Anal glands come up in almost every dog owner's life eventually, usually the moment your dog starts "scooting" across the floor and you realize you have no idea why. It's an understandably awkward topic, but it's also a genuinely common, manageable one once you understand what's actually going on.
What Anal Glands Actually Are
Dogs (and cats, though issues are less common in cats) have two small glands located just inside the anus, roughly at the four and eight o'clock positions. These glands produce a strong-smelling fluid that's normally released a little at a time during bowel movements, largely for scent-marking purposes — it's part of how dogs communicate information to each other. In most dogs, this happens naturally and owners never notice or think about it.
Why Problems Happen
For some dogs, the glands don't empty fully on their own. The fluid inside thickens, builds up, and the glands become uncomfortably full — this is called impaction. If it isn't relieved, impacted glands can become inflamed or infected, and in more serious cases, form an abscess that requires veterinary treatment. Some dogs are simply more prone to this due to gland shape, soft stool that doesn't provide enough natural pressure to empty them, being overweight, or individual anatomy. Small breed dogs seem to have gland issues more often than large breeds, though it can happen in any dog.
Recognizing the Signs
- Scooting: dragging the rear end along the floor or ground
- Excessive licking or biting at the area under the tail
- A strong, distinct fishy odor, sometimes noticeable even without touching the area
- Visible swelling or redness near the anus
- Discomfort when sitting, or reluctance to have the tail area touched
Scooting is often assumed to mean worms, but anal gland discomfort is actually a far more common cause. Either way, persistent scooting is worth mentioning to your vet.
What to Do About It
Anal gland expression — manually emptying the glands — is something both vets and many professional groomers can do as a routine part of care, and it's genuinely not something most owners need to (or should) attempt themselves without guidance, since incorrect technique can cause pain or injury to the gland. If your dog is a frequent scooter, ask your vet or groomer about adding gland expression to their regular routine, whether that's during grooming visits or vet checkups.
For dogs with recurring issues, your vet may also look at underlying contributors like weight or stool consistency, since firmer stool naturally applies more pressure to empty the glands during normal bowel movements. This is one of several reasons general skin and coat health, weight management, and diet all connect back to the same overall wellness picture covered across our skin allergy guide and other Pet Care Library articles.
When It's More Than a Minor Issue
Occasional gland expression at routine visits is a normal, low-key part of care for many dogs. But an anal gland abscess — recognizable by significant swelling, heat, discoloration, or a rupture that discharges blood or pus — is a genuine medical emergency requiring prompt veterinary treatment, not something to manage at home. If your dog seems to be in real pain, has a fever, or the area looks alarming, don't wait it out.
Should You Try Expressing Glands Yourself?
It's understandable to want to save a vet visit by handling this at home, and some owners of dogs with frequent, mild recurring issues are eventually shown how to do it safely by their vet. But without proper instruction, it's easy to apply the wrong amount or direction of pressure, cause pain, or even push fluid the wrong way, potentially worsening inflammation. If you're interested in learning, ask your vet or a groomer experienced with the technique to walk you through it in person rather than attempting it based on general instructions alone. For most dogs, especially those without frequent issues, it's simplest and safest to leave this to the professionals as part of regular grooming or vet visits.
Preventing recurrence matters as much as addressing an active issue. Maintaining a healthy weight, feeding a diet that supports well-formed stool, and staying consistent with whatever expression schedule your vet recommends all reduce how often impactions happen in the first place.
The Bottom Line
Anal gland issues are common, usually manageable, and nothing to feel embarrassed asking your vet or groomer about. If your dog scoots occasionally, mention it at their next checkup. If scooting is frequent, the odor is strong, or you notice swelling or pain, get it looked at sooner rather than later — untreated impactions can progress to something much more serious.