Key Takeaways
In the movie The Fisher King there is a rather funny scene in which Robin Williams' character is running himself along the ground by digging his heels in and dragging his bare bottom throughout the lawn. In a joyous voice he calls out, "Do you know why pet dogs do this? It feels GREAT!!".
Really, that's not the only factor. Canines will show this habits if the anus or hind quarters are itchy, however it can be an indication of an affected anal gland which can be a problem for some dogs.
The anal glands are located on either side of a dog's anus and, in the wild, work as a method of marking the dog's area. When a dog defecates the glands are naturally compressed and secrete a dark, foul smelling liquid in addition to the bowel movement. When the sacs are operating generally they clear whenever the animal has a bowel movement.
Often, for various reasons, the dog's anal sacs might end up being obstructed. When this occurs a variety of problems can develop. Some are benign as a foul smell but they can lead to major issues like diarrhea and infection. To intervene before an obstructed anal gland becomes a problem, the glands must be expressed.
Expression of the anal glands is a simple medical procedure that can be performed in the house or by a veterinarian. Some people choose to let the veterinarian take care of this job since they find it to be an unattractive task. To save the expense of a vet, nevertheless, it is perfectly acceptable to express the anal glands yourself.
Revealing the Dog's Anal Glands:.
Expressing the anal glands is a simple matter. You'll wish to hold the tail up and pull it gently towards the dog's head. In the other hand hold a tissue or paper towel and location your thumb on the left side of the left gland and your forefinger on the best side of the best gland. Squeeze strongly however not roughly and the glands ought to clear a brown or yellow-colored liquid onto the tissue or towel. Impacted glands will not empty as quickly and might require an internal draining pipes method. You can do the internal technique in your home as well, but you'll need surgical gloves and a tube of KY jelly.
Internal anal gland expression requires that the sacs on either side of the rectum be expressed individually and will need that you position your thumb on one side of the gland and your forefinger inside the dog's anus in order to squeeze and express the gland. Impacted glands will be harder to drain and the fluid may be thick and pasty with a foul odor and a dark brown, grey, or black color.
Contaminated anal glands might produce a discharge of bloody pus and can be an indicator of a more serious problem. The infection needs to be battled with antibiotics so a vet need to be gotten in touch with instantly if the dog appears to have such an infection.
