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Education
Anal Glands and Anal gland expression
Why does it always seem the dog or cat HAS to drag their bottom across the floor whenever there is company? It may be their anal glands! Anal glands are two sacs on either side of the anus that hold a scented (although NOT pleasant by human standards) fluid that is normally expressed when your pet has a bowl movement. When these glands are not working properly, it can cause your dog to scoot, lick excessively or even chase their tail. At this point, it is time to express your pet’s anal gland for them. Since this procedure is dirty, smelly and unpleasant, many people bring their pets to the veterinarian for this procedure. Improper expression of anal glands or lack of expression can result in infection or even gland rupture.
Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog's anus, at approximately four and eight o'clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease.
Clinical Signs:
Signs of anal sac disease include scooting across the floor; licking the area around the anus; tenesmus, or straining to defecate; biting or chasing the tail; discharge, swelling, or pain around the anal area; and behavioral change. When an abscess ruptures, pus may be seen draining from the lesion. The area surrounding the abscess may appear red, swollen, and painful.
Signs of anal sac disease include scooting across the floor; licking the area around the anus; tenesmus, or straining to defecate; biting or chasing the tail; discharge, swelling, or pain around the anal area; and behavioral change. When an abscess ruptures, pus may be seen draining from the lesion. The area surrounding the abscess may appear red, swollen, and painful.
Description:
Anal sac disease occurs in progressive stages: impaction, inflammation, and abscess formation. Impaction of the anal sacs occurs when the anal gland secretions contained in the anal sac thicken so that the sac is unable to empty during a bowel movement. Inflammation of the anal sac, or anal sacculitis, is an infection usually resulting from impaction; it may also be caused by bacterial growth within the anal sac.
During the sacculitis stage, the impacted fluid may become thinner and fill with pus. Abscess occurs when the inflammation of the anal sac has reached an extreme stage; at this point, a red-brown substance will be seen coming from the sac, which will be enlarged, hot, red, and very painful. Usually, the abscessed sac will rupture, leaving a hole near the side of the rectum that oozes a foul-smelling liquid. The tissues surrounding the abscess will swell up, and this will worsen the dog's inflammation and pain.Anal sac disease occurs in progressive stages: impaction, inflammation, and abscess formation. Impaction of the anal sacs occurs when the anal gland secretions contained in the anal sac thicken so that the sac is unable to empty during a bowel movement. Inflammation of the anal sac, or anal sacculitis, is an infection usually resulting from impaction; it may also be caused by bacterial growth within the anal sac.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis and staging of anal sac disease is made clinically with a rectal examination. Impacted or swollen anal sacs are often quite painful and some dogs may need sedation before a thorough examination can be done. Thick, brown or yellowish-green secretions are typical of animals with anal sac disease.
Diagnosis and staging of anal sac disease is made clinically with a rectal examination. Impacted or swollen anal sacs are often quite painful and some dogs may need sedation before a thorough examination can be done. Thick, brown or yellowish-green secretions are typical of animals with anal sac disease.
If the inflammation of the anal sacs has led to an abscess, a large, red, and swollen area may be visible on the side of the anus. A rupture of the abscessed sac can result in the oozing of a foul-smelling liquid material.
Prognosis:
Expression, or applying pressure to the anal sac, is a successful method for removing impacted secretions from the anal glands, but in many cases, this procedure must be performed on a regular basis to prevent recurrence. If there is an infection in the glands, antibiotics are often used eliminate the infection. If abscess has occurred, the abscessed anal sacs usually heal. However, all animals with anal sac disease usually have to have their anal sacs expressed on a regular basis to prevent further problems. A trained individual, such as the veterinarian or veterinary nurse will express the glands, usually from the inside. If the glands need to be expressed often, we can teach you to express them externally.
Expression, or applying pressure to the anal sac, is a successful method for removing impacted secretions from the anal glands, but in many cases, this procedure must be performed on a regular basis to prevent recurrence. If there is an infection in the glands, antibiotics are often used eliminate the infection. If abscess has occurred, the abscessed anal sacs usually heal. However, all animals with anal sac disease usually have to have their anal sacs expressed on a regular basis to prevent further problems. A trained individual, such as the veterinarian or veterinary nurse will express the glands, usually from the inside. If the glands need to be expressed often, we can teach you to express them externally.
Transmission or Cause:
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected, but any breed of dog or cat can be affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Treatment:
When the anal sac disease is at the impaction stage, the most common treatment is an outpatient procedure called expression in which the veterinarian applies pressure to the anal glands until the thickened secretions are expelled from the sacs. Sedation may be needed if the dog is nervous or is in great pain.
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected, but any breed of dog or cat can be affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Treatment:
When the anal sac disease is at the impaction stage, the most common treatment is an outpatient procedure called expression in which the veterinarian applies pressure to the anal glands until the thickened secretions are expelled from the sacs. Sedation may be needed if the dog is nervous or is in great pain.
For the anal sacculitis stage of the disease, the same expression procedure is performed; afterwords, an antibiotic-steroid combination ointment is applied directly to the anal sac. In addition, the examining veterinarian may prescribe oral antibiotics to help fight infection. To help determine the appropriate antibiotic, the veterinarian may also need to take cultures to identify what type of bacteria caused the sacculitis.
When anal sac disease is at the abscess stage, a surgical procedure is required if the abscess has not already ruptured. The veterinarian, after sedating the dog or placing it under general anesthesia, will surgically open the infected anal sac to clean out the infected material and drain the remaining liquid.
Following surgery for ruptured abscesses, an antibiotic-steroid combination ointment will be applied directly to the anal sac to fight infection and inflammation. An oral antibiotic probably will be prescribed as well. As in the treatment of sacculitis, culture of the abscess may be necessary to help determine the best antibiotic medication. If infection continues after the surgery, surgical removal of the anal sac may be required.
Prevention:
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese. Due to the unpleasant and possibly dangerous nature of anal gland expression, we can express your pet’s anal glands in the office. Once any inflammation in the glands is healed, we can teach you to express the glands at home.
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese. Due to the unpleasant and possibly dangerous nature of anal gland expression, we can express your pet’s anal glands in the office. Once any inflammation in the glands is healed, we can teach you to express the glands at home.
Chronic anal gland problems:
If your pet is having repeated problems or needs expression often, it is possible to remove the glands. This procedure has many risks, so it is important to understand the risks involved in this procedure.
1.) Trauma to the anal sphincter muscle... if too much damage occurs there is the potential for poor sphincter tone. The anus may not be able to retain stool and a fecal incontinence may develop.
2.) Not removing the entire sac... if even a tiny amount of anal sac tissue remains in the surgical site it has the potential to continue secreting anal sac fluid. This will build up in the surgical site and result in an abscess and possibly a persistent draining tract leading from the sac remnant to the skin surface. This is called a fistula. The surgeon will have to enter the non healing area and find the tag of anal sac tissue and remove it for a successful outcome to be achieved.
Because of these risks, if you and the doctor determine this is the best course of action for your pet, we will send you to a board certified surgeon, who has studied for at least 4 additional years. The surgeon at the referral clinic has done many of these procedures and will explain the surgery and risks to you. Dr Kempf has 2 dogs and 2 cats of her own with this problem. She has also had the surgery performed on another of her pets successfully. Please feel free to ask her any questions you may have.