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Anal glands in dogs: treating and preventing complaints

Anal glands in dogs

The anal glands are on the left and right of the anus in dogs. They produce a secretion, which serves the four-legged friend to set scent marks. With healthy dogs this is delivered with the droppings.


However, it can happen that the anal glands in the dog, or the anal bags in which the secretion collects, clog. As a result, they can no longer empty themselves and can even become inflamed. What causes blocked anal bags in dogs and what you should do about it, you will learn in the following.

Causes and Consequences of Clogged Anal Bags in Dogs

For the emptying of your dog's anal bags it is important that the animal's faeces is firm. Accordingly, it is often as a result of diarrhoea that the anal bags become clogged.


The anal glands continue to produce their secretions and release them into the anal bags. Since these do not empty themselves, however, they expand. In addition, the secretion becomes tough over time, which means that the anal glands can eventually stick together.


Not infrequently this leads to the inflammation of the anal glands and anal bags of the dog.

Symptoms for problems with the anal glands in the dog

If your dog's anal glands are clogged or inflamed, there are usually a number of different symptoms.

Among other things, the following signs may indicate clogged anal glands in the dog:

Symptoms for problems

  • Excessive licking of the anal region
  • Sledging (sliding around on the back)
  • Difficulties with manure disposal

If the anal glands and anal bags of the dog are already inflamed, the urge to move of the affected animal decreases in many cases and it avoids sitting down because of the pain. Externally, the inflammation of the anal glands in dogs can often be recognized by swelling and redness in the anal area.


Depending on the severity of the inflammation, fever may be added to the symptoms. In the worst case, the anal bags can even burst open, resulting in purulent wounds.

Treatment and diagnosis by the veterinarian

If you suspect that your dog suffers from clogged or inflamed anal glands, a timely visit to the veterinarian is mandatory. The veterinarian can manually empty the anal bags of the four-legged friend and decide on further treatment measures on the basis of their condition and the nature of the secretion.

Treatment and diagnosis


For example, it may be necessary to rinse the anal glands with medication or to treat the four-legged friend with antibiotics. In addition, ointments help to calm the strained anus region.


Since it is possible that the inflammation has led to the formation of abscesses, it may even be necessary to have an operation to open and empty the abscesses.


This is also the case with chronic complaints in the course of which, for example, ulcers have formed. In this case, surgical removal of the anal glands may be necessary. However, since this procedure can result in injuries to the sphincter muscle and thus fecal incontinence, it is usually the last resort.

Our tip for dogs with inflamed anal glands

If your dog suffers from inflammation of his anal pouches, we recommend treatment with Bellfor Anal Gland Ointment. This natural care product with selected ingredients such as propolis, insect fat, zinc, calendula, hyaluronic acid and vitamins provides effective relief from the symptoms.


Bellfor Anal Gland Ointment is characterised by good skin compatibility and easy application and reliably counteracts inflammation of your dog's anal glands.

How to prevent anal gland inflammation in dogs?

As you can see, problems with the anal glands can have serious consequences for your dog. That's why it's essential to prevent constipation or inflammation of the anal sacs. Particularly important in this regard is maintaining firm stool consistency and practicing adequate hygiene and care.

Tips for preventing problems with anal glands in dogs:

  • Do not add additional oil to your dog's food and avoid soaking dry food in water. Both can lead to soft stools in your dog.
  • Act promptly to address diarrhea in your dog. If necessary, use our supplementary feed Gastro Relax.
  • If your dog experiences persistent or frequent diarrhea, be sure to consult a veterinarian to have your dog examined and treated.
  • Pay attention to good hygiene in the anal area. For long-haired dogs, it may be beneficial to regularly trim the hair around the anus.
  • If necessary, use Bellfor Anal Gland Cream to care for the skin around your dog's anus.

Preventing anal gland inflammation: Should you express the anal sacs in dogs prophylactically?

In a healthy dog, the anal sacs empty themselves during defecation. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually express them to prevent anal gland inflammation. In fact, you can even harm your four-legged friend by doing so. Prophylactic expression of the anal sacs is painful and can potentially contribute to irritation and inflammation. If manual emptying is necessary, it's best to leave it to the veterinarian.

Bellfor Value Packs for dogs with anal gland inflammation

If your dog is suffering from anal gland inflammation, it is best to choose from our special sets of high-quality, easily digestible dry food and Bellfor Anal Gland Cream. We have put together three different value packs, so you can select the appropriate set for your four-legged friend.

premium-quality dog food

Anal glands in dogs - our conclusion

If your dog's anal glands are blocked or already inflamed, prompt action is required. The sooner the veterinarian can treat the symptoms, the better the chances that no lasting problems will arise and the anal glands may not even need to be removed.

If you want to promote your dog's digestion and ensure a firm consistency of their stool, you will find the right products in Bellfor's range. Our dog food is free from wheat and artificial additives, providing your four-legged friend with all the nutrients they need for their health and well-being. However, it's best to see for yourself and try our premium-quality dog food. We are confident that your dog will love Bellfor too.

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