Why is my puppy whimpering and hopping? Could it be anal glands?

I recommend bringing him to your vet ASAP to have his anal glands expressed. Full anal gland can be extremely uncomfortable or even painful for dogs and can even lead to perianal fistula (ruptured anal glands) if not expressed in a timely fashion. Many vets hospitals will do anal gland expressions without charging an office visit/exam fee. However if the anal glands are not full, a full exam by your veterinarian to determine if there is any obvious lesion in either Gunner’s perianal region or musculoskeletal pain would be helpful.

Have him seen by your veterinarian. The most common, and easiest to treat, cause is full or impacted anal glands. Normally, the anal glands are emptied during the act of defecation. In some dogs, this doesn't happen and the glands fill up, become impacted and could abscess. This would result in the symptoms described. Your veterinarian can Express the glands manually, flush them and instill medication if necessary. Antibiotics and pain medications are also sometimes dispensed. If Scooby is licking back there, place an e-collar (cone) on him until he sees the doctor.

Hello, I'm so sorry to hear this about Kaya. I agree that it does sound like she could be in pain- pain from an anal gland infection, or belly or back pain would be my first suspicions. I'd take her to see a veterinarian as soon as possible- they will be able to recommend the best diagnostics and treatments after a physical exam. Best of luck and take good care to both of you.

Poor Shelly! She could be having a muscle spasm, itching, fleas, or most commonly anal gland issues. Dogs act this way commonly when their anal glands are bothering them. The anal glands are two gland just inside their anus that are suppose to naturally express when they have a bowel movement. Unfortunately, when they age, some dogs don’t express theirs as routinely as they are suppose to do they get full and uncomfortable. I would have your vet take a look at her to ensure nothing more serious is going on and to see if her anal glands are full. Your vet will be able to empty her anal glands and tell you whether she needs any meds. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be constipated. You may add a bit of canned pumpkin to her meals to help with that. If no improvement is noted, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

You can put a couple tablespoons of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) into Evie's food to add fiber to her diet and to make things "move along". If this does not help, it could certainly be due to full or impacted anal glands. In this case, your veterinarian will be able to express Evie's anal glands to relieve any discomfort and to assess if there is any infection causing the problem.

Your dog may have a problem with constipation, her anal glands may be inflamed or infected which can be very painful, there are a number of possibilities. I recommend getting her checked by your vet. If it is anal glands your vet can show you how to express the material from them so it doesn't build up and get painful, or if you take her to a groomer, they can do it when she gets a bath.