![]() This is a painful and nasty mess, but is generally salvageable. ![]() Worst case scenario is rupture of the sac. Sometimes the secretion gets thicker and harder over time, making it harder to empty. If the dog is very fat, this may require a rectal examination to complete. In order to relieve the dog’s discomfort, a groomer or veterinary technician (OR a veterinarian, like me) empties the sacs by squeezing. This (NOT worms) is the most common cause of butt-scooting. They are trying to empty the sacs and relieve that discomfort. ![]() That’s why these dogs scoot around on their butts. This stretches the sacs, which creates pressure, which creates discomfort. When the sacs don’t empty, the secretion accumulates. This is most common in dogs with generally poor muscle tone: very small dogs, very old dogs, and very fat dogs. The more common problem is the dog who doesn’t spontaneously expel his anal sacs. The volume is more impressive when the Shepherd lets go. Any dog or cat experiencing an extreme "butt-pucker" moment (like… looking at me) may squirt the secretion onto the floor. ![]() The exception would be the large and frightened German Shepherd (aka "anal glands with teeth"). In dogs and cats, they don’t generally squirt the stuff across the room. The skunk has a special expelling mechanism. In skunks and ferrets, the anal sacs become more specialized as the main musk glands. The pheromones (hormone-like chemicals) act as a scent territorial marker. They fall freely and land on top of the waste-pile. At the end of each bowel movement, the animal gives things one last squeeze and this empties a few drops from the sac. Their secretions accumulate in the anal sacs. The actual anal glands are very tiny and surround the anus. Believe me, that is not nearly as funny as you think it is when it really happens in the exam room.ĭogs and cats both have these things. I believe this may be to avoid the aural confusion between "anal sacs" and "anal sex". Sometimes people call them "anal glands" instead of "anal sacs". ![]() Had I known how much of my life would be involved with anal sacs, I might well have made a different career choice. Not only do horses not have anal sacs, at that time I wasn’t aware that these particular disgusting anatomical structures even existed. I really thought that I’d be doing nothing but horse-work. When I was starting veterinary school, I visualized myself as "the boy-wonder equine surgeon". Warning: This post describes disgusting bodily functions. ![]()
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