I Am Fifi’s Anal Glands
Ever wonder why dogs and cats are always smelling each other’s rear ends? If you guessed that they were sniffing for us-- the anal glands-- then you are probably right. Anal glands don’t like to toot our own horn, but we are very important in most animals. Many creatures use the fluid we produce for marking territory or self-defense. (The skunk always wins “Anal Gland of the Year.”)
In dogs and cats, we are located on the lower right and lower left hand sides of the anus. This strategic location means that your pet will stop defecating if we get too full. And then he will be constipated and have a sore bottom. Double Ouch!
Unfortunately, dogs and cats have lost the ability to voluntarily expel fluid from their anal glands. It’s a shame, too, because the fluid we make for them is impressively stinky! As a matter of fact, when an anal gland liberates its fluid it is referred to as being “expressed,” because we have so many important things to say. Most owners become aware that we are becoming too full when their pet starts scooting around the room or yard. Wheeee!
Sometimes this scooting works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Anal glands are the first to admit that they have a bit of temper. If we can’t express ourselves and our fluid builds up--- well, at some point we are going to explode!
Many groomers will express us routinely (sort of like changing the oil in your car). However, once we are impacted or infected, a pet will have a very painful hind end and will need professional help.
That’s when courageous veterinarians and their brave technicians are asked to express impacted glands and provide your pet with some relief. When we are severely impacted or infected, it may require anesthesia and surgery and antibiotics to solve our problems.
Like other body parts, anal glands tend to “act up” as pets get older—especially if our dog or cat is getting too fat. If we keep getting impacted, it may be necessary to have us professionally expressed every few months.
When regular anal gland expression doesn’t keep us from becoming impacted or infected, we may need to be surgically removed. Much like a person without his appendix, it appears that dogs and cats do just fine without anal glands (though we don’t like to talk about that!)
In conclusion, anal glands are important to a lot of animals, but are no longer necessary in dogs or cats. Though we seem to provide some interesting information to curious creatures that sniff our host’s fanny, no one seems to know what that information might be. If your pet is scooting, he may be on his way to an anal gland impaction or infection. Get him checked out—you will be happier and your pet will be grateful. And that’s the bottom line!
