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Overview
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Anal Sac Disease
The anal sacs sit low on either side of the anus and aid in
defecation. They contain a fish-smelling, brown liquid that is
expressed during a bowel movement. If they are not expressed
regularly, they can become infected or impacted.
The absolute cause of anal sac disorders is unknown, but chronic
soft stool, recent diarrhea, or poor muscle tone can contribute to
the problem. Overweight pets are also more prone to develop
impacted anal glands.
Most dogs will scoot their rear end on the ground when the anal sacs are
becoming distended. Tail chasing and chewing at their bottom is also
common. Some dogs will act constipated. If the anal sac has ruptured, a
bloody, purulent discharge can be seen on either side of the anus.
If the glands are only full, expressing them is all that is needed. If they
have become infected, abscessed, or impacted, oral antibiotics are
needed. If the glands become chronically infected, surgical removal of
one gland may be needed. Both glands should never be removed as this
will cause chronic constipation. Some pets will need to have their glands
expressed every 6 weeks for maintenance.