My dog's rear is red, swollen, and losing hair. Is it anal glands?

These skin changes are from licking and probably scooting or rubbing this area on the floor. This can be from Josie's anal sacs being full causing the area to be itchy. Anal sacs are on each side of the anus, they are like scent glands in a skunk. They have a foul smelling fluid in them. Normally when a dog defecates some fluid is discharged. If the sac opening becomes clogged the fluid can build up causing pressure, itchiness and often dogs will scoot on their rears. Sometimes they get infected and the area will become red, painful and puss may rupture through the skin. Having full anal sacs is more common with small dogs like Josie. Your veterinarian can manually express the fluid and give the dog relief. Some dogs need to have their annals expressed every few months. The skin under the tail should improve once the rubbing and irritation stop. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Josie.

Red’s anus does look irritated and I can see some redness on the underside of his tail as well. He might be licking due to irritation from full anal glands, parasites or allergies. I would recommend having your vet examine him and check his anal glands. They may want to check a stool sample as well. Oral or topical medications might help. I would recommend putting an e-collar on to prevent licking until you can get to the vet.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Bodhi seems irritated by his hind end and is licking back there. Based off your description and the pictures, Bodhi may have inflamed, infected, and/or impacted anal glands. The anal glands are two small glands located on either side of the anus, at approximately 4 and 8 o'clock (if the anus was a clock face). Normally, a small amount of secretion of these anal glands is expressed when a dog poops. However, some dogs can experience a blockage of the ducts of the glands, causing them to become obstructed and very swollen and irritating. I recommend bringing Bodhi to your veterinarian at their next available appointment. Your veterinarian can try to express his anal glands and relieve this pressure. Your veterinarian should do a thorough rectal exam to ensure there are no other irregularities present. In the meantime, if you have one at home, Bodhi should wear an Elizabethan collar (cone collar) to prevent him from licking this area and increasing the risk of infection. If left untreated, anal glands can become abscessed and actually rupture through the skin. I hope this is helpful!

This sounds like her anal sacs are fully and causing the scooting and itching. Even if they look normal on the outside they can be full inside. I recommend your veterinarian express the fluid in the anal sacs and they can see if they are over full or infected. The scooting can cause skin irritation. You can apply a thin coat of Vaseline to soothe the red skin. Yes allergies can cause itching but I would check the anal glands to make sure they are not the problem. Also make sure you are using warm water or something mild to clean the area after pooping. Some chemicals, soaps, and fragrances could cause a skin irritation and itching. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Snowball.

Oh dear, poor Sadie! Her skin issues coupled with the redness and swelling of her anus and vulva could be due to underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment. I see that she has not been spayed, so it is also possible that her vulva is red and swollen if she is going into heat. The anus can be red and irritated from parasites or anal gland issues, as well. At this point, I recommend assuring that Sadie is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or K9 Advantix II). You can try bathing her in a gentle oatmeal shampoo or antimicrobial shampoo, but she will likely need to go to her vet for an exam. The vet will be able to assess her changes and determine if a skin infection is present as a result of her ongoing itching. She may need to have a course of antibiotics and anti-itch medications to help resolve this issue. I hope that all goes well!

Hi there and thanks for posting. Certain shampoos or sprays may irritate the skin and anus especially if she has a history of sensitive skin. Sometimes the groomers will express the anal glands as part of their grooming routine. If that was the case, sometimes there can be a small amount of inflammation afterwards especially if the anal sacs were very full. She may also have a skin infection or infection of the anal sacs as well which may be unrelated to the grooming. Feel free to send along pictures or you can also request a consult with me to share pictures and I can provide additional feedback. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you are describing can be related to your dog's anal glands - these are structures that create lubrication for the feces and can become impacted or infected. You may be seeing redness around the anus because your dog has been scooting or licking/chewing the area. Another cause can be a bacterial or fungal infection. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible, they can perform a rectal exam to determine if there are any anal gland issues. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!