{"id":11228,"date":"2022-07-14T13:08:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T12:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=11228"},"modified":"2022-07-14T19:43:54","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T18:43:54","slug":"how-to-express-dog-anal-glands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-to-express-dog-anal-glands\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Express Dog Anal Glands: Tips &#038; Tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs&#8217; anal gland infections are one of the most common issues pet owners see, and fortunately, they are also one of the simplest ones to deal with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, if you are encountering this problem for the first time, you may not know much about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to express anal glands in dogs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Luckily, we are here to help, so read on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='how-to-express-dog-anal-glands'><b>How to Express Dog Anal Glands<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can opt to express your pet&#8217;s anal glands manually at home, try some natural methods, or leave it to your groomer or vet if you&#8217;re not feeling confident about doing it yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you opt for the last option, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cost to express dog glands<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> builds up depending on how serious the case is, whether the glands are infected or not. Still, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-much-does-a-dog-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">since average vet costs are $241 annually<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, some people may prefer to skip the vet if it&#8217;s not an emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, before you decide on that matter, you need to know how to recognize the sign of a problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main symptom of anal discomfort in your pet is <a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/home-remedies-for-dog-scooting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scooting <\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or dragging its bottom across the floor. Another sign of anal gland infection is seeing your dog excessively licking or even biting its anal area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, your dog may not always do those things, so pay attention to some other signs too, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/health\/real-reason-dog-smells-like-fish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong, fishy smell<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red and swollen anus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood or pus in the stool or draining down the dog&#8217;s rear<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistently soft stools<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re still not sure, it may be best to have a professional groomer or a vet check it out \u2014 expressing healthy anal glands might cause inflammation and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embracepetinsurance.com\/health\/anal-sacculitis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anal gland sacculitis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expressing anal glands on small dogs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might be needed more frequently, since they are more prone to having impacted anal glands than <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/most-popular-dog-breeds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">large breeds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;re confident that this is the issue your dog is having, here are some ways you can help your furry best friend:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-to-express-your-dogs-anal-glands-at-home'><b>How to Express Your Dogs Anal Glands at Home<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you start expressing your pet&#8217;s anal glands by yourself, you will need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A pair of latex gloves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper towel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A water-based lubricant, petroleum, or vaseline<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning wipes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A friend or family member to help restrain the dog<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treats to distract your dog and reward it<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get everything, follow these steps to express your pet&#8217;s anal glands efficiently:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emptying anal glands in large dogs is the same as with the small ones, except that while you can place a smaller breed dog on a table or counter in front of you, you will need to kneel behind if your dog is larger.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have your friend or family member hold your pet still in a standing position, making sure it can&#8217;t walk away or sit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need any additional help to calm your dog down, you can opt for using some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/best-cbd-dog-treats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy CBD dog treats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put on a pair of gloves and poke your index finger through the middle of a paper towel to form a skirt around it for protection because <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cleaning out dogs anal glands<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could be messy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply some lubricant on your finger, lift your dog&#8217;s tail with the other hand and insert your finger about an inch into the anus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel for pea-sized or marble-sized sacs using your index finger and thumb at 4 o&#8217;clock and 8 o&#8217;clock positions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gently squeeze the anal glands together with your fingers to release the fluid. Make sure not to use too much pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the gland is empty, you should barely feel it. Move on to the other gland and repeat the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that sometimes only one sac can be full, meaning the glands are generally emptying nicely on their own but one has become impacted or infected for some reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you are finished, wipe the anal area clean with some cleaning wipes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='how-to-get-dogs%e2%80%99-anal-glands-to-express-naturally'><b>How to Get Dogs\u2019 Anal Glands to Express Naturally<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, a dog&#8217;s anal glands will empty on their own every time it defecates. Sometimes, you will even discover that your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog expressed glands on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">its <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can happen if your pet has been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.caninejournal.com\/dog-anxiety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">experiencing anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, stress, or extreme relaxation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, if they can&#8217;t express themselves adequately, and if you want to avoid having to express them with your fingers, there are a handful of natural ways that may solve the problem:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A raw diet or food high in fiber<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased water intake<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/best-probiotics-for-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Probiotics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and prebiotics\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased exercise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/nutrition\/tell-if-dog-has-allergies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food allergies treatment<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular cleaning of your pet&#8217;s bottom<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='how-often-to-express-dogs-anal-glands'><b>How Often to Express Dogs Anal Glands<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While some dogs will never require this, others may have recurring issues, in which case they will need their anal glands expressed a few times a year, or even monthly!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your dog has a constant issue, the key is to keep track of the symptoms. You could set a reminder to inspect your dog&#8217;s anal glands regularly and empty them whenever they appear full. However, how often this needs to be done will vary from dog to dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><b>FAQ<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3 id='why-do-dogs-anal-glands-fill-up'><b>Why do dogs&#8217; anal glands fill up?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dog&#8217;s anal glands can fill up for numerous reasons. The dog&#8217;s diet plays the most crucial role in anal gland problems, followed by chronic skin conditions, obesity, parasites, allergies, and genetics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='do-humans-have-anal-glands-like-dogs'><b>Do humans have anal glands like dogs?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While humans do have anal glands that are similar to those described in dogs, they are considered vestigial. They have no known purpose, though some sources note they become more active when a person is in distress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, just like the anal glands in dogs, they can get infected and require medical intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PetPlace)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-do-you-know-if-your-dog-needs-his-glands-squeezed'><b>How do you know if your dog needs his glands squeezed?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swollen anal glands are one of the main signs a pet owner can notice, as well as some rather unusual behavior of their pet, like scooting or licking its bottom excessively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What&#8217;s more, if your pet&#8217;s anal glands are full, there could be a fishy smell coming from their bums, consistent soft stools, or even some blood indicating that the glands have ruptured.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='can-i-express-my-dogs-glands-myself'><b>Can I express my dogs&#8217; glands myself?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, if your dog needs its glands expressed, you can do it yourself at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are some less uncomfortable things you can try first, like ensuring your dog drinks enough water, eats food high in fiber, and exercises regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='conclusion'><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are not a first-time dog owner, you are likely aware that this is just one of those less fun things you may need to do from time to time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this is a new topic for you, we hope this guide has helped you understand <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to express dog anal glands<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, recognize the problem in the first place, and perhaps even prevent it in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='sources'><b>Sources<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/health\/how-to-express-dog-anal-glands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Kennel Club<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com\/dog-anal-glands-the-diy-solution-to-stinky-problems\/#h-what-can-cause-dog-anal-gland-problems\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs Naturally<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/health-wellness\/express-anal-glands-in-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outward Hound<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/general-health\/anal-glands-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PetMD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petplace.com\/article\/dogs\/just-for-fun\/do-humans-have-anal-glands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PetPlace<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why do dogs' anal glands fill up?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A dog's anal glands can fill up for numerous reasons. The dog's diet plays the most crucial role in anal gland problems, followed by chronic skin conditions, obesity, parasites, allergies, and genetics. \\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do humans have anal glands like dogs?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"While humans do have anal glands that are similar to those described in dogs, they are considered vestigial. They have no known purpose, though some sources note they become more active when a person is in distress. \\nAdditionally, just like the anal glands in dogs, they can get infected and require medical intervention.\\n(PetPlace)\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do you know if your dog needs his glands squeezed?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Swollen anal glands are one of the main signs a pet owner can notice, as well as some rather unusual behavior of their pet, like scooting or licking its bottom excessively.\\nWhat's more, if your pet's anal glands are full, there could be a fishy smell coming from their bums, consistent soft stools, or even some blood indicating that the glands have ruptured.\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I express my dogs' glands myself?\\n\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, if your dog needs its glands expressed, you can do it yourself at home. \\nHowever, there are some less uncomfortable things you can try first, like ensuring your dog drinks enough water, eats food high in fiber, and exercises regularly.\\n\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your dog suffers from an anal sac disease, learning how to express dog anal glands is a great way to help your pet. So, keep reading. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-to-express-dog-anal-glands\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from How to Express Dog Anal Glands: Tips &#038; Tricks<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":11229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-guides"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}