Ever noticeding your dog scoot its bum on the floor? They might have blocked anal glands.
Your dog's anal glands (tiny scent sacs located either side of the anus) can get clogged when they’re not emptied naturally. From poor diet to allergies, several sneaky culprits can cause these ‘stinky’ issues.
What can cause blocked or full anal glands?
Dogs have two small anal glands located on either side of their anus, which normally empty during bowel movements, releasing a smelly fluid used for marking territory. However, if a dog’s stools are too soft, or if they have underlying issues like allergies, infections, or even obesity, these glands might not drain properly.
Common dietary reasons for blocked anal glands include:
- Feeding more food than your dog needs.
- Foods too high in protein and fat for your dog’s needs.
- Poor quality food, (unsuitable ingredients; chemical additives).
- Food allergy or intolerance causing inflammation, cell damage, production of toxins.
When the fluid builds up, it can cause discomfort, swelling, and even lead to painful infections or abscesses. That’s when you’ll see classic signs like scooting, licking, or biting at the rear.
How can I resolve my dog's blocked anal glands?
- Weigh your dog’s food and don't overfeed them. Even if your dog is not overweight you can still be giving them too much food; on low-fat diets especially, the excess may not lead to added weight but is building up in other ways throughout the body and very often this can cause the anal glands to fill.
- Cut all treats, chews or human food for a period of time. This limits the ingredients being fed, which can help root out if certain ingredients are not suiting your dog.
- It takes at least 2 months on a new food to see any changes in your dog, as the body will be getting rid of any excess.
- Your dog’s glands may need to be emptied once or twice again as they get rid of this waste.
Does a high fibre food help with anal gland problems?
Many dog owners will have been advised to feed a high fibre food to their dog if it has anal gland problems, in order to bulk up their poo which helps to empty the anal glands when the dog is going to the toilet. However anal gland problems are usually seen in dogs already producing a large amount of waste.
A high fibre diet will not stop the glands from filling. It is better to find out what is causing them to fill in the first place and switch your dog to a more suitable diet.
