Telltale Behaviors Your Dog Needs His Anal Glands Expressed

What some vets declare to be quite useless and utterly unpleasant, canine anal sacs can be the bane of many a dog's life, as well as his family's. When working properly, these tiny glandular pouches -- found just beyond the opening of your dog's bottom -- capture a foul-smelling substance that is typically excreted along with his fecal matter; however, they can become impacted and quite uncomfortable for your dog, who communicates this distress in a number of different ways.

Behavioral Indicators
If your dog has ever boot scooted across the floor, it's likely he's alerting you to his impacted anal sacs. While an occasional back end drag can just be to satisfy an itch, repeated scoots indicate his anal gland discomfort. Constant licking under his tail is another sign that it's time to empty those sacs, a quick procedure you can have your vet perform or learn to do yourself. An irritated rear end may swell and make it difficult for your dog to sit, which he'll demonstrate by attempting to but not actually sit. Just the smell alone, especially with the presence of a bloody discharge, is enough indication the sacs need to be drained.

Originally written for and published by Demand Media.
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