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                                  CANINE ANAL SACS

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The anal sacs (or so called scent glands) are inversions of the skin where it joins the end of the digestive tract.  The cavity formed is, in most dogs, big enough to take a broad bean.  There are two sacs which lie on either side of the anus, producing a sickly smelling fluid of varying consistency.  Occassionally the opening of these cavities becomes blocked and, unless expressed, the fluid may become infected and a painful anal abscess will form and possibly burst to the outside.

Anal Sacs in Dogs and Cats
Their Function and How to Properly Express Them
The Importance of the Dogs Anal Gland
ANAL SACS IN DOGS AND CATS
 T J Dunn, DVM
www.thepetcenter.com
First published in Dog World Magazine

Anal sacs are often also called anal glands even though they technically are not truly glandular in structure. Few topics raise dog owners’ eyebrows (and lower dogs’ tails) faster than the subject of anal sacs!  These two small repositories of foul smelling material technically are small pouches lined with cells whose job it is to continually produce an oily semi-liquid substance that is stored within the sac.  It accumulates the heck are they for?’  For a credible response I draw on my extensive knowledge ofanalsacs

A typical examination of a patient with anal sac disease (usually an impaction or infection) hoes like this...
"You think it’s his what?” asked the incredulous owner of the uncomfortable Basset Hound on the exam table.  I restated my diagnosis, knowing the owner probably never heard the term anal sacs before.  
“Barkley has an anal sac infection.  See how swollen and inflamed it is next to his anus.  In fact the abscess is nearly ready to break through to the surface of the skin.  We’ll need to open this abscess and allow the infection to drain, and then we’ll flush it, check the other anal sac, and send him home on antibiotics.  Warm compresses for a few days will speed up the healing, too.”

WHAT ARE THEY
Anal sacs are small paired pockets located between the internal and external anal sphincter muscles, one on each side of the anus at the 4 and 8 o’clock position.  The sac empties through a short and narrow duct to the surface near the inside edge of the anus.  Each sac is lined with abundant sebaceous (oil) glands and numerous apocrine (sweat) glands.  The secreted substance is a semi-oily, brownish fluid that packs an odor strong enough to gag a maggot!  For unknown reasons some dogs' anal sacs produce a rather thick, semi-solid material which is much more prone to impacting the sac due to the sac's inability to pass this semi-solid material through the narrow duct to the outside.  In many of these cases the sac will become infected, cause pain and inflammation and even break through to the skin surface.  The abscessed anal sac may need surgery to provide drainage and curettage of the damaged and infected sac and surrounding tissue.  Antibiotics are indicated in abscessed anal sac disease.

WHAT THEY DO
One study indicated that anal sac disorders affects about 12% of dogs. There are a number of theories why dogs, cats, skunks, and other mammals have anal sacs and what possible use they may have.  One theory states that anal sac contents, when excreted with the passing stool or by anal sphincter muscle contraction, act as a powerful territorial scent marker somewhat akin to humans posting a No Trespassing sign.  Another theory states that the anal sac material lubricates hard stool, which makes passage easier.  Humans do not have anal sacs.  It’s bad enough that some humans get hemorrhoids, which are dilated, irritated blood vessels at the anus; luckily, dogs do not get hemorrhoids.  

CAUSES OF ANAL SAC PROBLEMS  
There are no predictable antecedents to painful anal sac disorders.  Infections, obstruction and subsequent overfilling (called impaction), and rupture with drainage through the perianal skin are the most common clinical presentations.  Anal sphincter analsacsready muscle dysfunction, enlarged anal sacs that are not compressed properly by the anal sphincter muscle, hypersecretion from the anal sac lining, obstructed or constricted anal sac ducts all may be predisposing circumstances for anal sac problems.

IMPACTED ANAL SACS
Some dogs may be born with very narrow channels that lead from the sacs to the edge of the anus, thereby obstruction the flow of anal sac material.  Acquired damage to the duct can occur when perianal infections, trauma, allergies and inflammation compress or obstruct the narrow channel leading from the sac to the surface.  For unknown reasons some dogs produce a thick or dry material from the sac lining which makes passage of the material through the narrow ducts impossible.  

AGE/BREED CONSIDERATIONS
There is no age or sex predisposition to anal sac pathology.  Uncommon in large breeds, infections and impactions are often experienced by small breeds such as Toy and Miniature Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Lhasa Apsos.  Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and Beagles rank high on the list of breeds affected by anal sac difficulties.

DIET
Some groomers and animal health care workers believe feeding a diet rich in fiber aids in emptying the sacs. The pressure of the firm stool against the colon wall near the anus may help to express the anal sac contents.  Dogs that have an existing problem such as infection or obstructed ducts, though, probably won’t respond to dietary changes; modifying the diet with more or less fiber yields inconsistent benefits.  As a practitioner for over 35 years I have seldom seen a change of diet have any beneficial impact on the frequency of anal sac problems.

GROOMERS
There is a difference of opinion regarding routine expressing of the anal sacs.  For example, veterinarian Mark Thompson in his presentation about anal sacs in Current Veterinary Therapy XIII, suggests routine manual expressing of the anal sacs should not be done in a normal dog with no anal sac issues.  Many groomers make it a matter of routine, though, to express the anal sacs of their dogs.  Certified Master Groomer Sherri Glass, for example, has been grooming dogs for 14 years and has taught grooming for 5 years at Cornerstone Dog Grooming Academy in Clyde, OH.  She relates, “I teach students to empty anal glands on all small dogs, about 20 pounds or less in size.  We also do any size dog at owners request.  If dog owners would meet their dogs nutritional needs with high quality food, keep them at proper weight, and provide plenty of good exercise, most dogs would not have to have the anal sacs expressed.”   Mr. Jeffrey Reynolds, Director of the National Dog Groomers Association of America says “In states were it is legal for groomers to express anal sacs, many groomers express them externally only either as a part of the grooming procedure or at the owners request. When there is evidence that the sacs are impacted, then they are not expressed and the owner is advised to bring the dog to the vet.”

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM
There is an 88 percent chance the thought of anal sacs will never even occur to you.  However, if your dog is one of the 12 percent that scoots his rear bumper along the carpet, frequently turns to lick or bite at the base of his tail or anal region, or displays discomfort when passing stool, it would be advisable to make an appointment with the veterinarian.  If left untreated, anal sac impactions, infections and abscesses can be a reoccurring nuisance for your dog so be proactive about an evaluation if your dog displays any discomfort in the tail or anal region.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
“Do-it-yourself-anal-sac-expressing” can be done at home once your veterinarian has instructed you.  (Yuck… be careful about contact with anal sac secretions or you’ll be very unpopular with yourself and others!)  Some cases respond to infusion of the sacs with antibiotics in addition to oral medication.  In chronic cases, careful surgical removal of the anal sacs can be curative; the dog never has another annoying bout of anal sac disease.  Be sure to discuss the pros and cons of surgery if chronic problems lead you in that direction.


Surgery performed by Dr. Dan Paretsky, Eagle River, WI

The patient is a six year old Bassett Hound that had chronic, unresponsive anal sac infections and impactions.
The surgical removal of the sacs completely resolved the problems.
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Click on an image
for a close-up view in a new window  
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The veterinarian points to a swollen anal sac abscess
 Infected fluid is shown seeping for each anal sac duct
asinjectsmall
asremovedsmall
aslocatesmall
aspostopsmall
Dr. Paretsky infuses the left anal sac with paraffin in order to facilitate location and removal of the sac.
  Locating and isolating the sac. Careful dissection of the sac is imperative to preserve anal sphincter muscle.
  With minimal bleeding and little trauma to the anal sphincter muscle, an excellent outcome is expected.
 A view of the resected anal sacs...
The patient recovered well and greatly benefited from the anal sac surgery.

Copyright © 1998 Canine Inherited Disorders Database. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 30, 2001.
This database is funded jointly by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Permission to reprint is granted  by
Alice Crook, DVM Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre
Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island

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Anal Sac Removal
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Anal Sacs (also Called Anal Glands or Scent Sacs), Their Function and How to Properly Express Them 

http://www.k911.biz/Petsafety

Q: My dog drags his butt on our carpet, outside and everywhere. He seems to be very uncomfortable. Is there anything I can buy that might give him relief ?

A: Many people own dogs for years without ever knowing about anal sacs until it becomes quite obvious that their dog is having a problem and requires a visit to the vet or groomer. Anal sac problems are extremely common and can cause tremendous pain for your pet.

Anal sacs are two small glands just inside your dog's anus. They are positioned at about five and seven o’clock in reference to the anus.

analsacsimage1
click on image for larger view

Tiny ducts lead to the tissue just inside the rectum. They appear to be used for territorial marking thus allowing dogs to identify one another by means of the 'scent' left behind after defecating. As the pet defecates, the anal sphincter squeezes the sacs against the hard passing feces causing the anal secretion to discharge onto the fecal mass.

You have no doubt seen dogs new to one another, try and sniff the other's rear end. An annoying habit to us humans, it is their natural way of getting to know that dog and it's particular 'scent'. Again, this serves as a sign post used to communicate with the other dogs and cats. When walking about the area and again finding that scent, many dogs will either urinate beside it (as a manner of acceptance of that dog) or urinate directly on it (showing dominance or rejection of the dog). Most dogs are able to empty these glands voluntarily but certain breeds may need a little help. It also seems that smaller dogs or obese dogs are predisposed to this problem. In particular, small Poodles, Chihuahuas and Pomeranians have a high incidence of anal gland problems. If your dog is under 20 lbs., be sure to keep a close eye on this region.

A dog's lifestyle and diet (sedentary or confined for long periods without the ability to defecate outside when needing to and little or no fiber in the diet) may all contribute to the dog being unable to empty their glands on their own.

If your pet has a history of scooting, you can rest assured the anal sacs need attention. The emptying or 'expressing' of these sacs is done in one of two ways:

EXTERNALLY:  A rag or tissue is held up to the anus and both sides of the anal area are squeezed. If the secretion is very pasty, this method may be inadequate to empty the sacs.

INTERNALLY: A lubricated gloved finger is inserted in the anus and the sac is squeezed between thumb & forefinger into a tissue held externally. The procedure is repeated on the opposite side. If the sacs have been emptied adequately, the scooting should resolve in a couple of days.

You can learn to empty these sacs yourself (a disgusting task akin to changing a really 'ripe' diaper). The secretion that comes from these glands is brown in color and about the consistency of water or oil. But remember, you are doing it for your dogs comfort, hygiene and overall well being and your dog will be truly grateful for the relief given. If left untreated, an abscess can form and rupture out through the anus. This is why the anal sacs should always be checked by the veterinarian or groomer whenever working with the pet. If the secretion stays in the sacs for very long it begins to thicken and becomes like peanut butter in consistency.

At this point it is very difficult to be expressed and subject to bacterial invasion and abscessation. Once an abscess forms and there is no route of escape for the secretion and pus, it may rupture through the skin causing an unsightly mess and a good deal of pain for the pet (See image below).
analsacsimage2
click on image for larger view

This is often mistaken for rectal bleeding. If an anal sac abscess forms, it must be properly treated by your veterinarian and a follow-up with antibiotics will be needed.

How Often Should Anal Sacs Be Emptied?
This varies from dog to dog. The best recommendation is to watch your dog's behaviour, if he starts scooting again, it is time to have a look at the sacs. If the scooting continues for more than a few days after sac emptying, the sacs should be re-checked. For some dogs, the sacs may be emptied several times in a row before they stay emptied. If you are certain the sacs have been properly emptied yet your dog continues scooting, another cause may be present such as itchy skin, tapeworms, or even lower back pain.

What If My Pet's Sacs Seem to Require Emptying All the Time?
To avoid the expense of having the sacs emptied by your vet or groomer, a non-invasive technique that helps some dogs is a change to a high fiber diet. Give him fresh few baby carrots (two or three times a week). This may harden his stools and help to express the anal glands naturally and reduce the likelihood of impaction and subsequent infection.

How Do You Treat This Disease?
Once your dog has had one occurring episode of anal gland disease, it is more than likely it will develop more episodes. As an owner, you can help prevent this problem by manually expressing the glands yourself (or asking if your dog groomer provides this service), every couple of months. You can also take your dog into your veterinarian's office and have them do it.

Surgical Removal Of The Glands
If it seems that your dog is having reoccurring problems with anal gland disease, you can have these glands surgically removed. Because dogs no longer have a need for these glands, it doesn't hurt to have them removed and it is the only way to permanently solve the problem.
reprinted with kind permission from Mel http://www.k911.biz

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The Importance Of The Dog’s Anal Gland

By: Kirsten Hawkins
 
In the movie The Fisher King there is a rather humorous scene in which Robin Williams’ character is scooting himself along the ground by digging his heels in and dragging his bare bottom across the grass. In a jubilant voice he calls out, “Do you know why dogs do this? It feels GREAT!!”

Actually, that’s not the only reason. Dogs will exhibit this behavior if the anus or hind quarters are itchy, but it can be a sign of an impacted anal gland which can be a problem for some dogs.

The anal glands are located on either side of a dog’s anus and, in the wild, serve as a method of marking the dog’s territory. When a dog defecates the glands are naturally compressed and secrete a dark, foul smelling liquid along with the bowel movement. When the sacs are functioning normally they empty whenever the animal has a bowel movement.

Sometimes, for various reasons, the dog’s anal sacs may become blocked. When this happens a number of problems can develop. Some are benign as a foul smell but the can lead to serious problems like diarrhea and infection. To intervene before a blocked anal gland becomes an issue, the glands must be expressed.

Expression of the anal glands is a simple medical procedure that can be performed at home or by a veterinarian. Some people prefer to let the vet take care of this task because they find it to be an unattractive duty. To save the expense of a vet, however, it is perfectly acceptable to express the anal glands yourself.

Expressing the Dog’s Anal Glands:
Expressing the anal glands is a simple matter. You’ll want to hold the tail up and pull it gently toward the dog’s head. In the other hand hold a tissue or paper towel and place your thumb on the left side of the left gland and your forefinger on the right side of the right gland. Squeeze firmly but not roughly and the glands should empty a brown or yellowish liquid onto the tissue or towel. Impacted glands will not empty as easily and may require an internal draining technique. You can do the internal technique at home as well, but you’ll need surgical gloves and a tube of KY jelly.

Internal anal gland expression requires that the sacs on either side of the anus be expressed individually and will require that you place your thumb on one side of the gland and your forefinger inside the dog’s rectum in order to squeeze and express the gland. Impacted glands will be harder to drain and the fluid may be thick and pasty with a foul odor and a dark brown, grey, or black color.

Infected anal glands may produce a discharge of bloody pus and can be an indication of a more serious problem. The infection should be fought with antibiotics so a vet should be contacted immediately if the dog seems to have such an infection.
About the Author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.doghealth411.com/
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
 
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Web Owners comment
From my own experience I have found that if a pet has trouble clearing the anal glands whilst defacating a handfull of bran in the food certainly aids the process.  It works by enlarging the faeces so that it clears the glands on exiting the anus.
Val

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  chloebutton  talabutton  
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.