Anal gland problems in dogs are a source of considerable discomfort. Luckily, however, treatment is usually straightforward by visiting your local groomer or DVM.
Many pet parents recognize the value of monitoring a pup’s poop to assess its overall health; however, secretions from anal glands can provide even more insights into potential issues, including signs of an infection.
These glands, located either side of the anus and sphincter, produce an oily and smelly secretion during each dog bowel movement that acts like its own unique calling card, helping other canines recognize one another by their distinctive scent signatures – hence why dogs sniff each other’s buttholes upon greeting each other!
Whenever glands become blocked due to infection or inflammation, their glands swell up and pus or blood drains from them causing localized infection or bleeding. For best results, have your veterinarian manually express these glands to remove infected fluids.
If you prefer leaving this task to someone else, ideally your vet or professional groomer would be better-equipped. In this process, they’ll wear latex gloves and apply Vaseline on their index finger before inserting their finger into your dog’s rectum to feel for the anal gland and gently squirting out any anal gland contents into a paper towel for later disposal.