What are blocked anal glands in dogs
Every dog has a pair of anal glands. They're small sacs, about the size of a blueberry, and sit just inside the anus (bottom). If you think of the circle of the anus as being a clock face, the anal glands are located around 8 o’clock and 4 o'clock. Dogs’ anal glands contain a strong-smelling liquid. If you’ve smelt it, you’ll remember it — the odour is distinctively fishy and unpleasant. The glands should empty when the dog defecates and then re-fill in a constant cycle. This smelly discharge is important in canine scent communication.
Any dog of any age, size, or breed can get blocked anal glands. However, there are a few reasons why some dogs are more prone to this condition:
some dogs are born with very narrow openings to the anal glands, which means they become more easily blocked.
bowel issues leading to soft stools, such as chronic diarrhoea, will mean the glands don’t empty fully (or at all), leaving them prone to becoming impacted, blocked or infected.
dogs who are overweight are more likely to have problems, as obesity is associated with weaker muscles around the back end.
Written by Dr. Mariella Roberts, Veterinary Surgeon, Animal Trust Vets CIC | Published March 2025 | Review date March 2027 | This advice is for UK pets only
How to tell if your dog has blocked anal glands
Dogs with blocked glands usually find this very irritating and uncomfortable and may become quite distressed.
Main symptoms of blocked anal glands in dogs:
scooting their bottom along the floor -frantic licking and chewing at their back end -excessive grooming of the bottom, tail and legs
suddenly turning round to look at their back end
abruptly sitting down
seeming painful when pooing
When to contact your vet
Always take your dog if you think he/she has any symptoms above or unsure of what to do. If left untreated anal glands blockage can lead to infection and abscess.
Diagnosis
Your vet will examine your dog’s glands by performing a rectal exam.
Treatment
Expression of dog's anal glands: most mild blockages are easily solved by your vet or veterinary nurse manually expressing the glands by feeling inside your dog’s bottom and squeezing the gland carefully with their fingers and thumb. This procedure can cause pain and further problems if done incorrectly, so always take advice from your vet.
Medication: blocked anal glands can become sore, inflamed and even infected. Anal gland abscesses can form, causing pain and can make your dog unwell. Your vet may prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatories or antibiotics.
Flushing of anal glands: when anal glands become very full of material (impacted), they can be very difficult to express, especially if the material inside them gets thick and even solid. These cases may need their glands flushing out under sedation. A very small cannula is inserted into the gland, and saline is used to carefully flush out any unwanted material allowing the glands to restore their usual function.
Surgery: some dogs have repeated problems with their anal glands, despite all efforts at intervention. This is uncommon but may need the surgical removal of the glands. This procedure is not without risk and so is only considered as a last resort.
Prevention
If your dog has experienced anal gland problems, you’ll know how much discomfort they can get into. Thankfully, there are some ways to help prevent this issue.
Diet: it’s important to feed your dog a good quality diet that is nutritionally complete and suitable for their age and activity level. Your dog should produce firm stools regularly. If their poos are sloppy, loose, irregular or otherwise abnormal, this may lead to the anal glands not emptying properly. Some dogs benefit from added fibre (such as sugar-free bran flakes) to help bulk their faeces out.
Weight: keep dogs in a healthy condition to ensure optimal health.
Careful monitoring: catching anal gland blockages early makes them much easier to deal with. If your dog is behaving oddly or showing signs, such as scooting or licking, take it to your vet for a check of its glands.
Outlook
It is good to have regularly scheduled veterinary exams, and to address any underlying conditions. Removal of the anal sacs can be considered for dogs with recurrent disease.