Anal gland trouble is one of the most common reasons dogs end up at the vet’s — the unglamorous end, specifically. The good news is that most cases are minor and easily sorted. The important news is that, left alone, a small problem back there can quietly become a painful one. So here’s the full picture: what can go wrong, how to spot it early, when it’s a genuine emergency, and what actually helps.

If you’ve landed here mid-worry because your dog is scooting or smells fishy, those pages go deeper on each — this one is the map of the whole thing.

What the Glands Are

Your dog has two small scent glands, each about the size of a pea, just inside their bottom at roughly the four and eight o’clock positions. They hold a strong, oily fluid that normally releases a little at a time when your dog passes a firm stool — a scent signature, which is exactly why dogs are so interested in each other’s rear ends. When the system works, you never notice it. Anal gland “problems” are really just what happens when that emptying stops working properly.

How a Small Problem Escalates

Anal gland problems tend to escalate in three stages, and understanding the ladder is the best reason to act early rather than hope it passes.

Impaction is the first rung. The glands don’t empty, the fluid thickens, and the ducts block. Your dog is uncomfortable and probably scooting or licking, but it’s still a straightforward fix at this point.

Infection (sacculitis) is next. Fluid that sits there too long becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, the glands get inflamed and sore, and you may see blood or pus in the discharge. This needs veterinary treatment, not just expressing.

Abscess is the stage you really want to avoid. An untreated infection can build into a painful, swollen abscess beside the anus, which can burst through the skin. It’s genuinely painful for your dog and needs prompt veterinary care. It’s also entirely preventable by dealing with the earlier stages — which is the whole point of catching it early.

What Causes It

Most anal gland problems trace back to one or more of these.

Soft or loose stools — the most common cause by far. The glands rely on the pressure of a firm, bulky poo to empty as your dog goes. Soft stools don’t provide that pressure, so the glands don’t clear. Anything that loosens stools — including bouts of diarrhoea — can set it off.

A low-fibre diet. Same mechanism: not enough fibre means less bulk and firmness to the stool, so the glands aren’t squeezed properly.

Allergies and skin disease. This one’s less obvious but well established. Food and environmental allergies cause inflammation that affects the skin around the anus, swelling the duct tissue and narrowing the openings so fluid gets trapped. Allergies also tend to loosen stools, so they hit the problem from two directions at once.

Weight. Excess tissue around the rear reduces the natural compression the glands need during a bowel movement.

Anatomy and breed. Some dogs are simply built with glands that sit awkwardly or ducts that are narrow, so they don’t drain well no matter what you do. UK data shows some breeds are notably more prone — Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cockapoos, Cocker Spaniels, Shih-tzus and Bichon Frises among them — and flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds have markedly higher odds than long-nosed types. If that’s your dog, this can be an ongoing management thing rather than a one-off (more on that below).

The Signs to Look For

Anal gland problems are easier to catch than most, because dogs are fairly loud about them. Watch for:

  • scooting — dragging their bottom along the floor, the classic sign
  • licking or biting at the rear or base of the tail
  • a fishy or foul smell that keeps coming back
  • discomfort sitting down, or straining when they poo
  • swelling, redness, or discharge near the anus — a sign things have progressed
  • chasing or fixating on their tail

One or two mild signs that settle quickly may just need a diet tweak. Signs that persist, or any swelling or discharge, are worth a vet visit.

When It’s a Vet Emergency

A fair number of people search for how to treat a swollen bottom or a burst anal gland abscess at home. So, plainly: that’s not a home job, and trying to manage it yourself can make it worse and leave your dog in real pain.

Get your dog to a vet the same day if you see:

  • a painful, swollen lump beside the anus
  • a burst or weeping sore back there, or bleeding
  • pus, or a strong smell coming from an open wound
  • your dog straining, crying, or clearly in a lot of discomfort
  • any of this alongside them being off their food or unwell in themselves

An abscess needs proper veterinary treatment — draining, cleaning, antibiotics and pain relief. It heals well when treated promptly, so the kindest thing you can do is not wait.

How Vets Treat It

The treatment depends on how far things have gone, and most cases are at the simple end.

For impaction, expressing the glands (by a vet or veterinary nurse) usually brings quick relief, alongside advice on preventing a repeat. For infection, your vet will typically add antibiotics and anti-inflammatory or pain relief, and may flush the glands. An abscess needs draining and cleaning, plus antibiotics and pain relief. And for dogs with severe, recurrent problems that won’t settle any other way, there’s a surgical option — removing the glands entirely (a sacculectomy) — usually a last resort once other approaches have been exhausted. Your vet will talk you through whether it’s ever appropriate for your dog.

The reassuring headline: the overwhelming majority of dogs never get anywhere near surgery. Caught early, this is a diet-and-expression problem, not an operating-table one.

Food and Prevention

Because soft stools are the leading cause, prevention mostly comes down to firmer, bulkier stools — which is largely a food question, and one people search for a lot.

Fibre is the main lever. Enough dietary fibre firms up stools so the glands empty naturally. That can mean a food with adequate fibre, or adding something like a spoon of plain, unsweetened pumpkin or a vet-recommended fibre supplement. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight matters too, and if allergies are in the mix, managing those (with your vet) often improves the glands as a side effect.

A word of caution on the “miracle” end of the shelf: plenty of chews and supplements promise to “fix glands,” and while a genuinely higher-fibre product can help, no supplement replaces sorting out the underlying cause. It’s worth a proper conversation with your vet about diet rather than working through the pet-shop shelf by trial and error.

When It’s an Ongoing Thing

If your dog is one of the predisposed ones, you may find their glands need attention every few weeks no matter how good their diet is. That’s not a failure on your part — it’s their anatomy, and regular expression can simply become part of their care, like nail trims.

Two things to keep in mind if that’s you. If they need expressing very often — more than about once a month — treat it as a signal to keep working with your vet on the underlying cause rather than just repeating the fix. And don’t over-do it: expressing more than necessary can inflame and scar the ducts and make things worse over time. Ongoing cases are best handled as a regular vet appointment, not a home routine. There’s more on all of this in our guide to expressing anal glands.

The Smell That Lingers

When the glands leak, that stubborn fishy smell ends up on your carpets, sofa and car — here’s why it’s so hard to shift, and it’s exactly the surface-smell problem we’re building Fishy Fix™ Surface Cleaner for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if your dog needs their glands expressed?
The usual signs are scooting, licking or biting at the rear, a persistent fishy smell, and discomfort sitting down. A vet or veterinary nurse can feel whether the glands are genuinely full — it’s not something to judge reliably at home. Don’t express them yourself unless a vet has shown you how on your own dog.
What food helps dogs express their glands?
Foods with enough fibre, since fibre firms up stools and firm stools are what press the glands empty naturally. A higher-fibre diet, or additions like plain pumpkin or a vet-recommended fibre supplement, are the usual routes. Ask your vet before making big changes.
Can food cause anal gland issues in dogs?
Yes, indirectly. A low-fibre diet, or a food that gives your dog loose stools, means the glands don’t get the pressure they need to empty — a leading cause of problems. Food allergies can also inflame the area and narrow the ducts. Diet is often both the cause and the fix.
What are the symptoms of blocked anal glands in dogs?
Scooting, licking or biting at the rear, a fishy smell, discomfort when sitting, and in more advanced cases swelling, redness or discharge near the anus. Mild signs that pass quickly may just need a diet tweak; persistent signs or any swelling need a vet.
My dog’s bottom is swollen — can I treat it at home?
No — a swelling or lump beside the anus can be an infected or abscessed gland, which needs a vet the same day for draining, antibiotics and pain relief. It’s not something to manage at home, and waiting tends to make it more painful and harder to treat.
Are some dogs just prone to anal gland problems?
Yes. Certain breeds (Cavaliers, Cockapoos, Cocker Spaniels, Shih-tzus, Bichons and flat-faced breeds) and dogs with narrow ducts, allergies, or a tendency to soft stools are more prone, and may need ongoing, vet-managed care. It’s manageable — and not a reflection of anything you’ve done wrong.

Sources & Further Reading

We like to show our working. This page draws on UK veterinary advice and published research:

General information, not a substitute for veterinary advice — if you’re worried about your dog, speak to your vet.