What Happens If a Dog’s Anal Glands Aren’t Expressed?
So what happens if you don’t express your dog’s glands? Usually nothing, if the sacs empty naturally when they poo. Most dogs can go their whole life without manual expression.
If the sacs stop draining, fluid can build up and thicken, causing discomfort, impaction and sometimes infection or an abscess. We’ll explain the signs to watch for, how often expression is actually needed and what can help keep things moving.
Key Takeaways
- Most dogs don’t need manual anal gland expression. Healthy sacs usually empty when they poo.
- Repeated scooting, bum licking and a fishy smell deserve a vet check.
- A blockage can progress to infection, an abscess or rupture, but this doesn’t happen in every case.
- Painful swelling, blood, pus or an open wound beside the anus need same-day veterinary attention.
- Suitable fibre, good stool quality and a healthy weight can support normal emptying. Supplements cannot treat an infected or blocked sac.
Symptoms of Blocked Anal Glands in Dogs
The carpet scoot. The sudden turn to lick their bottom. That unmistakable smell on the sofa.
These can be signs of full anal glands, although they don’t prove there’s a blockage. Watch for a pattern, especially if your dog seems uncomfortable.
Common warning signs
Book a vet check
- Repeated scooting
- Frequent licking or nibbling around the bottom
- A recurring fishy smell or small stains
- Repeatedly turning to look at their rear end
Urgent signs
Call your vet today
- Red or painful swelling beside the anus
- Blood, pus or an open wound
- Marked pain when sitting or pooing
Scooting has other causes too, including irritated skin and parasites. Our guide to why dogs scoot explains some of the possibilities.
What Happens When Anal Glands Do Not Empty?
When secretions aren’t released, they can collect inside the sacs. Pressure builds. The contents may become thicker and harder to pass through the small ducts.
The possible progression looks like this:
- Full sacs
Fluid is retained inside the sacs.
- Impaction
Thickened contents become difficult to empty.
- Infection
Bacterial infection may develop.
- Abscess
A pocket of pus can form.
- Rupture
An abscess drains through the skin.
Full or Impacted Anal Glands
Full sacs contain retained fluid. Anal sac impaction means the contents have become difficult to empty, often because they’re thickened or the outlet is blocked.
An affected dog may scoot, lick or find sitting and pooing uncomfortable. You can’t reliably judge how full the sacs are just by looking at your dog’s bottom.
Infection, Abscess and Rupture
Inflammation and bacterial infection can develop in an affected sac. An abscess is a pocket of pus, which may appear as a painful swelling beside the anus.
If it ruptures, pus or blood can drain through a break in the skin. A draining abscess still needs treatment, even if some pressure has been released.
Treatment depends on the examination. Your vet may recommend pain relief, flushing or medication; an infected or abscessed sac needs more than a dietary change. These are recognised complications of anal sac disease, rather than an inevitable result of missing a grooming appointment.
Anal Glands Usually Empty on Their Own
Dogs have two anal sacs, one on either side of the anus, roughly at the four and eight o’clock positions. Tiny glands in their lining produce the strong-smelling secretion used in scent communication. We commonly call the whole structures “anal glands”.
As a formed poo passes, it puts pressure on the sacs and helps release their contents through small openings. This is normal, natural emptying. You generally won’t notice it happening. Our guide to dog anal glands covers the wider picture.
Soft stools may provide less pressure, which can make emptying less effective. The aim is a well-formed poo that passes comfortably. Making stools as hard as possible isn’t the goal.
Common Causes of Anal Gland Problems
Several things can interfere with normal drainage. Sometimes more than one is involved.
- Soft stools or ongoing diarrhoea. Less consistent pressure against the sacs can leave secretions behind.
- Allergies and skin inflammation. Food or environmental allergies may contribute to irritation around the sacs and their ducts.
- Excess weight and obesity. These are recognised risk factors, although they won’t explain every case.
- Anatomy. Narrow duct openings and individual differences in the sacs can make drainage more difficult.
- Unnecessary or repeated over-expression. Squeezing healthy sacs too often, or using the wrong technique, can cause irritation or injury.
These risk factors for anal sac disease help explain why simply emptying the glands may not solve a recurring problem. The underlying cause needs attention too.
If scooting keeps returning, we’d ask three questions: has the stool changed, is the skin itchy elsewhere, and how long did any relief after expression last? Those answers are more useful than another request to “do the glands”.
Why Some Dogs Need Help and Others Never Do
Many dogs manage perfectly well through normal bowel movements. Others have recurring problems because of their anatomy, stool consistency or an underlying condition.
Even two dogs eating the same food may have different needs. A comfortable dog with formed stools and no history of gland trouble doesn’t need expression added to their care routine.
Breeds That More Often Need Help
Small breeds are often affected, but size isn’t the whole story. A UK VetCompass study of 104,212 dogs found higher odds of non-cancerous anal sac disorders in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, King Charles Spaniels, Cockapoos, Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises and Cocker Spaniels than in crossbreeds.
The study recorded these disorders in 4.4% of dogs during 2013. That’s a one-year population figure, not a lifetime risk or a prediction for your dog.
Breed-related anatomy may play a part, but the study doesn’t establish one anatomical explanation for every breed. Being a Cockapoo is a reason to recognise the signs, not a reason to book automatic expression.
Notice changes in licking
Keep a note of repeated licking and any changes in your dog’s usual behaviour.
How Anal Glands Are Expressed and Who Should Do It
Anal gland expression means applying controlled pressure to release the sacs’ contents. It should follow an assessment of whether emptying is needed. Expression alone won’t explain a recurring problem.
Veterinary team
- What they can do
- Examine the sacs, check for disease and express them if needed. A vet can prescribe treatment.
- When to choose them
- New symptoms, pain, swelling or recurring problems. A trained vet nurse may perform expression within the practice’s care plan.
Groomer
- What they can do
- Some offer external expression, which may not fully empty the sacs. They cannot diagnose or treat anal sac disease.
- When to choose them
- Only if your vet has advised it and the groomer is appropriately trained. Avoid routine expression with every groom.
At home
- What they can do
- Pressure and technique are difficult to judge without hands-on veterinary instruction.
- When to choose them
- We recommend professional assessment rather than trying a DIY procedure.
We recommend leaving expression to a qualified professional. Squeezing a sore or swollen sac can cause injury, and a dog in pain may bite.
How Often Should a Dog’s Anal Glands Be Expressed?
Only when there’s a clinical need. There’s no standard schedule for every dog.
A dog whose sacs drain normally may never need manual expression. There’s no countdown after which healthy glands become overdue.
For dogs with repeated impaction, a vet may recommend planned checks and expression when needed. The interval should reflect that dog’s symptoms and examination findings.
PDSA advises against routine emptying when there’s no problem. If a groomer offers it with every haircut, ask whether your vet has actually recommended it.
Are There Side Effects of Expressing a Dog’s Glands?
Yes. Expression can cause discomfort, particularly when the sacs are already inflamed. Unnecessary or repeated over-expression can also irritate tissue and make an existing problem worse.
Too much pressure or incorrect squeezing can injure tissue, and PDSA warns that glands squeezed the wrong way can burst.
Soreness or scooting that persists or quickly returns after expression deserves a review of the cause. More squeezing isn’t automatically the answer.
How to Help Your Dog Express Their Glands Naturally
Once an active problem has been assessed, everyday care can support more comfortable, consistent bowel movements.
Start With Stool Quality
Keep an eye on what you’re picking up: formed or sloppy, easy to pass or accompanied by straining? Note changes in food, treats and symptoms.
A short poo-and-symptom diary can be useful if problems recur. It can show, for example, whether scooting follows bouts of loose stools or continues even when poos look normal.
Choose Fibre to Suit the Dog
Dietary fibre can increase stool bulk and may help the sacs empty during pooing. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes this role for supplemental fibre.
The right amount depends on the whole diet and the reason for the stool problem. Persistent diarrhoea or constipation needs assessment before you keep adding fibre.
For dogs whose care plan includes additional fibre, explore Scooch’s Anal Gland chews as a daily support option. They’re designed to support stool quality and normal emptying. Follow the current feeding guide for your dog’s weight.
Our guide to fibre supplements for dogs covers what to check when choosing a product. For all-round daily support, Advanced Daily supports digestion alongside joints, skin and more.
Keep Water, Weight and Meals Consistent
Provide fresh drinking water, feed an appropriate complete diet and keep treats within your dog’s daily allowance. If your dog carries extra weight, ask your vet for a realistic weight-management plan.
Changing food, adding a topper and starting several supplements at once makes it harder to see what helps. We’d make changes with a clear purpose and keep a note of the response.
Build a Routine You Can Maintain
If a bundle suits your routine, Perfect Poo combines Anal Gland chews, Digestive Probiotics and compostable poo bags.
The Anal Gland Kit combines dog food, external-use wipes and an anal gland supplement. The wipes clean the outside; they don’t empty the sacs.
Choose what fits your dog’s care plan rather than adding every option. These products support everyday care. They cannot clear an impaction, treat an infection or replace veterinary treatment.
When to Contact Your Vet
The checklist above covers the main local warning signs. Also call for same-day advice if your dog:
- Keeps straining to poo but passes little or nothing.
- Becomes lethargic, loses their appetite or seems generally unwell alongside bottom-related symptoms.
If your dog is severely distressed or cannot pass poo, seek urgent veterinary care.
Persistent or newly recurring problems in an older dog should always be checked. A lump or one-sided enlargement can have other causes, including an anal sac tumour. This isn’t a condition caused by skipping routine expression, but it can be mistaken for a straightforward gland problem.
Before the appointment, note when symptoms started, any changes in poo and when the glands were last expressed. Don’t squeeze the area or try to drain a swelling yourself.
A Comfortable Bottom Starts With the Right Check
If your dog’s anal sacs empty normally, leave them to it. Consistent poos, a suitable diet and recognising changes are the useful everyday habits.
We’d focus on what has changed rather than booking expression by the calendar. When there is a blockage, treat the cause as well as the full sacs.
Dog Anal Glands FAQs
Do dogs feel better after their glands are expressed?
Often, yes, when retained contents were causing the discomfort. Continuing pain or scooting suggests there may still be inflammation, infection or another cause.
What does it look or smell like when a dog releases its glands?
The fluid often has a strong, fishy smell and may leave a small oily-looking mark. Colour and thickness vary, so appearance alone cannot diagnose infection.
Can a dog’s anal glands be removed?
Yes. Surgical removal may be considered for persistent or severe disease, but it has risks, including faecal incontinence, which should be weighed with a vet or surgical specialist.
Is it painful for a dog when their glands are expressed?
It can be uncomfortable, especially if the sacs are inflamed, infected or impacted. Some dogs need pain relief or sedation so their vet can examine and treat them comfortably.
How can I tell if my dog’s glands are infected?
Pain, redness, swelling or pus can raise concern, but only an examination can confirm the cause. Use the same-day warning signs above; smell alone cannot diagnose infection.
Can dogs express their own glands by licking?
Licking isn’t a reliable way to empty blocked sacs; persistent licking is more often a sign of irritation. Normal emptying usually happens as a dog passes poo.
