Anal Gland Issues In Dogs
Impacted Anal Glands may be a medical emergency and you should contact your vet. See your veterinarian for an official diagnosis. Then you and I can collaborate on a wellness strategy to support your dog.
Signs Your Dog May Have Anal Gland Issues
Scooting gets all the attention — but it’s not the only clue.
A dog with anal gland issues may show subtle signs at first, and if you miss them, things can snowball from simple fullness or irritation into inflammation, infection, abscessation, or repeated discomfort.
What You Might See
Scooting across the floor or grass
Licking or chewing at the rear end
Suddenly whipping around toward the tail or anus
A foul, fishy odor that seems to come and go
Trouble getting comfortable when sitting
Straining to poop or acting uncomfortable during bowel movements
Soft stool or inconsistent stool quality
Pain when the rear end is touched
Swelling near the anus
Redness, irritation, or moist skin around the rectum
Blood or discharge near the anal area
Sudden yelping during defecation
A hole, open sore, or draining tract near the anus in more advanced cases
Increased irritability, restlessness, or acting “off” for no obvious reason
Before you jump to the dramatic — look to see if it’s a long strand of hair, a dingle-dangle of poop, or some other foreign matter they are trying to pass. You might have to help them :-)
When It’s More Than “Just Full Glands”
Sometimes the issue is simple fullness. But sometimes it’s not.
Repeated anal gland problems can be a clue that something deeper is going on, such as:
Chronic soft stool that doesn’t apply enough pressure to empty the glands naturally
Food intolerance or poor food quality
Not enough fiber — or the wrong kind of fiber
Dysbiosis or poor gut health
Inflammation in the digestive tract
Skin allergies or chronic itchiness
Obesity, which can affect natural emptying
Poor muscle tone or low activity
Stress, which can change stool quality and motility
Repeated irritation from overly frequent gland expression
Why Repeated Expression May Not Be Ideal
This is where I think a lot of dogs get stuck in the same cycle.
If your dog needs their anal glands expressed over and over again, that should raise a question:
Why aren’t they emptying naturally?
Repeated expression may temporarily relieve pressure, but it does not always solve the underlying reason the glands became a problem in the first place.
In some dogs, frequent expression can actually contribute to more irritation, inflammation, swelling, and dependency on the process. If the glands are manipulated too often — especially if they are not truly full — the tissue can become more sensitive and reactive over time. That’s not the direction we want to go.
Is Repeated Expression a Clue to Something Else?
Very often, yes.
Repeated gland issues can be a clue that the body is giving you useful information:
The stool may be too soft, too small, or too inconsistent
The food may not be a good match
The dog may need better gut support
The fiber balance may be off
There may be allergy, inflammation, or microbiome disruption in the background
The dog may not be moving enough to support healthy elimination
There may be tension, stress, or even structural issues affecting the area
So while expression can absolutely have its place, especially when a dog is painful or clearly full, I do not like seeing it become the only plan.
A Better Question to Ask
Instead of only asking, “Should I get the glands expressed again?” it may be more helpful to ask:
Why is this happening repeatedly?
What does the stool look like?
Is the food working for this dog?
Is the gut inflamed?
Does this dog need fiber, probiotics, digestive support, or diet changes?
Is there something irritating the skin or digestive tract?
That’s where the real progress usually starts.
If your groomer is expressing your dog’s anal glands on a regular basis, it could lead to reduced muscle strength requiring even more ana gland expression. Unless they are impacted, as the vet and the groomer to leave them alone. If your dog is having problems often — it’s time to make some dietary changes and help nature do it’s thing.
What I Look at First
When a dog keeps having anal gland trouble, I usually want to look at:
Food quality and ingredient tolerability
Moisture in the diet
Stool consistency and frequency
Fiber type and amount
Gut health and microbiome balance
Weight and body condition
Activity level
Stress and nervous system load
Skin and allergy history
Because no — not every dog with anal gland issues just “needs expression.”
Sometimes they need a better plan.
When to Get Veterinary Care Right Away
Please don’t wait if you see:
Swelling or a painful lump near the anus
Blood, pus, or drainage
A foul smell plus obvious pain
Crying during bowel movements
Fever, lethargy, or acting sick
An open hole or wound near the rectum
Repeated straining to poop
Suspicion of a mass or tumor
Those cases need veterinary assessment.
The Bigger Picture
Anal gland issues are often treated like an isolated inconvenience.
They usually aren’t.
They can be a clue about stool quality, food choices, gut health, inflammation, body weight, skin issues, or stress load. If your dog keeps going back for repeated gland expression, I’d take that as a sign to zoom out and ask what the body is trying to tell you.
Ways to Support Natural Anal Gland Expression For Your Dog
Feed Fresh Food, with quality fiber. Studies show dry food is 10 TIMES more inflammatory than raw so move from ultra-processed kibble to a Volhard fresh diet. Feed fresh quality protein that your dog likes best / put out the best stools.
Eliminate all inflammatory triggers. Low quality treats, chemical parasite controls, grooming products, household cleaners, etc)
Change your dog’s water. Use only clean, non-chlorinated (filtered or boiled-then-cooled) water (ask me about a Berkey Filtration System)
Include good Digestive Enzymes, Pre & Probiotics
German Chamomile Oil is also beneficial for soothing
Add Soluble Fiber sources — chia seeds or psyllium husk.
Do not use insoluble fiber additions such as Muesli. There is GMO wheat in there which is inflammatory and indigestible by dogs, bulking the poo, making it softer and wetter and less able to express those glands.
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