Properly Treat and Avoid Problems with the Anal Glands in Dogs
Dogs have anal glands on the right and left side of their anus. In these glands they form a secretion which serves them to set scent marks. Healthy dogs deposit this secretion together with their excrement, so that their anal bags are normally emptied regularly.
However, it can happen for various reasons that the secretion accumulates in the dog's anal bags and these can no longer be emptied due to blocked anal glands.
The following section explains how you can recognize such problems and avoid the resulting inflammation of the anal glands in your dog.
How clogged anal sacs occur in dogs
In order for the dog's anal bags to empty, the consistency of the faeces must be sufficiently firm. If a dog suffers from diarrhoea, it is quite common for the anal sacs to fail to empty and become clogged over time.
This is because the anal glands continue to produce secretion which they release into the anal sacs. As a result, the anal sacs are increasingly dilated. Apart from this, the consistency of the secretion then becomes increasingly tougher, which sooner or later causes the anal glands of the dog to stick together.
Without timely countermeasures, it is then only a matter of time before the anal sacs and anal glands of the affected dog become inflamed.
How an inflammation of the anal glands becomes noticeable in dogs
If the anal glands of a dog are blocked or even inflamed, this is extremely unpleasant for the affected quadruped. Accordingly, the complaints become apparent through a number of different signs.
A blockage of the dog's anal glands can be recognized by the following symptoms, among others:
- The dog slides around on the floor with its rear end.
- The four-legged friend has problems with depositing excrement.
- The dog licks its anus region conspicuously often.
If the anal bags and anal glands have already become inflamed in the dog, it can usually be observed that the urge to move decreases strongly. In addition, dogs with anal gland inflammation avoid sitting down because of the pain it causes.
As the owner, you can also recognise the inflammation by the redness and swelling of your dog's anus. In addition, dogs with severe anal gland inflammation often develop a fever.
Without prompt treatment, in the worst case, the anal sacs may even burst, resulting in festering sores on the dog's anus.
Dogs with inflamed anal glands are a case for the veterinarian
If you notice signs in your dog that indicate a blockage or even an inflammation of the anal glands, we recommend that you consult a vet as soon as possible.
If necessary, the veterinarian will empty the anal bags of the four-legged friend by hand and, depending on the condition and consistency of the secretion, will decide whether further treatment measures are necessary.
Often it is necessary, for example, that the quadruped gets antibiotics or his anal glands are rinsed with a drug solution. In order to soothe the skin stressed by the inflammation, appropriate ointments can also be used.
If abscesses have formed as a result of the dog's anal gland inflammation, these usually have to be cut open and emptied.
Similarly, if the congested and inflamed anal glands develop into a chronic problem, ulcers may also develop. If this is the case, it may well be that the dog's anal glands need to be surgically removed.
However, there are some risks associated with such an operation. This is because it often leads to injuries to the sphincter muscle and thus to faecal incontinence. Therefore, before the veterinarian considers removing the dog's anal glands, he will first try other measures.
Avoid problems with the anal glands in dogs
Failure to empty the anal bags can quickly have serious consequences for your dog. If possible, you should therefore make sure that the anal glands are not blocked or inflamed.
To this end, it is particularly important that you ensure that your dog's excrement is of a firm consistency. For this reason, you should avoid mixing oil with the dog food or soaking your dog's dry food in water. This very often leads to softer excrement, so that your dog's anal bags are no longer emptied properly when he heels.
Always counteract diarrhoea in your dog promptly. For example, use a food supplement such as Bellfor Gastro Relax and consult a vet if necessary.
In addition, adequate hygiene in the area of the anus is particularly important, especially with long-haired dog breeds. In this context, it can be useful to trim the coat in this area regularly.
Bellfor Anal Glands Ointment for dogs
Inflamed anal glands inevitably also affect the skin in the anus region. We therefore recommend the use of the anal gland ointment from Bellfor for affected dogs. This rich care product contains carefully selected ingredients such as zinc, insect fat and propolis.
Anal Gland Ointment from Bellfor is particularly skin-friendly, very easy to apply and can help to counteract anal gland inflammation in your dog.
Our conclusion on the subject of dogs' anal glands
As you can see, inflammation and blockage of the anal sacs and anal glands in your dog is a serious matter. If you notice any complaints, you should therefore act as soon as possible and consult a vet immediately if necessary.
Apart from this, there are a number of things you can do yourself to prevent problems such as inflammation of the anal glands in your dog. In this context, it is particularly important to ensure that your four-legged friend is fed in a manner appropriate to his species. In order to guarantee this, the high-quality dog food from Bellfor in our shop is just right for you.