Dog Anal Glands: Signs of Impaction and How to Care for Them

Anal glands are two small scent sacs located on either side of a dog’s anus. In healthy dogs they empty naturally during bowel movements, but they can become impacted, infected, or abscessed — one of the most common reasons dogs scoot, lick, or chew at their rear end. Most cases are manageable, but recurring problems need veterinary attention.

This guide is for informational purposes. Always contact a licensed veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of your pet’s health concerns.

What Are Dog Anal Glands?

Dog anal glands (also called anal sacs) are two grape-sized sacs located just inside the anus, at roughly the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions. They’re lined with glands that produce a strong-smelling, oily fluid used for scent marking — it’s why dogs sniff each other’s rear ends and why a startled dog sometimes releases a sharp, fishy odor.

In a normally functioning dog, firm stool passing through the rectum applies pressure that empties the glands automatically with each bowel movement. Problems start when the fluid thickens, the ducts narrow, or stool is too soft to apply adequate pressure — the glands stop emptying on their own and fluid builds up, causing discomfort, infection, or abscess.

Small and toy breeds (Chihuahuas, Poodles, Shih Tzus) and overweight dogs are disproportionately affected, though any dog can develop the issue.

Signs of Impaction or Infection

Other common signs include chasing or biting at the tail, a sudden strong fishy smell, straining during bowel movements, and a visible bulge just below the anus. If you notice a ruptured abscess (an open, draining wound near the tail base), this is a same-day veterinary emergency, not a wait-and-see situation.

Left unaddressed, mild impaction rarely resolves on its own — fluid inside the glands continues to thicken the longer it sits, which is why owners who notice occasional scooting often see it escalate to more frequent scooting and eventually swelling over a period of weeks or months. Veterinarians estimate that anal gland issues account for a meaningful share of “itchy rear end” complaints seen in general practice, alongside allergies and parasites, so it’s always worth ruling out during any exam for tail-chasing or excessive licking near the hindquarters. Keeping a simple log of how often your dog scoots can help your vet or groomer gauge whether the issue is occasional and manageable or trending toward a chronic pattern that needs a more structured expression schedule.

Why Anal Glands Get Impacted

• Soft or low-fiber stool: Without firm stool applying pressure, the glands don’t empty naturally — the single most common underlying cause.
• Obesity: Excess fat around the gland ducts can narrow the opening and reduce muscle tone.
• Breed and anatomy: Small breeds and dogs with naturally narrower ducts are predisposed.
• Allergies: Chronic skin or food allergies can thicken gland secretions, making them harder to express.
• Lack of exercise: Reduced muscle tone in the area affects natural expression.
• Prior infection or scarring: Once ducts have scarred from a past infection, recurrence is more likely.

How Expression Works

Anal gland expression means manually applying gentle pressure to empty the sacs. It can be done externally (from outside the rectum) or internally (a gloved finger inside the rectum, which gives more complete emptying) — most groomers use the external method, while veterinarians and vet techs typically use internal expression for a more thorough result.

Expression is not something most owners should attempt at home without training: applying incorrect pressure can bruise the tissue, push fluid backward into the duct, or worsen inflammation. If your dog scoots or licks frequently, book an appointment with a local groomer or vet rather than trying it yourself the first time. Cost typically runs $15–$30 at a groomer or $30–$75 at a vet clinic, and vet expression is recommended if there’s any sign of infection.

Dogs with chronically impacted or infected glands may need the sacs surgically removed (anal sacculectomy) if the problem becomes recurrent and unresponsive to conservative management — this is typically a last resort reserved for severe, repeat cases.

For dogs that need surgical removal, the procedure is done under general anesthesia and most dogs recover within one to two weeks with pain management and an e-collar to prevent licking at the incision site. Because the glands also play a role in scent-based communication with other dogs, removal doesn’t affect a dog’s health or quality of life beyond the recovery period — it simply means those particular glands are no longer part of the equation. Surgery is reserved for dogs with genuinely recurrent, unmanageable infections rather than being a first-line option, since most dogs respond well to a combination of diet, weight management, and routine expression.

Prevention and Long-Term Care

• Add fiber: Pumpkin, psyllium husk, or a vet-recommended high-fiber diet firms stool and encourages natural expression.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Reducing excess body fat lowers pressure on the ducts.
• Increase exercise: Regular activity supports normal muscle tone around the glands.
• Routine grooming checks: Ask your groomer to check (not necessarily express) the glands at each visit if your dog has a history of impaction.
• Address allergies: Managing underlying food or skin allergies often reduces gland problems significantly.
• Schedule expression on a routine, not just reactive, basis if your dog is a chronic scooter — every 3–6 weeks is common for affected dogs.

Browse local pet groomers who offer anal gland expression as part of routine grooming visits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Anal Glands

It’s worth remembering that anal gland issues, while uncomfortable, are rarely an emergency in their mild-to-moderate stages — the goal is steady, proactive management rather than panic at the first sign of scooting. Dogs that have one impaction episode aren’t necessarily destined for chronic problems; many resolve the issue with a single expression and a fiber adjustment and never have a recurrence. Staying observant, especially after any change in diet or activity level, is usually enough to keep the issue from becoming a bigger problem.

Understanding dog anal glands helps you catch problems before they become painful. For hands-on care, browse local pet care providers on HeiBob who offer grooming and veterinary anal gland services.