Does my dog need anal gland removal surgery since they’re always impacted?

Original Question: Hi Dr. Greenway, Denver our 1-year-old Cockapoo’s anal glands leak frequently (every week or two). I watched your video on this but I would like more advice. It smells like tuna x 100. He does not scoot or show signs of pain but he licks his bum after it has happened. We have had him expressed by a vet several times. Within a week or two they leak again. We have not been told they are infected just that they are "full". It costs us $35 each time we take him for expression. He poops several times a day and his stool is a good size and firm. We feed him high quality food, have always added a probiotic and even avoid chicken since apparently some cocker breeds are more prone to allergies. Is it risky to have the anal glands removed if done by the right vet who specializes in this surgery? If not, do you recommend a GTA vet who could do this? The frequency and smell is just awful. It gets on our lap, our bed, couch, and carpet. We are so grossed out!!! - Julia

Mar 5, 2018

Hi Julia,

I can see how this is a very frustrating problem. I have a few ideas in mind that not every veterinarian may think of.

Anal glands are located slightly below the anal opening, at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions. When a firm bowel movement comes out, it puts pressure on the anal glands and expresses them physically. So the most common reason for repeated impacted anal glands in dogs is that soft stools are present. This is the first situation to address and it could be linked to gastrointestinal parasites, food allergies, dietary sensitivities, stress, gastrointestinal infections, or anything else that can cause soft stools. Addressing a medical issue like this certainly has the ability to resolve the anal gland issue.

There are many instances where there isn’t an underlying medical condition. In those cases, it’s hard to know why the anal glands are having repeated problems. Some veterinarians argue that anal glands can be affected by stress, weight, allergies, and a host of other causes that we really don’t have any evidence to support these claims. Of course anal gland removal surgery is an option and usually, surgical specialists perform this procedure but you will find the occasional veterinarian who can also perform it. The surgery will absolutely correct the problem, however, I try to avoid that situation because it’s invasive and expensive.

In my opinion, what I would do is flush the anal glands. Over the course of my career as a veterinarian, I have only had to surgically remove one of my patient’s anal glands. Every other patient that has had this problem, and I’ve seen many, has been able to resolve it by flushing the anal glands. The procedure I use for anal gland issues in dogs involves first sedating the patient. I then use a very small catheter and insert it into each anal gland and flush them out with a copious amount of saline solution. Most importantly, I finish the procedure by packing the anal glands full of a medication that most veterinarians will use for infections. There are a couple different products out there but each one has an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory and an anti-fungal medication in it. This treatment tends to solve the problem for good because it resolves any infection that might be in the anal glands and reduces the inflammation.

I hope this advice was helpful. As always, please consult with your vet about the options I’ve outlined.