Expressing a Dog's Anal Glands

Tip: Is Your Dog "Scooting"?

If your dog is dragging her bottom on the carpet, it probably means her anal glands need to be expressed.

There are two small glands located on each side of your dog's rectal opening. Each gland holds a small amount of a noxious smelling substance. Most of the time, the glands express sufficiently on their own. However sometimes, the glands aren't completely expressed naturally.

It's important to have your dog's anal glands expressed when he is showing signs of discomfort (like fussing and chewing at the area, or scooting). Your vet or groomer can manually express the glands quickly and easily, oftentimes they will show you how to do it yourself.

If left untreated, your dog's anal glands can become impacted, infected, and rupture causing serious problems.

If you see your dog scooting, scoot him on over to a professional as soon as possible.

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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