Anal glands on dogs are located on both sides of their anus at about four and eight o’clock positions and produce a strong-smelling liquid, usually expelled when dogs defecate. Blocked anal glands can result in painful symptoms for your pup such as scooting, licking, biting and even scooting in this region of their anatomy.
Untreated anal sacs can quickly lead to infection and abscesses. Treatment involves having a veterinarian manually express the glands, an unpleasant process. They should have someone hold your dog during this procedure in order to distract and calm him/her as necessary, with towels placed behind him/her to reduce anxiety as much as possible, wearing latex gloves to make expression less unpleasant for both of you!
Ideally, this task should be performed soon after giving your dog a bath to help clear away any anal secretions from glands. A lubricant will make this task simpler and more comfortable for both of you.
Lubricants can be especially handy if your dog resists having their anal glands expressed. Your veterinarian is best placed to handle this task as they may provide medication that will ease discomfort during the procedure. Using a lubricant will also help limit any anal secretions that drip onto skin or other parts of the body during expression.