What are anal glands?
Anal glands, or anal sacs, are two small glands present in both dogs and cats situated just below and either side of the anal opening. These glands produce a substance that is secreted through ducts just inside the rectum when pressure is put on the glands- most commonly by the passing of feces. This substance has a strong odor which is very unpleasant to humans but was probably useful to animals, especially in times gone by, for marking their territory.
What can go wrong with anal glands?
In modern-day domestic pets, anal glands can often cause health problems. Sometimes the anal gland secretions are not released naturally and build up - leading to thickening of the secretion, clogging of the duct and sometimes even infection and abscesses. You may have seen your pet with his tail up, dragging his behind across the floor. This is an attempt to relieve the pressure and discomfort of impacted anal glands and is called scooting. Scooting can cause damage to the anus and indicates that your pet is having trouble with his anal glands and needs some type of intervention.
When bacteria find their way into the glands, infection can occur and lead to an abscess. Your pet may whimper or cry when attempting to defecate - this should alert you to the possibility of infection. Abscesses can also be extremely painful for your pet and will require the attention of a vet and possibly antibiotics to clear the infection. For this reason, it is best to prevent complications as much as possible.
Prevention and treatment
Anal glands should be regularly checked and expressed when necessary in order to empty the build up of secretions from the gland. This can be done by your vet, groomer or even by you - getting the knack of this is not difficult especially once you have been shown the technique. To express your pet’s anal glands use your fingers or a thumb and forefinger to gently apply pressure on either side of the anal opening - on the outside of the glands. Press inwards and upwards and you should see the fluid being expressed.
A high-fiber diet, as well as regular use of PetAlive Natural Moves for Pets (in animals suffering from constipation or irregular bowel movements), will also help to prevent impaction as healthy bowel movements will express the glands naturally.
How do I use PetAlive AnalGalndz?
Add 5 - 10 drops to 1/4 cup of warm water (try to make this as warm as your pet will tolerate, without being uncomfortably hot). Using clean cotton swab apply gentle pressure as a hot compress directly over the anal opening. Apply once daily in the case of compacted or blocked anal glands. Once the anal glands are functioning more normally, use PetAlive AnalGlandz once or twice a week.
CAUTION
For External Use Only
How long until I see results?
Soothing and cleansing effects will be immediate and your pet will experience considerable relief. Within several days of use the thickened secretion inside the sacs will become softer and more liquid and the anal glands will be easier to express.
How long does one bottle last?
One 50 ml bottle of AnalGlandz will last for 15 - 60 days, depending on the size and needs of your pet.
How has AnalGlandz Helped Others?
Terry, my miniature poodle, has really benefited from regular compresses with your PetAlive AnalGlandz product. Instead of being at the vet every few weeks for a traumatic procedure, antibiotics and all the rest of it we have just used your compresses every now and again and then manually emptied the glands the way the vet showed us - it’s really so much easier and better for all involved. Thanks for a great site and really useful products!”
—Harriet G
“Using your AnalGlandz remedy makes the terrible job of expressing my dog’s anal sacs a lot more successful and bearable. In fact, since using these herbal compresses we don’t need to go through the process as often anymore as the glands seem to stay open and empty most of the time, without the disgusting smell we had to put up with! A wonderful product- thank you!”
—Sylvia
