Why is my senior dog's anus swollen with discharge and incontinence?

There may be a mild to moderate swelling possibly due to anal glands impaction/inflammation, which may be discharging excess of fluid. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Anal gland expression may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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!

Ideally, Pepa should be examined by your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. A hernia is a possibility. Anal gland issues or an enlarged prostate are also concerns. These last two are likely less expensive to treat than hernia surgery, but without a diagnosis, it is difficult to say with any certainty. Discuss treatment options with your veterinarian after a physical exam.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are a few things that can cause this such as parasites and in uncommon instances cancer such as lymphoma, among other possibilities. Your veterinarian would be able to examine her more closely and see what seems likely so that therapy can be started. Hopefully it is just a case of parasites as it is most of the time. Best of luck!

Hello. There can be a couple of things that might be bothering Sonny. Impacted, inflamed anal glands are a primary problem. Allergies can affect the delicate mucous membranes of the rectum, & more seriously, cancer. You can try sitting his bottom in a warm bath containing Epsom salts & a good shot of povidone-iodine for 5-10 minutes. Repeat twice daily for a few days. In an older pet, it is best to have this looked at if things do not improve on their own. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These look classic for perianal gland tumors. This is very common in intact dogs. The majority of these tumors are benign though a small percentage of them are malignant. I recommend you take him to your veterinarian for a test called a fine needle aspirate which can help distinguish these tumors from other more concerning tumors. If it truly is a perianal gland tumor, most of the time they resolve or greatly improved by neutering the dog as they are driven by hormones. If they are not bothering him, this may be enough. In cases when they are starting to bother the dog, you can also consider removal. Feel free to request a consult with me if wanting more information on the next steps. Good luck with your pup!

Yes. Abscesses are infection and require treatment. Abscesses can become chronic or even turn into something like septicemia. It’s best to get them taken care of quickly. Make an appointment with his veterinarian. You also need to prevent licking and he should wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. I hope it heals quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.