I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had a panicked friend text me: “My dog smells AWFUL and won’t stop dragging his bum across the carpet. What’s wrong with him?” And honestly? Nine times out of ten, it’s anal glands.

It’s the dog problem nobody wants to talk about at the park, but almost every owner encounters eventually. Some dogs go their whole lives without a single issue. Others — and I’m looking at you, small breed owners — seem to need attention every few weeks. My Cocker Spaniel Henry had chronic problems for years before we finally cracked it. So let me share what actually works, what’s a waste of money, and when you really do need a vet.

What Anal Glands Actually Do

These two small sacs sit just inside your dog’s bottom, at roughly the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. They produce a pungent, oily secretion that’s basically your dog’s signature scent — their business card, if you will. When a dog defecates, the pressure from a firm stool naturally expresses these glands, depositing their unique scent marker.

It’s why dogs are so obsessed with sniffing each other’s rears. They’re reading the local news.

In a perfect world, you’d never need to think about them. But we don’t live in that world, do we?

Signs Your Dog’s Anal Glands Need Attention

Scooting and Excessive Licking

The classic sign. Your dog plants their bottom on the floor — usually your nicest rug — and drags themselves forward with their front legs. It looks comical until you realise they’re doing it because they’re uncomfortable.

Scooting once after a poo? Probably nothing. But if it’s happening regularly, or your dog is obsessively licking their rear end, those glands are likely full and irritating them. Some dogs will also suddenly spin around to bite at their back end like something’s attacking them.

Foul Fishy Smell

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: healthy anal gland secretion doesn’t smell great, but it shouldn’t knock you sideways. When those glands get overfull or infected, though? It’s a distinctive fishy, metallic stench that seems to permeate everything. If you’re catching whiffs of it just sitting on the sofa with your dog, that’s not normal.

Visible Swelling or Discharge

By the time you can see swelling near your dog’s anus, or notice brownish discharge on their bedding, things have progressed. Don’t wait. This needs a vet visit, not a home remedy.

Why Some Dogs Have Chronic Problems

Stool Consistency and Diet

This is the big one, and it’s frustrating because it seems so simple.

Firm, bulky stools naturally press against the anal glands during defecation. Soft stools don’t create enough pressure. So dogs on low-fibre diets, or dogs with sensitive stomachs that produce loose stools, often don’t empty their glands properly.

I spent months adjusting Henry’s diet before finding the right balance. More on that later.

Breed Predispositions

Small breeds get the worst of it. Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Miniature Dachshunds, Shih Tzus — their anatomy seems to make proper emptying harder. Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds are notorious too. Bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds round out the usual suspects.

But here’s what frustrated me: two of my friends have Cocker Spaniels with zero anal gland issues. It’s not a guarantee, just a higher risk.

Obesity and Lack of Exercise

Overweight dogs have more fatty tissue around the glands, which can prevent proper expression. And regular exercise promotes healthy bowel movements, which helps keep things moving naturally. A sedentary, chunky dog is a recipe for anal gland problems.

Impacted vs Infected vs Abscessed Glands

These terms get thrown around interchangeably, but they’re different stages of the same problem:

Impacted means the glands are full and the secretion has thickened, making natural expression difficult. Uncomfortable, but not yet dangerous. This is when scooting starts.

Infected means bacteria have taken hold. The area becomes red, your dog may be in pain when sitting, and the discharge often turns from tan to yellowish or greenish. Your dog might seem off — less interested in food, lethargic.

Abscessed is when infection creates a pocket of pus that may rupture through the skin. If you see an open wound near your dog’s anus that’s oozing bloody or purulent discharge, that’s a ruptured abscess. Vet. Now. Don’t pass go.

I’ve seen owners try to treat abscesses at home. Please don’t. Antibiotics and proper drainage aren’t optional here.

Should You Express Anal Glands at Home?

This is where I’ll probably annoy some people. Here’s my honest take: most owners shouldn’t do this regularly, and some shouldn’t do it at all.

External vs Internal Method

The external method involves pressing on either side of the anus from the outside, squeezing the glands between your thumb and finger through the skin.

The internal method involves inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and expressing each gland individually from the inside.

Vets and groomers typically use the internal method because it’s more thorough and empties the glands completely. The external method often leaves residual secretion behind, which can actually make impaction worse over time.

So here’s my problem: if you’re going to do this at home, you’re probably doing the external method. And if you’re not emptying them completely, you might be creating a cycle where you need to do it more often.

Step-by-Step External Expression

If you’re determined to try this — and your dog’s glands aren’t infected or abscessed — here’s how:

Get yourself some disposable gloves, paper towels, and consider doing this in the bath or outside. This stuff stinks, it stains, and it’ll get everywhere you don’t want it.

Lift your dog’s tail gently. The glands are located at roughly 4 and 8 o’clock relative to the anus, just beneath the skin. You might feel them as two pea-sized lumps if they’re full.
Place a paper towel over the area (trust me). Using your thumb and forefinger, press inward and upward, squeezing gently toward the centre. The secretion should express through the anal opening.
The fluid should be thin and brownish. If it’s thick, chunky, bloody, or your dog yelps in pain, stop immediately.

And look — the first time I tried this, I did it wrong. I squeezed too hard, got nothing, panicked, and called the vet anyway. It’s harder than YouTube videos make it look.

When to Leave It to a Vet or Groomer

If there’s any swelling, redness, or discharge already present, don’t touch it. If your dog is in obvious pain when you lift their tail. If you’ve tried and nothing comes out. If the secretion looks abnormal in any way.

Honestly? Even if everything seems fine, I’d recommend having a vet or groomer do it for the first few times while you watch. Learn what normal looks like before you attempt it yourself.

And if your dog needs this done more than every 4-6 weeks, something else is going on. Diet changes might help more than repeated expression.

Diet Changes That Reduce Recurrence

Adding Fibre

This made the biggest difference for Henry. The goal is firmer, bulkier stools that naturally express the glands during defecation.

Tinned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling — plain pumpkin) is the classic recommendation. Start with a teaspoon for small dogs, a tablespoon for larger dogs, mixed into their food once or twice daily. It works for many dogs, though Henry was indifferent to the taste.

Psyllium husk is what finally worked for us. Half a teaspoon for small dogs, up to two teaspoons for large dogs, mixed with plenty of water into their food. It bulks up stools without adding calories. Start low — too much fibre too fast causes the opposite problem.

Some owners switch to a high-fibre dog food entirely. But I’d try adding fibre to your current food first before overhauling everything.

Raw carrots as treats can help too. And there are specific “anal gland support” supplements on the market — mostly combinations of fibre and omega fatty acids. I’ve seen mixed reviews. The pricier ones aren’t necessarily better.

When Surgery Is the Right Answer

Anal sacculectomy — surgical removal of the glands — sounds drastic, but for dogs with chronic, recurring problems that don’t respond to dietary management, it can be genuinely life-changing.

The surgery isn’t without risks. The main concern is damage to the nerves controlling faecal continence. In experienced hands, serious complications are rare, but it’s not a decision to make lightly.

I know two dogs who’ve had it done. One was absolutely fine, zero issues, no more scooting ever again. The other had some temporary incontinence that resolved after a few months. Both owners said they wished they’d done it sooner rather than spending years on monthly vet visits.

If your dog is getting infections multiple times a year despite diet changes and regular expression, have the conversation with your vet.

Cost of Anal Gland Care in the UK

Quick reference because I know you’re wondering:

Professional expression at a groomer runs £10-25 per visit. At a vet practice, expect £30-50, sometimes more if a consultation fee applies.

Treating an infection with antibiotics and possibly anti-inflammatory medication: £60-150 depending on your practice and the severity.

Abscess treatment requiring sedation, drainage, and follow-up: £200-400 or more.

Anal sacculectomy surgery: £600-1500 depending on your location and the complexity. Teaching hospitals may be cheaper but with longer waits.

Pet insurance usually covers infections, abscesses, and surgery. Routine expression is typically excluded.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should anal glands be expressed?

In an ideal world, never — your dog’s body should handle it naturally. If you’re doing it monthly or more often, something’s off and diet changes should be your first focus.

Can I prevent anal gland problems entirely?

Not always, especially in predisposed breeds. But a high-fibre diet, healthy weight, regular exercise, and firm stools give your dog the best shot. Some dogs just have rubbish anatomy though, and no amount of pumpkin will fix that.

Why does my groomer express the glands every visit?

Because many groomers do it routinely as part of the service. Personally, I ask them not to unless there’s actually a problem. Unnecessary expression can cause irritation and may make your dog more dependent on manual expression over time. If there’s no scooting, no smell, no issues — leave them alone.

Is the fishy smell always anal glands?

Usually, but not always. Female dogs with vaginitis or skin fold infections can smell similar. Worth a vet check if expressing the glands doesn’t solve the smell.

My dog expressed their glands on the sofa. Why?

Stress or fear can cause involuntary expression. Excitement too, in some dogs. It’s their body’s equivalent of a skunk spray, minus the aiming capability. You have my sympathy.

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this, it’s that chronic anal gland problems usually have an underlying cause — and that cause is often fixable. Before you resign yourself to monthly vet visits forever, try the diet changes. Give them a proper shot, at least six weeks. Henry went from needing expression every three weeks to maybe twice a year after we got his fibre intake right.

Your carpet will thank you.

Featured Image Source: Pexels