|
Anal Glands And Associated Problems |
|
|
|
|
Cavalier Health Articles -
Anal Glands
|
|
Written by Myra Ehrman, RN, BA, BS, MScN
|
|
Sunday, 15 April 2007 |
Original Article Written by Myra Ehrman, RN, BA, BS, MScN, on behalf of the Health Education Committee, CKCSCC. Originally Published in The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Canada Newsletter,"Quotes", in September, 1997
By and large, Cavaliers do not have many problems with their anal glands. However, small breeds are known to be predisposed, and individual dogs do seem to be prone to running into trouble at the back end. If youíve never had to deal with anal gland problems, consider yourself fortunate.
Dogs have two anal glands, or sacs. They are positioned at about five and seven oíclock in reference to the anus, and are sometimes known as "scent" sacs. Their purpose in dogs appears to be for territorial marking and to allow dogs to identify one another (weíve all seen dogs greet each other by sniffing at the rear).
Under normal circumstances, the anal glands are emptied by rectal pressure while defecating. They may also be emptied whenever there is sudden contraction of the anal sphincter, which can happen if the dog is upset or frightened.
The colour of the contents of undiseased anal sacs has been described as brownish, brown, pale yellow-brown, slightly yellow or greyish brown. The consistency of the secretions may vary in individual dogs, and descriptions include serous, somewhat viscid and slightly granular, watery, containing small flecks of solid matter, mucous, and pasty or clear.
Unless there is a medical reason to do so, in most dogs expressing the anal glands is not required. If there are frequent odor problems, or the dog is scooting a lot, it is possible for owners to empty the glands.
From experience, you might wish to empty the glands at the start of the dogís bath. Raise the dogís tail with one hand, and keep it raised. With the other hand, feel for the sacs as small, firm lumps around the anus. Using your thumb and forefinger, take hold of the skin surrounding the sacs, push in, and squeeze together (drawing your thumb and forefinger towards the centre of the anus). You will know if you are successful, as the sacs empty and you see the secretions and smell the telltale odor. Wipe the secretions away with a damp cloth.
Anal sac impaction occurs when the anal sacs enlarge due to retention of the secretions, without signs of inflammation. Some causes are soft stools (not enough sphincter pressure), small anal sac openings, and overactive anal sacs. The treatment is to manually empty the sacs.
When infection is present, the condition is known as anal sacculitis. The dog may demonstrate signs of anal pain, as well as excessive licking and biting of the area and scooting. You may see enlargement and discolouration of the area as well. Typically there is thin greenish or creamy yellow secretion in which flecks or larger amounts of blood may be seen. When the secretions are expressed, the odor is much worse than usual. By the time your dog develops an anal gland infection, you must take the dog to see your veterinarian (if you havenít already done so).
The treatment of anal gland infection is to instill antibiotic-steroid ointments directly into the infected sac(s). This may need to be repeated for a few weeks to clear up an infection. Warm packs at home (using a washcloth and holding in place with a plastic bag) during the first week at least (up to four times a day, for 20 minutes) helps the infection to drain more readily and also gives some comfort to the dog.
Anal sac abscesses result from infections that have progressed. An abscess is defined as a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the disintegration of tissue. The dog may be running a fever, and the area is inflamed (at first red, but later turning a deep purple colour) with signs of hair loss. Abscesses need to be drained by your vet. The vet may use intravenous antibiotics as well as irrigating the area with disinfectant solutions and instilling antibiotic ointment.
Untreated abscesses can spontaneously rupture. Fistulous tracts may also develop as a complication. Fistulas are abnormal, tubelike passages within body tissue. They are open and often drain internally into the anorectal canal. The symptoms of fistulas are similar to anal sac abscesses, but they usually are not responsive to simple treatment.
Most vets recommend when the dog has anal sac infections on a recurrent (chronic) basis that the anal glands be surgically removed. Due to their location (proximity to the anus, which is not a bacteria-free area), anal gland infections may prove to be difficult to treat and control. Antibiotics are not always totally effective, and sometimes scar tissue develops that prevents the glands from being expressed or flushed.
If you do decide to have your dogís anal glands surgically removed, you would be wise to ensure the vet doing the surgery is experienced. When one of our dogs needed the surgery earlier this year, our vet brought in a general surgeon vet to do the procedure. The dog healed without complications. However, if the surgery is not done carefully, fecal incontinence can occur, especially if there is nerve damage in the area.
One long-time Cavalier owner reported some success in managing anal sac infections by adding bran to the dogís food, once that dog has demonstrated a problem. She starts with one teaspoon, and gradually increases the amount to one tablespoon a day. She cautions it is important to watch the stools, as too much bran at once can cause loose stools. She also said some people recommend raw carrot. The rationale is that increased stool volumes keep the glands "expressed" and reduce the likelihood of impaction and subsequent infection. If one of her dogs has obviously full glands, she expresses them herself and then puts the dog on bran for a few weeks. By monitoring her dogsí glands regularly, and using bran as needed, this multi-dog owner says her last anal gland infection was in July, 1990.
Disclaimer: Your veterinarian is the most qualified person to answer all of the questions you have about your pet's health. Nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice regarding any individual animalís condition.
© Copyright April 18, 1999.
|
|
![Clark_and_Niles_at_6_wks[1]](http://cavaliercanada.com/components/com_expose/expose/img/alb_7/img_1203374359_239_sm.jpg)