Anal sac problems can be fixed
We have a six-year-old Lab/ husky dog that was giving off an awful odour for several months. We finally had him checked out by our vet and after a complete checkup, she determined that the problem was with his anal glands. She emptied the glands and the smell went away but returned after a few weeks. Since then, we have had the glands emptied on a regular basis (every few weeks) and it resolves the odour problem for a while, but it can get quite expensive if we have to have the anal glands emptied every few weeks.
What could be causing this problem and what else can be done to remedy this situation?
Anal sacs are small scent glands that produce a blackish-brownish, foul-smelling fluid and are located on both sides of the anus. Both dogs and cats possess these glands and although their exact purpose is still questioned, they are thought to be involved in territorial marking.
Whatever their purpose, anal sacs should normally not cause any problems. This is because their contents are expelled routinely during bowel movements or with exercise. Occasionally, they are also expressed suddenly when a dog or cat becomes frightened or startled.
Under certain circumstances, anal sacs can become impacted (plugged up) or infected. When this happens, a dog or cat will rub its anus along the floor (called “scooting”). In cases where this does not result in emptying of the glands, it may become necessary for a veterinarian to manually squeeze the anal glands and express their contents. In most cases, this usually resolves the problem.
Factors that can predispose a dog to anal gland problems include anal sphincter muscle dysfunction, hyper-secretion of the lining of the anal sacs, obstructed or constricted anal sac ducts and impaction (plugging up) due to narrowed ducts.
Infections and impaction of the anal sacs are rare in the large breeds of dogs such as yours but common in the smaller breeds such as toy and miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, chihuahuas, Lhasa apsos and beagles.
In some cases, as with your dog, anal sacs might become plugged up repeatedly. In these situations, the veterinarian should look for an underlying cause.
Some possible causes include an inflammation and/ or infection of the glands (called anal saculitis), food allergies, intestinal parasites, obesity, lack of exercise, and tumours.
If no medical cause can be determined, increasing the fibre content of the diet might help. If your dog is overweight, weight loss and increased exercise might prove helpful.
Surgical excision of the anal sacs (called anal sac ablation) is an alternative solution, but should only be considered as a last resort due to the potential for post-op complications such as fecal incontinence and infection.