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Dog scooting, anal sac burst. Can I treat it at home to save money?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | 6 years and 1 month old | 15 lbs

My 6 year old chihuahua mix had what looked like a large pimple on her little bum.. she was also scooting so it popped and leaked out some gross looking liquid.. I’m very limited financially.. can I treat this at home? I’ve been giving her epson salt baths daily and warm compresses.. keeping the area as clean as I possibly can.. she doesn’t have a fever.. since it’s popped on its own can this finish healing on its own if I continue to keep it clean?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 28th, 2018

This sounds like she had an anal sac abscess that ruptured. The epson salt baths are good, but now you should just dry off the area well and let it heal by itself. If by Monday it does not look like it is getting better or if it is getting worse, she will need to be seen by a veterinarian.
Here is some information re financial help with veterinary costs:
There are quite a few ways to get financial help with vet bills: https://www.youcaring.com/blog/2016/need-help-with-vet-bills
https://www.avma.org/public/YourVet/Pages/Financial-assistance-for-veterinary-care-costs.aspx
https://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets
https://www.paws.org/cats-and-dogs/other-services/help-with-veterinary-bills/
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html?credit=web_id98635957
American Animal Hospital Association 
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/
"Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or 
injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing 
financial hardship."
Angels 4 Animals 
http://www.angels4animals.org/ 
"Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment 
to those pets and pet owners in need."
Care Credit 
http://www.carecredit.com/ 
A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. 
"With a comprehensive range of plan options, for 
treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan 
and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every 
budget."
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) 
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ 
"Seniors, People with disabilities, People who 
have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these 
folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion."
The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 
(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and 
kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save 
their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
God's Creatures Ministry 
http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html 
"This fund helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help."
Help-A-Pet 
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html 
"Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the 
working poor."
IMOM 
http://www.imom.org/ 
"We are dedicated to insure that no 
companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker 
is financially challenged."
The Pet Fund 
http://thepetfund.com/ 
"The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that 
provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need 
urgent veterinary care."
United Animal Nations 
http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html 
"The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued 
animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require 
specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve 
Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured 
animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens 
and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My old dog has a bleeding anal sac abscess. What home care helps?
Yes, you can soak his rear end in a warm water/epsom salt bath or make a compress with a small washcloth soaked in epsom salt water and hold this under his tail several times daily until she gets home. This will help the area to drain, decrease pain, and help it to heal faster. Good luck!
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My dog's anal gland ruptured. Can it heal at home without a vet?
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My dog has a painful bump, shaking. How to afford urgent vet care?
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My cat's anal glands hurt. Can I get OTC meds or financial help?
That area looks bad, and I'm concerned her anal sacs could be infected and ruptured. I'm also very concerned that Basel is in a lot of pain. Unfortunately there is no medication you can get for her over the counter, and she has to see a vet now. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
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My dog has a leg wound, can I treat it at home without a vet?
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