Raising a dog is not always adorable, smart, and happy. Things like smelly discharge from dog anus can sometimes turn that adorability into a kind of disgusting.
However, most people tend not to think much about this problem until their little friends get in trouble.
Why do my dogs’ anal glands smell? Is it normal or bad for them? How should I keep them healthy without that terrible fishy odor? Tons of questions pop out.
If it is your case, do not worry since I have a detailed explanation below!
Why Is There The Smelly Discharge From Dog Anus?
Slightly smelly discharge from a dog’s anus is normal, but an intense stink is worth concerning because of problems related to the canine glands, like the anal sac disease, or due to stress and anxiety.
Each canine buddy has a pair of sacs on his/her anus.
These bottom parts produce a brown oily discharge with a powerful odor when your pet poops or gets diarrhea after Heartgard. And you can call it a dog anal glands smell as the proper working.
But the story could turn bad if the pooch smells of the “ugly” strong odor even after a bath. It is time to care for its glands in anus.
Some people do not find it difficult to check out their dogs’ problems themselves.
However, visiting a vet for advice is more advisable for a new pet owner.
How well can you help your little friend? For better understanding, some useful basic information about anal glands in dogs smell should be the next.
What’s The Dog’s Anal Glands? Some Related Problems
The smelly discharge does not necessarily notice an unhealthy dog anus. Hence, there is a need to differentiate between the normal and abnormal.
A Quick Description
For every dog, there is a pair of sacs located on either side of their bottom. These little dots sit around the four and eight o’clock positions.
They are right below the sphincter – the muscle layer controls the anus. Due to being under the skin, the glands are hardly visible.
The Way They Work
Anal sac secretions are the main function of the dog’s anal glands. Combining these oval-shaped parts and the tissue helps produce a liquid collected in numerous small ducts.
The glands get squeezed when the poo passes through the anus. Then, through some pores, the duct does its function of pushing the anal sac fluid out.
This process also shows the same when the dog urinates. By receiving pressure, the glands release the anal sac fluid with the unique “scent” of your pets. Then, the “scent” is used as a mark of its places.
Another interesting idea is that the dogs produce that “personal essence” when they meet fellows. At that time, they raise their tails.
This action puts pressure on the anal glands (with lubrication) to produce the “scent”. Hence, the dogs can identify each other better.
Then, people call it the anal gland smell in dogs.
In general, the production of liquid with an unusual smell seems quite unpleasant to us. But it is a 100% different story for our pets.
They find that “scent” fascinating to help them pack full of information.
That is why dogs have an interest in their fellows’ bottoms and tend to push his bum into others.
That said, have you ever found a dog leaking smelly fluid even when they do not poop or urinate? If YES, the problems come.
Foul Odor – A Sign Of Impacted Glands Or Anal Sac Disease
With normal working, the anal glands expel the anal fluid frequently. It is when your pet poops or you express him manually.
So, how’s the dog’s anus leaking fluid?
The anal fluid normally does not leak when the dogs are not pooping.
But if the case happens, it is time to contact a vet for advice because your pup has its anal glands which fail to express.
In other words, the dog gets impacted and feels uncomfortable.
The following are some common signs and symptoms in both canine females and males:
- Scoot or drag its rear on the floor to put pressure on the anal glands
- Lick or chew the rectum.
- Stools getting mushy and soft
- Discomfort due to strain of passing the feces
- Bottom with a “fishy” or unpleasant odor
- Leakage of a brown liquid from their bottom
Only one of these signs is also enough to tell you about the idea of taking the “baby” for a check-up.
How To Get Rid Of The Smell
For a mild smelly discharge, you can use dog wipes or pet wipes to clean the part.
But in terms of an impacted gland, an gland expression should be a need. Some people can do the expression manually at home.
However, it would be better for amateurs to visit a vet for advice.
What’s Better: Expressing The Dog’s Anal Glands Manually Or Seeing A Vet?
The anal sac impaction is a typical result of anal sac disease or a dog’s anus leaking. It happens when the sacs of the anus cannot be completely empty as the dog poops.
Consequently, the drying-up anal gland fluid left inside builds up a blockage that prevents the anal sacs from self-emptying.
In the untreated condition, the impacted sacs would be very painful. In that case, your pets need a proper treatment plan promptly.
Which is better, seeing a vet or expressing it manually at home?
Seeing A Vet
That your dog leaves smelly wet spots will stop happening if you have its sensitive anus sacs treated by a vet.
This solution is often more suitable for incredibly painful conditions needing special treatment.
Special Treatment Needed For Painful Conditions
For severe impaction (especially in the case of the bacterial infection), removing any solidified liquid from the affected sacs is necessary.
Due to painful conditions, the vet needs to add an anesthetic or a sedative for the treatment. Besides, antibiotics are also an indispensable part instilled directly in the sacs.
In some advanced cases, the vet has to do anal gland surgery.
Then, pain relief medications will help most dogs feel much more comfortable for about one week until the inflammation.
Uncomfortable Improper Expression
As described above, the treatment is quite complicated. An improper expression can cause some unexpected bad results.
Your dogs will be not only in extreme pain but also at risk for their health status.
Expressing It Manually
That dog smells like anal glands are common in both male and female canines, regardless of breed or size.
If you know that it is a sign of a need for the anal sac expression, it is possible to do the process manually at once. But this idea is for experienced dog owners only.
The manual expression is also easy for a veterinary nurse or veterinarian to learn. However, you need to ensure that there will be no anal sac infection, then.
Generally, the internal method and the external method are two possible ways to express the dog anal sacs.
The former requires you to use a cloth or tissue to squeeze the treated area gently and also massage the solidified anal gland fluid.
On the other hand, the latter is a more effective option by squeezing anal gland material with gloved fingers.
For a better understanding, an instruction for the external expression is below.
Instruction
You need good preparation first.
- Latex gloves, cloth, or tissue
- Water-based lubricant or petroleum
- An “assistant” to help you restrain the dog
Then, it is a step-by-step instruction.
- Step 1: For a small dog, you should place it on a table. For a larger one, kneeling behind him/her would be better.
- Step 2: Your “assistant” holds the dog (hugging it close). One arm is around and underneath the neck, and another is around the rest of the dog’s body.
- Step 3: Lubricate your gloved index finger with a water-based lubricant or petroleum.
- Step 4: After lifting up the dog tail, gently put your index finger into the rectum (around 1 inch at the 5-7 o’clock positions).
- Step 5: As found in the gland, you use the cloth under the dog’s anus.
At the same time, your finger milk gently the gland and squeeze it toward you. And it is time to stop when you feel the gland is empty.
- Step 6: Use the tissue to clean the whole anus area.
- Step 7: Repeat these steps with the other gland side.
Risks
Undoubtedly, DIY expressions can help save a lot of money.
However, it also causes some risks. An improper process can result in bruising on the dog. In addition, your pet can suffer from infections or several additional conditions.
Any Adverse Effects
For both surgical and manual removing methods, the adverse effects are still unexpected. The expression could damage the sphincter and nerves during the surgery.
Conclusion
The smelly discharge from dog anus always comes with some specific causes.
And prompt treatment is very important so that your little “friends” feel more comfortable. That said, you always have to consider the best option.
Visiting a vet for help is a safe decision, while doing a manual expression at home is also not a bad idea.
Whatever your choice, it would be better to get more information and understand your furry friend’s problems well.
