My dog keeps licking after anal gland expression. Is it normal?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

  Veterinary Technician

  Published on August 26th, 2021

  It can be normal, if the glands were irritated or Diesel was licking at them. I would keep him from licking to give the area a chance to calm down and prevent further inflammation. Softening Diesel's stool with a little pureed pumpkin or plain yogurt may also help reduce irritation.
  
  Some dogs do need their anal glands expressed on a regular basis every month or so, I would keep an eye on the area and see if this might be the case. If you do notice anything such as bloody discharge, excessive discharge, swelling, pain, etc, then having your vet take a look to rule out other causes such as infections is a good idea.

  

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• Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 26th, 2019

  Every pet is different and some pets may need their glands expressed every few weeks. Most however will be less frequent. This can be a problem in any dog but it is more common in small dogs. There is a supplement called Glandex which many pets respond well to. You may also try feeding Toby a higher fiber diet. Lastly, sometimes frequent anal gland issues can be a sign of allergies. You may talk with your veterinarian about ways to diagnose an allergy and if this seems to be indicated. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

  

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• Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 16th, 2017

  Hello, sorry to hear about Sam. Anal gland infections can develop secondarily to impacted anal glands. Also if he is re-filling his anal glands quickly or if they weren't completely emptied out, he can still be having discomfort. I would have your veterinarian assess his anal glands for a potential infection and express them fully to ensure they are empty.
  
  If he continues to itch and scoot, then sometimes parasites such as tape worms can cause dogs to have an itchy rear. Look for rice-like worms moving around in his stool or around his anus and tell your veterinarian if you see any. Ultimately, you can bring a stool sample to your veterinarians office and have it tested for worms.
  
  Hope this helps and best of luck.

  

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