Clogged anal glands in dogs are not only uncomfortable, but also very painful. Expressing anal glands is therefore mostly the first means to help your dog.
In this article you will find out whether it makes sense to do the printing yourself or to leave it to a professional.
Symptoms: Recognizing blocked anal glands in dogs
One of the most well-known symptoms of clogged anal glands is the so-called «Sledging«. Here the dog moves while sitting on the floor in order to relieve the extreme itching associated with the constipation.
Another symptom is a increased licking and scratching in the anal area. Occasionally, dogs also start their chasing or nibbling on the tail.
Often there is a blockage of the anal glands prolonged diarrhea in advance. However, if the exits of the glands are clogged, the dog usually has it Difficulty in defecation.
The anal gland secretion has a very unpleasant smell. Licking the anus makes the dog smell very unpleasant overall.
Causes & consequences of blocked anal glands
The anal glands secrete a secretion that mixes with the dog’s feces and is excreted together. The secretion is used for the individual smell of the dog and is used to mark territory.
In order for the anal glands to work optimally, the consistency of the stool is very important. It must be neither too soft nor too hard.
A stool that is too soft builds up in the anal sacs not enough pressure up in order to deposit the secretion from the glands via the gland outlets. The anal gland secretion in the outlets becomes viscous and ultimately hard.
Nevertheless, the secretion continues to be produced in the glands and accumulates in the anal sacs.
The most common cause of blocked anal glands is therefore a prolonged loose stools or diarrhea to call.
The reason for this can turn on parasite infestation, infections or wrong diet lay.
Also one can acidic colon flora be a possible cause.
In rare cases one comes genetically caused hyperfunction of the anal glands under consideration.
An anal gland blockage in itself is very painful for the dog, but it is not a cause for concern at first. However, if left undetected and untreated, constipation can become dangerous for your dog.
If the anal gland exits are clogged, the secretion continues to be produced and accumulates in the anal sac. Here, bacteria form, which lead to a anal gland inflammation being able to lead.
If an inflammation remains untreated, it can result in damage to neighboring organs.
Dry secretions can also tumors lead, which are all the more painful for the dog.
Also one fistula formation is possible. The secretion seeks its own exit from the dog’s body.
Due to the blockage of the outlets and the associated backwater, the anal glands can also burst.
Expressing anal glands at the vet
At the vet’s the anal glands, so to speak massaged. However, this is only possible if the secretion in the outlets is at least still viscous. If the anal gland secretion has already hardened, it must first softened become.
In the next step, the glands and the entire anal area cleaned and disinfected.
The expressed content will examined in the laboratory. This measure is necessary to get to the bottom of the causes of the anal gland blockage.
Good to know:
Squeezing the anal glands is very uncomfortable for the dog. It is therefore easier for your dog in familiar surroundings. Many veterinarians know this and therefore offer home visits.
Costs
Veterinarians do not have a universal price list. Therefore, the cost of expressing the anal glands very different be.
Another factor is whether the glands can be massaged out or whether the secretion has to be softened first.
In the case of anal gland inflammation, a repeated expressions necessary.
The cost per treatment is between 15 and 30 euros. In addition, there may be laboratory tests and a home visit, which the veterinarian will certainly charge for.
Can you express anal glands yourself?
Theoretically, you can express the anal glands yourself. However, you should stay away from it if your dog’s anal glands are blocked and you’ve never done it yourself.
Your vet will be happy to instruct you in this process. However, he will advise you not to lend a hand to your dog yourself unless it is «Not am Hund» such as at the weekend when the veterinary surgeries are closed.
An alternative between self-expression and vet often offer as well dog groomerswho – appropriately trained – offer this service.
Expressing your dog is helping your dog, but neither you nor the groomer can diagnose the cause of the constipation.
In some dogs, the anal glands need to be expressed regularly. This is where it might make sense to learn it and do it yourself.
How to express anal glands?
Danger
The following small instructions should give you an overview of the procedure, or serve as a reference if you have already done it before.
If it’s your first time, don’t start just squeezing around, have a veterinarian or groomer show you how.
First you need to know exactly where the glands are located. Seen from the anus as the center, they are about two centimeters apart at eight and four o’clock, about one to two millimeters under the skin.
Source: www.erste-hilfe-beim-hund.de
For the hygiene you should definitely work with latex gloves for both you and your four-legged friend.
One second person can be quite helpful to distract the dog with treats and to keep handkerchiefs to protect against squirting secretions.
Colloquially one speaks of expressing the anal bag, but in fact the glands or the gland exits are meant here.
To express it, lift the tail and push the gland towards the anus from the hips. This process is similar to popping a deep-seated pimple.
Just carefully overstretching the tail exerts enough pressure on some dogs to defecate.
To help massage it out, you can put a finger in your dog’s anus.
That’s pretty much it, but the process is very uncomfortable for both you and your dog.
You should only have anal glands on one easily washable ground such as a bath or shower tray, or on an easy-to-clean tiled floor or outdoors. Because leaking secretion stinks terribly. The living room carpet should therefore be out of the question.
Once when expressing blood or pus become apparent, you should discontinue your own treatment and consult a veterinarian.
Is expressing anal glands painful for the dog?
Anal blockage is in itself very uncomfortable and painful for your dog. If you still press around on the sensitive area, this feeling is of course increased.
It can happen that your darling doesn’t let you touch his anus defenselessly. Although he otherwise trusts you blindly, he can even grab your hand.
But that is completely normal defensive reaction. Imagine you have gastrointestinal disease yourself and your doctor presses on your stomach while palpating and asks, «Does that hurt?» You would like to smack him, but that is necessary for the diagnosis.
How often do you have to express a dog’s anal glands?
In the case of recurring blockages in the anal glands, it makes sense to express them regularly.
However, there should be a longer period of time between the processes, unless there is already an inflammation that requires repeated squeezing at short intervals.
More often than two to six times a year this treatment should not be undertaken. If the need for tuition by manual emptying appears more often, it could make sense to Surgical removal of anal glands.
The major disadvantage of squeezing the anal glands is that squeezing the glands additionally stimulated and thus produce even more secretion.
It is therefore much more important to pay attention to the stool and its consistency in order to be able to prevent a blockage of the anal glands at an early stage.
Counteract blocked anal glands with homeopathy and home remedies
To get straight to the point, you can help relieve pain and itching with home remedies and homeopathy, but you can do it not the causes at. Therefore, a veterinary advice is certainly an advantage.
envelopes with chamomile or marigold act on the anus area pain relieving.
Isolated globules from homeopathy can also relieve pain, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect and also strengthen your dog’s immune system. These include, among others:
Agaricus 30C: once a week for severe itching without visible external signs of inflammation.
Calcium sulfuricum D6: three times a day with yellow, purulent, lumpy discharge.
Causticum D12: twice a day for recurring anal sac infections.
Aesculus D3: The anus is very red and painful.
Silicea D12: in poorly healing abscesses and fistulas.
Treatment with a homeopathic ointment or dragees called is also recommended dreameelwhich also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Preventing Clogged Anal Glands & Nutrition
Dog treats little bones in man’s hand
A vital dog is less susceptible to diseases of any kind. Enough exercise is the be-all and end-all.
In addition, one healthy eating very important. Both together not only make your dog grow older, it also prevents anal gland problems.
As described, the faeces consistency is very important for the anal gland function. High-fiber diet increases the stool volume and ensures a smooth and not too soft consistency.
Conclusion
If the anal glands are blocked, expressing them is, so to speak, first aid for your dog.
Whether you want to leave this to a vet or do it yourself is a question of cost, will and skill.
The process itself is very simple, but not for everyone. Under no circumstances should you push your dog blindly around without experience, especially since he will not put up with it either.
If the constipation is already advanced as an inflammation or tumor, there is no way around the vet anyway.