My toy poodle's anal sacs do not empty properly. Is it possible for me to express my dog's anal sacs at home? How do I learn to do this?

Have your veterinarian or a technician teach you the proper technique.
There are two anal sacs. Using clock-face position references, one is situated at four o'clock and the other is at eight o'clock just inside the rectum. The sacs fill with secretions from the anal glands and when full they feel like grapes when palpated with the fingers. The best way to learn how to express a dog's anal glands is to go to your veterinarian and have the veterinarian or a veterinary technician show you how to do this properly. (Please be aware that this is not as easy as it looks.) Then you could try it while the doctor or technician watches and guides you. The veterinarian or technician could do one side and you could do the other. Once you learn the proper technique, you should be able to do it from then on without difficulty unless the glands become impacted. When expressing the anal sacs at home, I recommend that you have rubber examination gloves and Baby Wipes or paper towels handy. Put the Baby Wipes or paper towels between your gloved hand and your dog's rear end to catch the material expressed from the anal sacs. I also recommend doing this procedure outdoors. Anal glands are scent glands that produce a foul-smelling material; expressing the sacs can be a very messy task at times, especially in the home. You should also be aware that medical problems involving the anal glands and sacs occasionally occur. These include infection and abscess, tumors, and inflammatory conditions. These problems require prompt veterinary medical attention. You may wish to talk to your veterinarian about what signs of these problems to look for when expressing your dog's anal sacs. I always tell pet owners contemplating doing this at home that they may change their minds after expressing the anal glands once or twice because it isn't a pleasant job and it can be messy. For more information you may want to read the VetCentric Encyclopedia article titled, "Anal Sac Disease, Canine."

02/13/02