The anal glands of dogs are two sacs located inside the anus of dogs, one on each side, and containing a very odorous oily liquid. Its main function is to lubricate the anus of the animal when they are going to defecate, so that it facilitates the expulsion of feces.
In addition, they serve to communicate with each other. Have you noticed how dogs smell their butts when they meet? Each animal has its own smell and the anal glands provide information on whether a dog is afraid, eager to play, mate, etc.
However, on many occasions these glands do not empty properly and become inflamed, pus abscesses form. In these cases the dog will notice discomfort and we should take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
In this article of Animal Expert we will explain what to do if a dog's anal glands are inflamed so you know how to act in case your furry partner happens.
Causes of inflammation of the anal glands
The main cause for your dog's anal glands to swell is that do not empty normally. This can occur when the animal is old or when a dog becomes pregnant.
Change the feed, not giving enough fiber or nutrients or an intestinal disease that causes a change in animal fecesLike a diarrhea, they can also cause the anal glands to not empty properly.
When the liquid is not expelled as it should be accumulated in the anal sacs. In these cases it is the owner of the animal or the veterinarian must empty them manually. If you want to know how to do it correctly you can read it in the article about the anal glands of dogs.
However, in many cases the emptying is not carried out in any way, the liquid accumulates, becomes purulent and an infection occurs.
Symptoms of an infection in the anal glands
When the glands become infected they are visible to the naked eye and you will notice some changes in the attitude of the animal. It is important that you recognize the symptoms to know what to do if your dog's anal glands are inflamed.
- An abscess will appear in your dog's anus.
- The dog will lick the perineal area insistently.
- Deb>
How to act if my dog has swollen anal glands?
Many people do not know what to do when a dog's glands are inflamed and wait for them to heal on their own. However, if your friend's anal sacs become inflamed you should go immediately to the vet before they become infected or burst. The veterinarian will empty the bags safely and if he finds any symptoms of infection he will prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
There are dogs whose anal sacs are inflamed on a recurring basis and, to avoid it and improve their quality of life, the veterinarian will recommend definitely remove them with surgery.
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to What to do if a dog's anal glands are inflamed?, we recommend you go to our Other health problems section.
Is it normal for a dog to lick his ass?
It is something so curious that it would never occur to us, but dogs have no other way to clean themselves. They lick every part of their body as a way of a daily hygiene routine, lick their legs, their genitals and even lick their anus.
It is something that should not worry because it is completely normal, as long as they do it in a non-compulsive way, that is, once or twice a day, being once the most usual.
If our dog begins to lick his ass constantly, they are more frequent than usual because something is wrong.
It can be something insignificant and temporary but it can also be something complex, so we must pay attention if it does not stop within a day or two.
Anal itching
Anal pruritus is called the constant anal peak that our dog can suffer, that itching can be caused by several factors that our veterinarian must investigate. Since it generally does not disappear alone.
Anal itching is usually associated with food, it is not necessary for our dog to have an allergy to an ingredient in its food, it is enough that it presents a little intolerance for itching to occur.
On the other hand, the dogs with diarrhea They may suffer from anal stinging, which will also cause them to constantly lick each other for relief.
Although these, are just some examples of common problems that cause itching in a dog's anus, let's see more.
Intestinal parasites cause itching
Don't make the mistake of thinking that your dog doesn't have intestinal parasites because you take good care of it, absolutely all dogs on the planet have intestinal parasites, it is something completely normal.
Dogs sniff and lick everything around them, which makes it really easy for them to acquire intestinal parasites. These parasites lodge in the intestine of the dog and there they feed and reproduce.
They can be how small worms or microscope sized, there are many kinds of parasites that can affect a dog's intestine and cause itching in its ass.
The dog's anal glands
All dogs have a pair of glands in the anus that secrete a foul-smelling liquid when the dog defecates. It is a way to lubricate the anus and also leave your personal smell in your stool.
Generally, the glands gradually fill up and empty when the dog needs it, but sometimes they become clogged and overfilled, causing itching in the anus.
In that case, we can empty the dog's anal glands ourselves or go to a veterinarian to empty them and teach us how to do it (recommended).
Infection or disease in the anus
The anal glands themselves can become infected and produce a small ulcer that generates an infection in the anus, which will produce an extremely painful itching and pain for the dog.
Some diseases can also cause itching of the anus, among other symptoms, so it is always advisable to go to the veterinarian even if it is simply to perform a review, if we appreciate that our dog licks insistently.
There are no home remedies or tricks that we can apply to solve it on our own, some things are too important to avoid going to the veterinarian.
