Springbrook Veterinary Care: Anal Glands 101

You care for your pet in every way possible. From a quality diet to preventive care with vaccinations and parasite preventions, everything you do matters when it comes to keeping them healthy and thriving.

Springbrook Animal Care Center knows that good pet grooming is important as well. Things like preventing matting and keeping long nails tamed can make a huge difference. That is why we include these types of things in our Springbrook veterinary care offerings along with education and care of your pet’s anal glands, a little body part that can make a big stink.

Anal Glands 101

Dogs and cats (and many other mammals as well) are the proud owners of two small sacs located just inside the rectum, aptly named anal glands. 

These little pockets contain secretions from the oil and sweat glands that line them, and typically expel it through a small opening as a normal bowel movement passes through. 

Anal glands are likely remnants of a more functional system along the lines of a skunks. Our household pets cannot voluntarily spray the contents, though, and while the smelly fluid inside may serve some function to deposit scent communication, anal glands in domestic animals are really not terribly useful. 

What our pets anal glands can do is cause problems, especially in dogs. Anal glands may become:

• Clogged (impacted)
• Infected, leading to an abscess
• Inflamed
• Affected by cancer

And sometimes they just express themselves at inappropriate times, such as when the animal is scared or anxious. Anyone who has experienced this strong, often fishy odor can attest that it is not a pleasant scent.

How Springbrook Veterinary Care Can Help

Our veterinary team can help play a big role in keeping your pet’s anal glands trouble free. As part of our high quality Naperville veterinary care services, we will perform routine examinations of your pet to help detect and treat problems early.

We also are happy to council you on appropriate nutrition and weight management to prevent obesity, which can predispose pets to anal gland problems. Our expert management of inflammatory skin conditions such as food or seasonal allergies can also prevent issues. 

Don’t hesitate to make an appointment to bring your pet to see us if they are exhibiting symptoms of anal gland problems such as:

• A bad odor
• Swelling or pain under the tail
• Licking or biting at the rear end
• Dragging or scooting
• Reluctant or painful bowel movements
• Lethargy 
• Inappetance

Your pets anal glands are a part of them, for better or worse. Thankfully, with quality Springbrook veterinary care in your backyard, we can help with the worse when it occurs.