasion as well.
- If the anal glands don’t empty during pooping. This happens when the gland gets clogged up with hair, dirt or other debris, causing it to become distended and feel full even after a bowel movement. This often leads to frequent diarrhea as well because there isn’t enough room in the rectum for all the matter from digestion with nothing else coming out from your dog’s butt! So make sure you clean out those glands every time you see them filled up like balloons—you don’t want any buildup around them either!
If your dog is licking their butt, it’s best to have them checked by a vet. You can also express the glands yourself if you are concerned about any of these symptoms, but make sure that you do so correctly and with caution.
