Dog Anal Glands: How and How Often
(the Secret Behind the Scoot)
That mortifying move where they plant their rear on the carpet and ski across the room: you've seen it. It plays as comedy, but it's actually a message, and the likely translation is "my anal glands are uncomfortable." My own introduction to this organ's existence came from witnessing exactly that scene in the living room.
Anal glands are secretion sacs flanking the anus at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions. They should empty naturally during defecation, but many small dogs don't manage it. Scooting, persistent licking or nipping at the tail area, and a fishy funk are the "I'm full" signals. Typical care is expressing at bath time every 2-4 weeks, and since clumsy technique can hurt, learn the first round at the clinic or groomer.
Signals and the care matrix
| Type | Signals | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Self-emptying | No signals; traces on stool | No separate care needed |
| The filler-upper | Scooting, licking, fishy smell | Express every 2-4 weeks |
| Suspected infection | Swollen, red beside anus; pain; ooze | Do NOT express: clinic |
| Rupture | Open wound beside anus, blood, pus | Clinic immediately |
Expressing at home (external method)
Bath time is the ideal window: the smell washes straight away. Lift the tail with one hand, cover the anus with tissue or gauze, then with thumb and forefinger at slightly below the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, press gently upward and inward toward the anus. Brown, fishy discharge means success. Stand clear of the line of fire: it can spray. The right feel is guiding a direction, not squeezing with force. And if several tries produce nothing, don't push harder: it may need internal expression or your positioning may be off. One demonstration at the clinic or groomer teaches it faster than any article.
If it keeps refilling
Some dogs are back to full-and-scooting every few weeks. Emptying naturally requires decent pressure at defecation, so soft stool or low activity keeps the glands from clearing. Long-term management therefore lives less in squeezing technique and more in stool firmness (fiber balance) and exercise. Fiber-fortified food or a pumpkin topper are worth raising with your vet, and the daily walk is medicine here as everywhere. If refills stay frequent or infections recur, have the clinic redesign the schedule and method. My dog Gureum settled into a monthly rhythm once we tied it to bath day (it means "cloud" in Korean): before that, every scooting episode sent us scrambling.
Even a scooting sighting becomes a record with one photo
The gland cycle only becomes visible when you know the date you expressed and the date the signals returned. Post a short clip or photo of the scoot to kkeung and the post keeps its date: the gap since the last care session is right there.
Save a photo of today →When NOT to express: go to the clinic instead
A visible bulge beside the anus that hurts to touch, reddened skin, a glisten of discharge: that may already be anal gland infection territory. Expressing at home in that state adds pain and can worsen things: it belongs to the clinic. Left alone, it can abscess and rupture, an open hole beside the anus with blood and pus, requiring urgent treatment. The quiet cases where a few days of ignored scooting ended in rupture are more common than you'd think: when the signal shows, check without delay.
Leaving it to the groomer: two things to know
Many households fold gland care into the bath-and-groom appointment: a good system. Just mind two things. First, before requesting it every time, confirm your dog is actually the type that needs it: routinely expressing a self-emptying dog can be pointless irritation. Second, if scooting continues after grooming, it may be incomplete emptying or something else entirely (inflammation, parasites): escalate to the clinic. And note that scooting can also signal a needed deworming, so if it recurs, have the checkup cover that too.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if we never express the glands?
The discharge looks odd. What color is normal?
They HATE having it done. Total chaos every time.
Do large dogs need anal gland care?
They keep scooting even AFTER we expressed the glands. Why?
This article is general information and does not replace a veterinary diagnosis. Talk to your vet about your dog's condition.