Once you know your dog's scooting or fishy smell traces back to full anal glands, the next question is obvious: can you deal with this yourself? For many dogs, the answer is yes, with a steady hand and a lot of patience. Here's how it's typically done, and just as importantly, when to hand it off to someone else.

Before you start:if your dog seems very sore, is bleeding, or has visible swelling, skip the home approach and see a vet instead — that points to an impaction or infection that needs proper treatment.

What You'll Need

Gloves, a warm damp cloth, and a calm, unhurried environment. A second pair of hands to steady a wriggly dog helps enormously. Do this outside or in a bathroom — it's not a task for the good carpet.

The External Method

With your dog standing and their tail lifted, locate the glands at roughly the four and eight o'clock positions around the anus. Using a gloved hand and a cloth to catch the discharge, apply gentle, steady pressure inward and slightly upward on each side. The fluid should release with light pressure — if it takes real force, stop. That resistance usually means the gland is impacted and needs a vet's attention rather than more pressure.

Afterward

Clean the area with a warm cloth, praise your dog generously (they've earned it), and keep an eye out over the next day or two for any lingering redness or discomfort.

When to Let a Pro Handle It

If you're nervous, if your dog is in real distress, or if this keeps happening every few weeks despite a good diet, it's time to bring in your vet or a professional groomer. Frequent manual expression can be a sign of a deeper dietary or health issue worth addressing at the source, not just managing symptom by symptom.