Poodle Information
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Poodle Anal Glands
Overview
For first time dog owners, especially, there is a lot of confusion regarding Poodle anal glands. Some have no idea that this is the term used...some owner will think that their dog is bleeding from the rear (butt) and others with female Poodles mistakenly believe that their dog entered a heavy heat when then come home to find quite a large amount of a horrible odor and blood on the floor.
Anal glands that "pop" can expel quite an overpowering smell...that is why some owners refer to this as "odor glands" or "stink glands". Let's talk about what anal glands are, what purpose they serve and how to properly care for your Poodle so that they do not become impacted and "burst".
Anal glands that "pop" can expel quite an overpowering smell...that is why some owners refer to this as "odor glands" or "stink glands". Let's talk about what anal glands are, what purpose they serve and how to properly care for your Poodle so that they do not become impacted and "burst".
What Anal Glands Are
All Poodles have anal glands. There are two of them, found right under the skin that surrounds the Poodle’s anal muscles. It should be a regular part of grooming to express these glands (release the fluid from them).
These glands hold a substance that is similar looking to brown oil. The smell from the dog’s anal sac gland secretion can be quite terrible. Sometimes, when a Poodle eliminates, if the bowel movement is very hard or large, it will press against the sac and cause the secretions to come out. However, most dogs have soft eliminations that are not hard enough to cause any secretion.
The anal glands naturally become engorged with fluid as time goes by and this can cause quite a bit of discomfort for a Poodle.
The most common sign that your Poodle has a need to have their anal glands “expressed” is scooting behavior. Some owners mistakenly believe that their dog is "wiping" themselves after having a bowel movement, but this is actually the action of a dog who is in discomfort from impacted anal glands.
Scooting is the motion that a Poodle makes when they rub their rear end across the floor or ground. They do this in an attempt to relieve the pressure that the filled glands cause.
When a Poodle has anal sacs glands that fill up with too much substance, this can cause the dog to feel very uncomfortable. That dog will then scoot their bottom across the floor in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Many times, it is their scooting that will cause the sac to “break open” and the secretions will spurt out.
Treatment to Express the Glands
When the fluid builds up enough for the dog to scoot, this means that the sacs are impacted. If the Poodle does not break the sac while scooting, some type of treatment must then be done. Even if the sacs break on their own, they will build up again. Regular, on-going treatment should always be done before there are any more serious problems.
This can turn into a serious canine health issue if the glands are not released of the fluid on a regular basis. If this is not done, the watery fluid will eventually turn to a substance that is as thick as peanut butter.
Once this happens, it is very, very difficult for you, a vet or a dog groomer to express the fluid out. Also, once done, there is a much great risk for the dog to get a bacterial infection and/or abscess.
How This is Fixed
The glands must be released of fluid on a regular basis. For each Poodle this will be a different period of time. You will know that it is time to have them released when they grow larger.
Normally, they will be the size of a kidney bean and you won’t normally be able to see them or feel them when bathing your Poodle.
As they become filled with excess fluid, they will grow the size of grapes. You will then be able to see these lumps that are just beneath the surface of the dog’s skin.
There are 3 people who can express the glands:
• You
• Your dog’s veterinarian
• Your dog’s groomer
Expressing your Poodle’s Glands Yourself
You should understand what you are getting into if you choose to do this yourself! Anyone who is squeamish should not do this. Also, the odor can be extremely overwhelming and the process is usually very messy.
Still ready to do this? Okay! You will want to place your Poodle in the bathtub to express the glands. As if “popping a pimple”, you will want to put a finger on each side of the sac. You then will press upwards and inwards towards the rectum. If you do not see the fluid come out, you will then want to have your Poodle’s vet or groomer take care of this. If you want to learn the exact technique, the vet or groomer should be able to show you how they perform this action and then you may wish to try on your own again.
Having Your Vet or Dog Groomer Do This
Many owners choose to have their Poodle’s vet or groomer do this procedure; there is no shame is saying that you do not prefer to do this or that you are not able to do this.
If the glands have not been expressed in quite a while and this has gotten to the point of the fluid turning into more of a solid, you must have the veterinarian handle this.
Your Poodle may need to be given a sedative medication. A catheter will be put into the duct of the gland. The vet will then slowly inject water into the gland until the secretion is removed from your dog.
Most veterinarians will then inject an antibiotic ointment into the glands to protect against any possible bacterial infection. If there is a break of the skin, this will need to be cleaned with antiseptic solution. The vet will usually flush this solution into the gland each day until it has healed. This is the best treatment method, as the dog’s gland must be allowed to heal from the inside first. Do take note that this can quickly mount into huge vet bills; therefore it is best to make sure that your dog has their glands expressed regularly so that this more serious issue does not happen.
When Surgery is Necessary
There are instances in which your Poodle may need surgery for this issue. Some dogs tend to have very frequent problems. If so, it is usually recommended for the anal glands to be surgically removed. After all, they serve no purpose in the dog’s body and you do not want you and your dog to have to keep dealing with these issues.
For this type of canine surgery, your Poodle will be given a general anesthetic. The glands will be removed and stitches will hold the area closed until they heal, about 2 to 3 weeks later.
Prevention
Unless the anal glands are surgically removed, you cannot stop them from filling with fluid. You can, however, make sure that they do not fill to the point of becoming a health problem. Check the glands at least each month to see if they have grown enough to be visible. It is best to do this while you are bathing your Poodle.
You can also have your dog’s vet or the dog groomer check the glands at each visit. Many dog groomers express the sacs as part of the normal dog grooming process.
All Poodles have anal glands. There are two of them, found right under the skin that surrounds the Poodle’s anal muscles. It should be a regular part of grooming to express these glands (release the fluid from them).
These glands hold a substance that is similar looking to brown oil. The smell from the dog’s anal sac gland secretion can be quite terrible. Sometimes, when a Poodle eliminates, if the bowel movement is very hard or large, it will press against the sac and cause the secretions to come out. However, most dogs have soft eliminations that are not hard enough to cause any secretion.
The anal glands naturally become engorged with fluid as time goes by and this can cause quite a bit of discomfort for a Poodle.
The most common sign that your Poodle has a need to have their anal glands “expressed” is scooting behavior. Some owners mistakenly believe that their dog is "wiping" themselves after having a bowel movement, but this is actually the action of a dog who is in discomfort from impacted anal glands.
Scooting is the motion that a Poodle makes when they rub their rear end across the floor or ground. They do this in an attempt to relieve the pressure that the filled glands cause.
When a Poodle has anal sacs glands that fill up with too much substance, this can cause the dog to feel very uncomfortable. That dog will then scoot their bottom across the floor in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Many times, it is their scooting that will cause the sac to “break open” and the secretions will spurt out.
Treatment to Express the Glands
When the fluid builds up enough for the dog to scoot, this means that the sacs are impacted. If the Poodle does not break the sac while scooting, some type of treatment must then be done. Even if the sacs break on their own, they will build up again. Regular, on-going treatment should always be done before there are any more serious problems.
This can turn into a serious canine health issue if the glands are not released of the fluid on a regular basis. If this is not done, the watery fluid will eventually turn to a substance that is as thick as peanut butter.
Once this happens, it is very, very difficult for you, a vet or a dog groomer to express the fluid out. Also, once done, there is a much great risk for the dog to get a bacterial infection and/or abscess.
How This is Fixed
The glands must be released of fluid on a regular basis. For each Poodle this will be a different period of time. You will know that it is time to have them released when they grow larger.
Normally, they will be the size of a kidney bean and you won’t normally be able to see them or feel them when bathing your Poodle.
As they become filled with excess fluid, they will grow the size of grapes. You will then be able to see these lumps that are just beneath the surface of the dog’s skin.
There are 3 people who can express the glands:
• You
• Your dog’s veterinarian
• Your dog’s groomer
Expressing your Poodle’s Glands Yourself
You should understand what you are getting into if you choose to do this yourself! Anyone who is squeamish should not do this. Also, the odor can be extremely overwhelming and the process is usually very messy.
Still ready to do this? Okay! You will want to place your Poodle in the bathtub to express the glands. As if “popping a pimple”, you will want to put a finger on each side of the sac. You then will press upwards and inwards towards the rectum. If you do not see the fluid come out, you will then want to have your Poodle’s vet or groomer take care of this. If you want to learn the exact technique, the vet or groomer should be able to show you how they perform this action and then you may wish to try on your own again.
Having Your Vet or Dog Groomer Do This
Many owners choose to have their Poodle’s vet or groomer do this procedure; there is no shame is saying that you do not prefer to do this or that you are not able to do this.
If the glands have not been expressed in quite a while and this has gotten to the point of the fluid turning into more of a solid, you must have the veterinarian handle this.
Your Poodle may need to be given a sedative medication. A catheter will be put into the duct of the gland. The vet will then slowly inject water into the gland until the secretion is removed from your dog.
Most veterinarians will then inject an antibiotic ointment into the glands to protect against any possible bacterial infection. If there is a break of the skin, this will need to be cleaned with antiseptic solution. The vet will usually flush this solution into the gland each day until it has healed. This is the best treatment method, as the dog’s gland must be allowed to heal from the inside first. Do take note that this can quickly mount into huge vet bills; therefore it is best to make sure that your dog has their glands expressed regularly so that this more serious issue does not happen.
When Surgery is Necessary
There are instances in which your Poodle may need surgery for this issue. Some dogs tend to have very frequent problems. If so, it is usually recommended for the anal glands to be surgically removed. After all, they serve no purpose in the dog’s body and you do not want you and your dog to have to keep dealing with these issues.
For this type of canine surgery, your Poodle will be given a general anesthetic. The glands will be removed and stitches will hold the area closed until they heal, about 2 to 3 weeks later.
Prevention
Unless the anal glands are surgically removed, you cannot stop them from filling with fluid. You can, however, make sure that they do not fill to the point of becoming a health problem. Check the glands at least each month to see if they have grown enough to be visible. It is best to do this while you are bathing your Poodle.
You can also have your dog’s vet or the dog groomer check the glands at each visit. Many dog groomers express the sacs as part of the normal dog grooming process.
