"Nosey" Greetings

A dog's nose "knows" a lot. It is their way of exploring the world, checking out their surroundings and saying hello to friends. They will tentatively sniff out new dogs and humans alike, getting to know them through all those yummy smells. An older client once told me that since dogs sniff each other to get to know one another, the stinkiest dogs are the most popular-they have been places and done exciting things and have good stories to tell. That was his explanation for why dogs like to roll in stinky things; Verbal loves the bright green chicken poo, diving neck first onto the lawn to rub it behind her ears. It makes sense-that is where her pulse points are, just where you would put your finest perfumes. She must be a popular dog indeed.

It is no surprise that dogs like to sniff the hind ends of other dogs right off. Tails are up and noses are right there-it is probably the stinkiest part of the body if they haven't put on their "perfume" as Verbal does. The source of the very strong odor and thus the attraction for other dogs is the anal sacs, two small, grape-like structures just inside the anus, similar to a skunk's scent glands. They fill up with material from the anal glands that line the sacs, material with a foul, fishy odor that once you smell, you will be able to identify from a mile away. Normally, these sacs are emptied when a dog or cat defecates, secreting the material to lubricate the feces. Some animals aren't able to do this naturally, either because of an anatomical problem or because the sacs have become blocked or impacted. When this happens, the material may build up inside the sacs, causing pressure and discomfort. The most common sign of anal sac or anal gland impaction is scooting on the hind end, dragging the bum along the carpet or grass in an effort to release the blockage. Pets may lick obsessively or chase their tails; they may leak a bit of the material when the sacs over-fill and you will be treated to the offensive smell on your dogs fur or bedding (or on the seat of my car when Verbal jumps into it-bummer!)

If your pet shows any of these signs, a trip to the veterinarian is a good idea. Groomers often perform the anal sac expression procedure, but tend to do so via an external method-pressure being applied to the sacs outside of the anus and removing some of the contents. Most often this does not completely empty the sacs and they tend to fill up again pretty quickly. Groomers also aren't trained to recognize the signs of abnormal contents or feel of the sacs to determine if there may be an infection or other problem causing the impaction. Veterinarians or veterinary technicians are trained to express the sacs internally-inserting a (gloved) finger into the rectum and completely emptying the sacs, as well as palpating or feeling for abnormal growths or contents of the sacs. Occasionally antibiotics and/or pain medications may need to be prescribed for abscesses in the region. If pets get repeated infections, or just get impacted very frequently, a diet change may be recommended. I have seen animals with food allergies manifest themselves with chronic anal sac issues, only to resolve with hypoallergenic diets. Adding fiber to the diet may be enough to help some pets since this can bulk up the size of the stool and the larger feces may empty the sacs as it passes them by.

Very serious repeated infections or impactions that are very uncomfortable for the pet may warrant surgical removal of the sacs. The anal sacculectomy is not without its possible complications, however, due to the intricate nerves and blood vessels in the area, and the possibility of leaving gland material behind causing persistent draining tracts, so it must be carefully considered.

Is that more than enough information for you about anal sacs? If you would like to read some more or see some funny little graphics, check out the VeterinaryPartner.com page: Anal Sacs. I told you veterinarians need an iron stomach when we were talking about vomiting the other day. Anal glands produce one of the foulest known odors ever invented. We are always trying to find good odor neutralizers or deodorants to cover up the smell when we have finished the anal sac expression procedure on a pet-sending a pet home with a stinky bum isn't very good PR. But it does make for some "popular" dogs with good stories to tell.

Peace,
DrReneigh