Cleaning of anal glands

Regularly cleaning the anal glands of dogs is not something that most owners are familiar with, but it is a very important concept.

Regularly cleaning the anal glands can reduce the dog's odor and prevent anal gland swelling. If you see your dog rubbing its buttocks on the ground, it means it’s time to clean its anal glands!

Introduction to anal glands

The anal gland is located on the lower sides of the anus. It is a secretory gland that specializes in secreting special irritating gases to divide regions. It is an incomplete organ.

The anal glands are located at the four and eight o'clock positions of the anus, opening outward. If you look at it with the naked eye, there will be two slightly swollen areas, which are the anal glands. Inflammation of the anal glands will cause swelling, discomfort, unpleasant smell and slight inflammation in dogs. If the anal glands are severely blocked, they will need to go to the hospital for debridement surgery.

Why should you clean your dog’s anal glands?

The main source of dog odor is the anal glands. Regularly squeezing your dog's anal glands can not only remove body odor, but also prevent the occurrence of anal gland inflammation.

Symptoms of anal gland inflammation

If there is a problem with the anal glands, the dog will have the following abnormal behaviors: licking the anus, rubbing its buttocks on the ground, chasing its tail, or licking and biting the base of the tail, causing lumps, and the dog may be depressed or constipated.

Frequency of anal gland cleaning

In order to prevent the occurrence of anal gland inflammation, the anal glands should generally be cleaned once every one to two weeks.

Anal gland fluid is usually not discharged on its own, so it requires the owner's efforts to keep the dog healthy. If you accidentally injure your dog when squeezing the anal glands and cause inflammation, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible to have the inflammation and swelling reduced.

The correct way to clean the dog’s anal glands

Because small dogs and large dogs have different muscle thicknesses, the correct way to clean them is also different. It is generally recommended that the anal glands of large dogs should be properly cleaned by a veterinary hospital or a professional beautician.

1. Clean the anal glands: Generally speaking, the anal gland secretions of normal dogs are liquid, light yellowish brown, and have a certain smell. If the gland has been blocked for a period of time, the secretion will be squeezed out like toothpaste, appear dark brown, and will usually come out with just a gentle squeeze.

▲How to clean the dog’s anal glands. (Photo/Morning Star Publishing House)

2. Cleaning of the anus: In addition to the anal glands, the area around the dog’s anus should be kept clean on weekdays. In order to prevent fecal contamination and bacterial growth, the hair near the anus can be cut short to keep it clean. It also has the effect of preventing anal gland inflammation.

▲How to clean the dog’s anus. (Photo/Morning Star Publishing House)