My dog expressed anal glands. How do I clean the smell & prevent?

You can express Ellie's anal sacs yourself, but have the vet show you how to do it first to make sure you are doing it right. You can also give her Glandex. It's a supplement that can help with anal sac health. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Anal gland excretions do smell a bit fishy- that is normal. It can take a few hours for the smell to eventually dissipate, however, it you take a little mild baby shampoo or mild soap on a moist towel and rub his behind gently with it after expressions, this can greatly reduce the smell immediately afterwards. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is a supplement called Glandex and one called No Scoot that many of my clients love for anal gland problems. In some cases it can decrease how often they need to be expressed. I would discuss with her veterinarian if either of these may be compatible with her diet.

These are two little glands inside the dog's rectum. They naturally fill with a material that ranges from thin, light colored liquid to a thick paste. When a dog defecated, this material is released -- most of the time not all of the liquid is release but over the course of each defecation, enough is released that the glands do not overfill. With some dogs though, this process does not occur as easily. This can be due to the material being too thick to be expressed, the stool being too soft or diarrhea which does not apply enough force to the gland to express the fluids or due to an underlying disease process. The most common cause of recurrently full anal glands is an underlying allergy problem. Dogs with skin sensitivity or allergies often have anal glands that need to be emptied on a routine basis. If the glands become too full, the material can become infected or the gland can rupture. In this case, the area will heal but antibiotics are typically needed. After the anal glands are expressed, the area can continue to feel irritating for a few days. In some cases though, the glands may not have been completely emptied. This is often the case if the glands are emptied at a groomers as they empty them from the outside and are not trained to empty them rectally as a vet would. Most dogs do not need their glands emptied for any medical purpose but if the glands were randomly checked, they could be moderately full. This does not indicate a need to express the material though. The reason I bring this up is because I have found that if we begin emptying the glands for the dog, it creates a cyclic effect where we continue to have to empty them. If the dog is scooting, this is an indication to have them checked.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sofie. I recommend that she has her anal glands regularly expressed by her veterinarian. This way they can be closely monitored for any sign of a recurring infection or impaction. Initially she should have them expressed by her veterinarian every 3-4 weeks. I hope this information helps!

Residual inflammation is normal, especially if the glands were already inflamed. You may call your vet and ask about a course of anti-inflammatory medication. Omega 3 fatty acids can also help. Lastly, a cool (not cold) compress may be a better option to relieve the burning. Sometimes supplements like Glandex can help. If Adam continues to have itchy anal glands, you may want to discuss ruling out food allergies with your vet. I always use a hydrolyzed protein for this. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bella. I recommend that she sees her veterinary office to have her glands expressed. Some dogs need to have this done regularly so that glands do not become overly full. I hope this information helps!