Anal Sac Disease

Dogs of all breeds and of any age may encounter anal sac problems. The anal sacs (often mistakenly called "glands") are two round organs located on each side of the anus (at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions). They exude powerful, bad-smelling secretions that apparently are used to give other dogs mating and territorial information. Every time the dog defecates, some of this material is deposited. Dogs can also empty their sacs when they are scared or overexcited.

Anal sacs can be the source of a variety of problems. For example, they can become infected with bacteria, a condition referred to as anal sacculitis. They can also become impacted or overfilled, which can lead to acute discomfort and infection. Finally, anal sacs can develop tumors or foreign bodies.

Signs

Signs that your dog is encountering anal sac problems include:

• Scooting the rear end along the ground
• Chewing or licking the tail base
• Clamping the tail down over the anus
• Reluctance to sit
• Difficulty passing feces
• Redness or swelling in the area; perhaps even an open, draining sore

Obese dogs have more trouble draining their anal sacs properly than other dogs, and this inability only leads to further problems. However, the impacted anal gland must be expressed (squeezed) to remove the offending material. Some people recommend routinely emptying the anal sacs as a regular part of the grooming routine. Other experts look at the manual emptying as a temporary measure, not something to do continually. It's much better if the glands empty naturally. Adding vegetables, bran and olive oil to the food will help to regulate the intestines and encourage bulky bowel movements.

The following factors may play a major role in the development of such problems:

• - Constipation or infrequent bowel movements, especially as a result of not being frequently allowed outside. Many an indoor animal will hold its urine and feces to the very limit rather than soil the house and displease its people.
• - Toxicity due to poor food and inadequate exercise. In such a case, a disorder of the skin or ears frequently occurs as well.

Prevention

Dogs with a history of anal sac problems may be candidates for surgical removal, which is the only way to permanently solve the problem. Because your dog doesn't really "need" them, this is a pretty benign procedure, although it requires general anesthesia, which always carries some degree of risk. If possible, schedule the surgery at the same time as some other necessary surgery.

Treatment of Anal Sac Disease

Make sure your animal has adequate exercise, the opportunity to go outside and have frequent bowel movements, and space. Good nutrition is important, too. Especially useful would be those nutrients that help promote healthy skin: zinc, the B complex, vitamin A, lecithin and omega-3 fatty acids. Olive oil is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids and has the advantage of being a slight laxative by promoting muscular contraction of the bowels.