My dog's anal gland swollen after vet expression. Should I worry?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Continued scooting following anal sac expression may not be related to the need to be expressed further. Occasionally the anal sac may still be inflamed/irritated following the expression which may still result in some discomfort and the urge to itch. Scooting of the hind end can also be due to a superficial itch that may be related to an underlying environmental or parasite (i.e flea) allergy. It is difficult to tell from the picture without being able to palpate the rectum, but I do not see any evidence of overt swelling in the region (the anal sacs sit at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock position at the anus). If Emma continues to appear irritated you can have her evaluated by her veterinarian to palpate the anal sacs and make sure everything palpates normally.

Poor smith. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian to have the glands examined. A warm compress is a great idea but if they are infected smith will need antibiotics to help the swelling resolve. If infected anal glands are not addressed they can ruptured. Also sometimes based on the age of smith. Inflamed gland could be secondary to a mass, recital or prostate issue hope that helps

Swelling near the anus are usually secondary to a problem with the anal sac, such as an impaction, abscess or even cancer. It could also be secondary to something entirely different, such as an insect bite or a cyst. The vast majority of the time, these are not emergencies. So as long as Gidget is otherwise acting normally, you can call your veterinarian in the morning. A good physical exam will likely lead to a preliminary diagnosis and possible treatment. Other tests your veterinarian could do include aspirating the swelling to see what it contains. Good luck and I hope Gidget feels better soon. Thank you for using pet coach.

It's possible that Mr Puggle Bear's anal area is irritated from the feces and this is making it look larger. If it seems like he is having difficulty defecated or if the area seems painful I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him. Sometimes topical medications are necessary to help with dermatitis from having feces stock on the skin.

Since the diarrhea has lasted for 48 hours, he should be seen by your veterinarian. The swelling could be an anal gland abscess or a tumor. An abscess will need to be lanced and drained. A tumor should be aspirated or biopsied to collect samples for pathology. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking until he sees the doctor. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Night may go home with a bland diet, antibiotics and pain medication depending on the diagnosis.

Some specks of blood would not be uncommon after having severely impacted glands emptied but you should have them rechecked if it persistts longer than 3-5days or the pain returns. A fiber supplement such as glandex can help prevent recurrent issues

Poor Elsie. She may have eaten something causing trouble pooping and the bit of blood. I'd keep an eye on her for now. If she keeps pooping blood, her anus gets more swollen, she keeps licking at it, she stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, then I would take her into a vet.