Taking care of both ends of your pet

Most customers come into my store looking for options and advice on what to put into the front of their pets, but that’s not the only end of a pet people seek advice about.

One of the least fun and most odiferous topics we deal with are the anal glands of dogs. Most dogs have no issues, but when they stop working properly, you know about it.

The most obvious sign of issues is “butt scooting. Most of the time this is due to anal gland issues– either infection or impaction. It can be irritation from another source, or excessive self-grooming, but most of the time there is an underlying condition, and it is often directly linked to diet.

Yeah, I know. Raw food again. And yes, raw food does reduce these issues dramatically, and a properly selected raw food diet, with an appropriate bone and fibre content, reduces these issues tremendously.

Why? Because the anal gland is designed to be expressed when fecal matter exits the sphincter. Yes, when they poop. The fluid in the glands acts as a marker, a calling card or a warning to other animals. Hence it often carried a strong odour, which gets exponentially worse when they are not working right.

If a pet’s stool is too soft, the glands do not express and can fill up to the point of leaking, infection or worst of all, rupture. But if stool is properly formed and firm, the process works properly.

Dogs that have problematic glands can be fed a higher level of fibre, or a food with a higher bone content. In many cases this is enough to address the issue, and simply putting in a spoon of pumpkin, psyllium husk or bone/eggshell powder can be the cure. The problem can also be caused by obesity/lack of muscle tone, allergies and genetics. Again, having a healthier pet on a healthy diet means they are less likely to develop issues like this.

If the pet has gotten to the point of impaction, a visit to the vet will be required. If the glands have become infected, antibiotics are likely to be prescribed. The vet may also do an internal manual expression at that time, to empty the fluid (one of the most disgusting smells ever). Your groomer may also try to empty full glands, but they will do an external expression, as the internal expression is a veterinary procedure.

Once your pet has had the issue, if diet isn’t changed, the issue will repeat. Even with diet change, the problem may persist, and regular vet visits and runs of antibiotics may be needed.

Many people ask, “Can’t we just remove them?”. The answer is a qualified yes. But it is a very delicate operation which can result in nerve damage that may lead to partial paralysis or incontinence. It may seem the easy answer but should be considered a last resort if no other options work.

Butt scooting may make for cute and funny videos, but it is a serious sign that something should be addressed. If caught early, it can often be easily fixed. Leave it too long and it can become a serious and expensive health issue.