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🐾 Health Matters: All About Anal Glands

Anal glands play an important role in your dog’s health

Sophie avatar
Written by Sophie
Updated over a month ago

Anal glands. Not the most glamorous of topics, but they play an important role in your dog’s health. If they go wrong, your dog can be in serious discomfort. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know, all explained in plain English.

Contents

  1. What are anal glands?

  2. When things go wrong

  3. What causes the problem?

  4. Treatment and long-term care

  5. The role of raw feeding

  6. Holistic therapies that help

  7. Where to get help

  8. Top 5 Takeouts

1. What Are Anal Glands?

Anal glands (also known as anal sacs) are two small scent glands found just inside your dog’s bottom. Every time your dog poos, a tiny amount of this strong-smelling fluid is released. It's how dogs leave behind their unique scent... like a calling card for other canines.

This is why dogs love sniffing each other’s bums and droppings. It’s completely natural. In a healthy dog, these glands empty on their own with no fuss. You’d never know they existed.

Important: Routine expressing (manually emptying) of the anal glands is not necessary and can actually cause problems.

2. When Things Go Wrong

Sometimes the anal glands don’t empty properly. The fluid builds up and becomes thick, sticky or even infected. This is painful and often leads to scooting (dragging their bottom on the ground) or obsessive licking of the area.

If left untreated, the blockage can lead to inflammation, infection and eventually an abscess, a painful pocket of pus that may need to be drained under general anaesthetic.

In serious cases, repeated infections can scar the glands so badly they stop working. Surgical removal might be suggested, but this is a complex procedure with risks, including loss of control over toileting.

3. What Causes the Problem?

There are several reasons why a dog might develop anal gland issues:

  • Soft poos: If the stool isn’t firm enough, it won’t press against the glands and help them empty.

  • Allergies: Some dogs suffer chronic inflammation from food or environmental sensitivities.

  • Over-intervention: Repeated manual expression can inflame the glands and make them reliant on intervention.

  • Poor muscle tone: Older or less active dogs may struggle to express the glands naturally.

  • Genetics and anatomy: Some dogs, especially small breeds, are more prone to gland problems.

One key takeaway? Soft stools are often at the root of the issue, and that’s where diet comes in.

4. Treatment and Long-Term Care

If your dog is in discomfort, your vet can gently empty the glands to relieve the pressure. If there’s infection, antibiotics may be needed. But long-term, this should be seen as a temporary fix and not the whole solution.

Repeated manual expression can make the glands swollen and overactive. Over time, they become inflamed and stop working naturally. The key is to break the cycle. To do that, look at:

  • Diet changes to firm up stools

  • Reducing inflammation through holistic support

  • Addressing allergies or sensitivities

  • Building confidence with toileting after painful episodes

5. The Role of Raw Feeding

We’ve seen it time and again at Poppy’s Picnic... dogs with chronic anal gland issues improve dramatically on a raw diet.

Why? Because:

  • Raw food is more digestible

  • Raw bone naturally firms up poos

  • Firmer poos help express the glands with each bowel movement

  • No additives, chemicals or starchy fillers

Dogs fed raw tend to pass stools that are smaller, firmer and more consistent - just what nature intended. It’s one of the many reasons we believe raw feeding is the healthiest, most natural option.

💡 Poppy’s Tip: Try our MIGHTY MINCE or POWER BALLS to see the difference in your dog’s poos and their anal gland health.

6. Holistic Therapies That Help

If your dog has recurring gland issues, don’t wait for surgery. There are plenty of gentle, natural approaches that can help:

  • Homeopathy: Can reduce chronic inflammation and support healing.

  • Acupuncture: Helps relieve discomfort and restore balance.

  • Osteopathy: Addresses tension and alignment issues that may affect toileting.

  • Probiotics: Support gut health and improve stool quality.

Always work with qualified professionals. We’re happy to recommend trusted practitioners.

7. Where to Get Help

At Poppy’s Picnic, our friendly team are raw dog food experts and passionate pet parents. Whether you’re new to raw or already on the journey, we can help you:

  • Pick the best meals for your dog’s needs

  • Tailor portions and proteins

You can also speak to your vet about whether anal gland issues might be linked to diet or allergies.

Top Five Takeouts

  1. Anal glands are self-cleaning and they shouldn’t be touched unless there’s a problem.

  2. Soft stools are a major cause of anal gland issues. Firm them up with a raw diet.

  3. Manual emptying can make things worse if done too often or without cause.

  4. A natural, raw diet supports digestive health, firm poos and balanced glands.

  5. There are holistic treatments that help, from acupuncture to osteopathy.

Let us know if you’d like help making the switch to raw or want to discuss your dog’s health in more detail. We’re here to help, tails and all.

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