Why is my dog having white discharge after anal gland surgery?

There is a pretty big hole where the anal sac used to be, so there is a chance that there is a seroma there filling it up, which is a perfectly normal reaction of the body. Unless the discharge is yellow or green (pus) or frank blood, I would not worry and you can wait for your recheck appointment with your veterinarian.

The contents of the anal glands can be lots of different colors. Abnormal material is red (blood) or yellow/green (pus). If Luna isn't painful when defecating, licking her bottom a lot, or scooting her hind end on the ground, it sound like this is normal discharge. Anal glands are scent glands that normally empty with a bowel movement, so that's likely why you're seeing this tiny amount of discharge both shortly before and after she poops. The anal glands can become [infected or impacted](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs/), which can be quite painful. Keep an eye out for any changes in her behavior, appetite, energy level, and licking or scooting of the hind end, as these signs could indicate problems.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. White colored discharge from anywhere could signal an infection, yes. If the discharge appears to be coming from his anus or surrounding area, I would be concerned about an anal sac infection, which is not an uncommon occurrence. I would take Jimmy (like that name!) into your local veterinarian for an exam and rectal exam to get a better look at what the issue is. They may flush the infected area and place him on antibiotics. I hope this has helped. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh good! I am glad there isn't purulent discharge from her vagina. Most dogs with an anal gland infection do feel fine. They just scoot and sometimes the discharge will leak out. I still recommend an appointment to have the anal glands expressed. I have seen infected and impacted anal glands rupture through the skin. It isn't an expensive visit and will hopefully make her feel better! I hope this helps!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, this drainage could be due to excessive activity which in turn it can cause a seroma which is essentially an accumulation of fluid at the incision site which can result in drainage. Another possibility is an infection. Even though his discharge does not have a smell to it, it can still be due to an infection. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian when possible (for example next Tuesday when they open again). The reason is that that region is very prone to infections as it is so close to the anus and if an infection is present, you want to treat it appropriately. In the meantime, keep the area clean and keep him as quiet as possible to prevent any further issues. If the incision forms any scabs, avoid picking the scabs. Good luck! I will keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well! Have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she passed blood in her urine then that would be concerning for things that can affect the urinary tract such as a urinary tract infection, urine stones or even a tumor. Further diagnostics would include a urine culture and abdominal imaging. I recommend that you have Bell evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

A little bit of discharge is normal and may not be related to the surgery. You should how ever always pay attention to any changes or deviations from Ginger's 'normal'. I recommend to call your veterinarian and tell them what is happening. They may ask to examine her again to look at the discharge under a microscope to check for any infection or they may suggest something else. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.