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How do you tell if your dog needs his glands expressed?
- Scooting.
- Licking and/or biting anal area.
- A red or inflamed anus.
- Consistently soft stools or loose stools when defecating.
- A strong fishy smell that is much worse than normal anal gland fishy smell.
How often should a dog’s anal glands be expressed? Once your dog starts to have issues with anal gland infections, impaction, or abscessation, it is usually best to have their glands expressed every 3-4 weeks to prevent the issue from happening again. Your dog’s anal glands can be expressed by your veterinarian, a veterinary technician, or even some dog groomers.
Is gland expression painful for dogs? It is much easier to express your dog’s anal glands if you have someone to help you gently restrain your dog as the expression is often uncomfortable (though not painful unless there is an infection or obstruction) and your dog may feel some pressure while you are pushing on the glands.
Do dogs need their anal glands expressed? Their anal glands express themselves naturally. Some dogs get their anal glands manually expressed a couple times a year. Some pet parents bring their dogs in every month (or more often), if their dogs have been having recurring issues. The key thing is to monitor your dog for the symptoms.
