Is your dog dragging his hind end on the floor? Is he chewing at himself? Is he chasing his hind quarters? This most likely means that your dog needs his anal glands done. The anal glands are scent glands that are used for marking. Some dogs will express these glands when nervous or scared.
A couple of weeks ago, our large standard poodle began occasionally frantically licking the area under his tail. When he did this, the entire house would fill with the most awful smell, indescribable and nauseating to me. Then he would drag his butt on the floor. After the first couple of times, I thought "anal glands" because I've read and heard about them. This happened a few times. Also he has been asking to go out more often, but once he gets outside, he just looks around and wants to come back in. He must have been uncomfortable.
How To Express A Dog’s Anal Glands And Other Questions Answered
To sustain this free service, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process. If not taken care of immediately, blocked anal glands can lead to a severe infection. There are also some medical issues that cause loose stool or diarrhea learn how to diagnose diarrhea , including misplaced anal glands or anal gland cancer in dogs. Large-breed dogs seldom suffer from anal gland problems.
Dogs have two anal glands. These sac-like structures are located just under the skin on each side of the rectum. Normally, the glands secrete a watery, brownish fluid that empties into the rectum during defecation. Occasionally, the fluid is not expelled completely and the sacs become clogged. The pressure causes irritation, which the dog tries to relieve by scooting across the floor on his hindquarters, or by constantly licking and biting at the base of the tail.