Do I need to express my dog's anal glands if they aren't impacted?

Yes, that is considered expressing the anal sacs. I would only do them as needed. If you notice that Lolli is sniffing around her anus or scooting her bottom, then they may need to be expressed again. Best of luck.

It really depends on the dog. Some dogs never need their glands expressed while others need it done once a month. Just monitor for signs like scooting her butt on the floor, licking, and an odor and then have them checked at that time.

Hello, sorry to hear about Daisy. One thing is that she could have impacted anal glands that could be leading to an abscess. Second is that she could have perineal fistulas, an autoimmune disease that could cause the foul smell. I would recommend having her evaluated so that she can have her anal glands and perineum evaluated to treat any underlying infection. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If Frankie is licking around his rectum, scooting, or you smell a foul, fishy odor he should have his anal glands checked and expressed. Any of the above signs indicate Frankie should have his anal glands checked, he doesn't have to be showing all signs. You can also try adding canned pumpkin to his food as sometimes this will help with anal gland issues. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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 him 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. Surgery is also an option to remove the anal glands. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

If she has impacted or infected anal glands then they need to expressed. This is something you can learn to do at home, but it is probably best to have your veterinarian or their staff teach you the first time. In the meantime you can use warm compresses on Gracie's bottom to try to ease a little discomfort. Some of these small breed dogs need their anal glands expressed every 4-6 weeks on a regular schedule. Adding some fiber to her diet may also help her to express them a little more naturally.

These are two little glands inside the dog's rectum. They naturally fill with a material that ranges from thin, light colored liquid to a thick paste. When a dog defecated, this material is released -- most of the time not all of the liquid is release but over the course of each defecation, enough is released that the glands do not overfill. With some dogs though, this process does not occur as easily. This can be due to the material being too thick to be expressed, the stool being too soft or diarrhea which does not apply enough force to the gland to express the fluids or due to an underlying disease process. The most common cause of recurrently full anal glands is an underlying allergy problem. Dogs with skin sensitivity or allergies often have anal glands that need to be emptied on a routine basis. If the glands become too full, the material can become infected or the gland can rupture. In this case, the area will heal but antibiotics are typically needed. After the anal glands are expressed, the area can continue to feel irritating for a few days. In some cases though, the glands may not have been completely emptied. This is often the case if the glands are emptied at a groomers as they empty them from the outside and are not trained to empty them rectally as a vet would. Most dogs do not need their glands emptied for any medical purpose but if the glands were randomly checked, they could be moderately full. This does not indicate a need to express the material though. The reason I bring this up is because I have found that if we begin emptying the glands for the dog, it creates a cyclic effect where we continue to have to empty them. If the dog is scooting, this is an indication to have them checked.