My dog keeps scooting after anal gland expression. Is this normal?

They are likely not full again but may be a bit irritated due to the expression. If your dog keeps scooting for more than a day or two then I suggest you take him back to your veterinarian for a recheck.

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.

Yes, licking is a common behavior after anal gland expression because of the mild irritation that can be caused when you milk the full or impacted [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/conditions-of-the-anal-glands) until they are empty. This should passwithin 24 hours, but if it appears overly irritated you can apply a thin layer of Desitin (baby rash cream) to the skin around the rectum. Consider using an e-collar (cone) to prevent excessive licking.

Hi there, It's normal for there to be mild redness after an expression of the anal glands. This should resolve in the next few days. Since there is no infection, you can use a small amount of vasoline as an emollient cream to help protect his skin barrier. An ice pack would fine as well if he enjoys it, but he may not. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an infection of the anal sac or possibly allergies for example. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

yes, I am afraid it is possible that a groomer damages anal glands. Most groomers offer emptying anal glands as a service, however, do not do this correctly and also do it even when it is not necessary. Emptying anal glands/sacs should be done by a veterinarian and only after the vet examines them and determines that they actually are impacted and need emptying. So, when you take your dog to the groomer adamantly request that they leave the anal sacs alone. As for the scooting and furiously licking, dogs with food allergies often can get irritated anal glands. It may be worth trying some hypoallergenic food for 8 to 12 weeks to see whether this subsides. If so, then your dog is suffering from food allergies and you want to discuss an elimination diet with your veterinarian.

Sometimes after the anal glands are expressed there will be some residual irritation, especially if they were very full, so Nicco may continue to lick and scoot for the next couple of days. There may be some odor released just from the licking and scooting or if there was a little bit if fluid left in the glands or stuck on the fur. You could start by putting a cone on him so he can't lick and then applying a topical steroid such as hydrocortisone to decrease the irritation. If it continues, or starts to look worse, I would recommend taking him to your veterinarian for an examination.