Anal Gland Health Basics for Dogs (2026 Guide)

Anal gland problems are the source of one of the most familiar but least-discussed scenes in dog ownership: the unexpected fishy smell, the scooting across the carpet, the appointment that turns out to be quick but oddly expensive. This article covers what anal glands actually do, why some dogs have constant problems with them, what good at-home management looks like, and where the “express them every grooming visit” advice goes wrong.

What anal glands actually are

Dogs have a pair of small sacs (anal sacs, often called anal glands) located just inside the anus at roughly the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. Each sac connects to the outside via a short duct. The lining of the sac produces an oily, foul-smelling secretion that ranges in color from pale brown to dark grey-brown.

The original purpose of the secretion is scent marking. When a dog defecates, pressure on the sacs releases a small amount of secretion onto the stool surface. That is why dogs sniff each other’s rear ends: they are reading the chemical signature.

In practice for most companion dogs, the glands serve no useful function and are simply a maintenance question.

Why some dogs have constant problems

Risk factors for anal gland disease:

• Small breed. Toy and small breed dogs are over-represented.
• Soft or chronically loose stool. Without firm bulk passing over the sacs at defecation, natural expression is reduced.
• Overweight body condition. Fat deposition near the sacs and reduced anal muscle tone both contribute.
• Allergies. Atopic and food-allergic dogs often have inflammation that extends to the perianal area, narrowing the ducts.
• Inadequate fiber in diet. Stool is too small to express the glands during passing.
• Inactivity. Less movement, less natural expression.
• Anatomy. Some dogs have unusually positioned or narrow ducts that make expression difficult regardless of management.

In contrast, many medium and large breeds with firm stools never have any anal gland trouble in their lives, and never need expression.

The signs to watch for

Owners often miss early signs and only act on the obvious ones. The spectrum:

• Subtle. Occasional intense rear-licking, particularly after lying down.
• Common. Scooting on carpet or grass.
• Often missed. A fishy or sour smell in the dog’s bedding or near where they have been sitting.
• Clear. Visible discomfort sitting, frequent attention to the rear, sudden production of brown smelly liquid spots on bedding.
• Urgent. A visible swelling beside the anus, drainage, pain on sitting, fever, lethargy. This is suggestive of impaction progressing to abscess and warrants veterinary attention.

Scooting alone is not a confirmed diagnosis of anal gland disease. Tapeworm segments, perianal allergies, hair mats around the anus, food intolerance, and even arthritic discomfort sitting can all cause similar behavior.

At-home strategies that actually help

For dogs with recurrent anal gland trouble, the goal is to address the upstream drivers rather than to express more often. Approaches that help:

• Weight management. Many dogs with chronic anal gland problems are 5 to 15 percent overweight. Getting to ideal body condition often reduces episode frequency dramatically.
• Fiber. Adding pumpkin (a tablespoon for small dogs, up to 4 for large dogs, daily), wheat bran, or psyllium husk increases stool bulk. Prescription high-fiber diets are another option. Effects appear over 2 to 4 weeks.
• Hydration. Important for stool quality.
• Probiotics. Some dogs with chronic mild diarrhea contributing to anal gland trouble do better with a veterinary-grade probiotic.
• Treating allergies. If the dog is atopic or food allergic, controlling the underlying disease often quietly fixes the anal gland issue too.
• Regular exercise. Bowel motility and muscle tone matter.

Why routine expression is overrated

Many groomers and some vet practices express anal glands at every grooming or bathing visit by default. This practice has several downsides:

• Repeated mechanical pressure can damage the duct lining and the surrounding muscle. Long-term, this can worsen the underlying problem.
• Healthy glands do not need expression. A dog with normal stool, normal anatomy, and no signs of disease never needs the glands manually emptied.
• It removes the natural feedback loop. Owners and groomers stop noticing whether the dog has any disease because the glands are kept artificially empty.

Anal glands should be expressed when there is a clinical reason: signs of impaction or owner-reported scooting that has not resolved with upstream management. They should not be expressed routinely on every grooming visit just because that is the salon’s protocol.

If your groomer wants to express at every visit, ask whether your specific dog actually needs it. Many dogs do better when this is stopped.

Internal versus external expression

External expression involves squeezing both sides of the anus with a cloth to push secretion out through the ducts. It is easier but less complete and not always successful for true impactions.

Internal expression involves a gloved, lubricated finger inserted into the anus and the sac compressed between thumb (outside) and finger (inside). It is more effective and is the technique used by vets for actual impactions.

External-only expression is what most groomers do. Internal expression should be done by a vet or experienced technician, particularly for impacted glands.

When to see the vet

Book a vet visit if:

• Scooting persists more than a few days despite home strategies
• You can see swelling, redness, or discharge near the anus
• The dog cries when sitting, defecating, or having the rear handled
• A previous abscess has occurred and a similar swelling is reappearing
• The secretion is unusually dark, bloody, or solid
• Anal gland trouble is recurring more often than every 3 to 4 months

Severe disease pathways:

• Impaction. Sacs cannot empty, become swollen and uncomfortable. Treated with manual expression and management of upstream factors.
• Sacculitis. Infection of the sacs. Requires expression, flushing, antibiotics, sometimes anti-inflammatories.
• Abscess and rupture. Untreated infection that has burst through the skin. Painful, needs prompt veterinary care.
• Anal sac adenocarcinoma. Less common but serious. Older dogs with persistent unilateral swelling near the anus need it ruled out. A vet exam is important for any new rear-end mass.

Surgical removal: when it is reasonable

Anal sacculectomy is the surgical removal of one or both sacs. It is appropriate for:

• Severe recurrent disease not controlled by management
• Chronic impaction with quality of life impact
• Anal sac tumors

Surgery is not a casual decision because nerve damage during the procedure can cause fecal incontinence. A board-certified veterinary surgeon with anal sac surgery experience is the right operator.

Bottom line

Most dogs never need anal gland expression in their lives. A meaningful minority need it occasionally, and a small group need it regularly or even surgical removal. The upstream factors (weight, fiber, allergies, parasite control) drive whether your dog is in the easy group or the difficult group. Always consult your vet for individualized advice, especially when introducing new diet or supplement changes, and before booking routine expression at every grooming appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Related product reviews