What's wrong with my dog's anal glands?

Question

My dog scoots his butt on the carpet while going forward and at the same time moves side to side. The vets says its not worms. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

When dogs' anal sacs are not emptied properly during defecation they can become impacted. Impaction can be caused by soft stools, overactive anal glands, or small or clogged anal ducts. The pressure from the impacted sacs can cause your dog to scoot his rear end along the ground, lick the anal area excessively, or exhibit unusual behavior such as anxiety or pacing. Because these symptoms can also be signs of other problems, such as worm infestation or skin infection, your dog should be examined by your vet.
A dog's anal sacs may also become infected, or may abscess or rupture. Infected anal sacs can be very painful. As well as scooting and licking, the dog may cry during defecation, and when it is touched in the area near the tail. There may also be blood or pus in the anal gland secretion.
Whereas anal sac infections, abscesses and ruptures must be treated with antibiotics, surgical treatment or even removal of the glands, anal sac impaction is relatively simple to correct. The anal sacs must be cleaned out, or "expressed". As this is quite an easy process that you can preform yourself, have your vet show you how and try switching to a better brand of dog food.

Answer 2

Full, inflamed or impacted anal glands are always a possibility on a small breed dog. They have more trouble than the large breeds.

On any size dog, the glands are probably full and he is trying to release them. You hope that he doesn't succeed on your carpet as this is very strong smelling stuff.

If you want, you can do this yourself or take him to a dog groomer or vet.

To do yourself - outside or in the bathtub
1) Grab dog by the base of the tail, hold tail vertical
2) Place one finger on each side of dog's rectum, press your fingers in and together. You should feel something like a grape (depends on size of dog)
3)press your fingers together firmly (squeeze the grape). You should see some yellowish/brownish fluid coming out of the rectum. Wash area and hands thoroughly, this stuff smells bad.
4)If nothing is released or this is painful for the dog, see your vet.

Expressing once a month is generally plenty to keep things right.

Answer 3

I don't see anything wrong with doing it. I had a dog that needed her glands done often, the vet showed me how to properly do it and said that I could do it myself at home. I would rather pay the vet to do that personally but there is nothing wrong with you doing it yourself. I do however brush, bath, clip nails and clean the ears of my dogs. I enjoy doing that with them and I think that it is good for you and the dog because you are bonding with them when you take care of them. Some people are just too lazy to do anything themselves. But expressing the anal glands is not a form of abuse and it actually helps the dog to feel better, I am sure that they would rather have you empty them then drag their butt along the ground until you can get them to the vet.

Answer 4

If your dog does not have worms you most likely need to express it's anal glands.
Now I'm assuming that since you know about anal glands, and you put them in your question you probably already know they need expressing sometimes.
If your Vet checked your dog for worms, and you told the Vet of this issue, and your Vet did NOT tell you about expressing anal glands or show you how, FIND ANOTHER VET!
Below you will find a link on anal glands.
If it gets backed up enough it can abscess and cause great problems.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

He is trying to drain his anal glands.
They are on the sides of his rectum and they fill with a nasty smelling fluid.
If he does not squeeze them as he poops you will have to take him to the vet to have it done for him.
They can express the glands and get rid of it.If you do not drain them they can become infected and rupture.So have the vet or the groomer do it.

Answer 6

His anal glands could be impacted. Your Vet should have "expressed" the anal glands when you took him in to be checked for worms.

Answer 7

the anal glands need emptied a simple procedure at the vets

Answer 8

It sounds like his anal glands need to be expressed.It is a smelly job but it needs to be done.Most of the time a dog does this on his own,but sometimes he needs it done manually.If you are unsure of how to do this please call your vet and ask him.I'm sure he would tell you how.

Answer 9

ok. does your dog do this after it goes poo? cuz dogs will naturally do that to wipe its butt. i suggest taht you let your dog out a while after it does its business, cuz u prob. hav poop all over ur carpet...:(

if your dog does this often give it a bath and wash its butt. and when its outside, it will usually wipe its but on some type of cement or concrete, so it wont hurt your carpet :)

Answer 10

They probably just need to be expressed. They fill up, and when he scoots he is trying to express (empty) them. Have your vet do it.