Anal Sac Disease
AnalSacDisease.com
This site is exclusively dedicated to providing helpful information to pet owners about anal sac disease in dogs & cats.
Anal sacs (sometimes also referred to as anal glands) are two small glands that are located at the base of the rectum in all dogs and cats. Anal sacs are designed for scent marking purposes and a small amount of liquid is typically secreted whenever your pet defecates. This very pungent smelling liquid is how dogs and cats identify one another and is the reason for dogs or cats to sniff the rear end of each other or their feces. To view a picture of the location of the anal sacs click here.
Why Are Anal Sacs a Problem?
Anal sacs can become a problem whenever they begin to fill-up excessively or become blocked. When this occurs you may notice several symptoms in your pet. The following symptoms are typically observed in dogs and cats.
DOGS:
- scooting the rear end on the ground
- excessive licking, biting, or chewing at the rear
- straining to defecate
- a strong foul/fishy odor from your pet
- general discomfort of the hindquarters
CATS:
- defecating anywhere outside of the litter box
- excessive licking of the rear end
- straining to defecate
- a strong foul/fishy odor from your pet
These symptoms are all possible signs that your pet is having anal sac disease. If left unchecked, swollen and blocked anal sacs can become infected, impacted, and even abscess and/or rupture. If your pet's anal sacs have reached this point you may observe pain or difficulty sitting, redness or swelling beneath the tail, or possibly a bloody discharge from your pet's rear. It is best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible should you observe any of these signs in your pet.
How Do Anal Sacs Typically Work?
The anal sacs are naturally expressed by your pet whenever they defecate. The force caused by the feces passing through the rectum over the sacs causes pressure to build-up and a small amount of liquid is excreted. It is also possible for the sacs to be released when your pet gets very scared or nervous and tenses up. This happens because the sacs lie in between two muscle layers called the internal and external anal sphincter muscles.
What Causes Anal Sac Disease?
Their are several underlying factors that can cause problems with your pet's anal sacs. The biggest factor is poor quality stool that is too soft or small to exert the proper amount of pressure on the sacs to allow them to be naturally released. As previously stated, the sacs typically empty due to pressure from the feces passing over the sacs as your pet is defecating. Therefore if your pet's stool is soft, loose, or if your pet is having bouts of diarrhea the sacs will not be able to express naturally and they will continue to fill-up over time causing discomfort and problems.
Another common factor for anal sac disease are underlying allergies. In dogs and cats, allergies manifest themselves as inflammation of the skin and associated structures which includes your pet's anal sacs. The inflammation from allergies can cause the areas around the anal sacs to swell and thus blocking the openings where the sacs release their liquid.
The last issue that can cause difficulty in your pet's ability to express it's own anal sacs is anatomy. Some pets anal sacs are naturally located in a position that doesn't allow them to be easily expressed by the passage of stool or contraction of muscle. This is because the position of the sacs is too far inside or positioned too low.
What Can Be Done To Help Anal Sac Disease?
If your pet is having obvious symptoms that their sacs are causing discomfort (i.e. scooting, excessive licking, redness, straining, etc.) then they will need to be emptied manually. This is usually best left to an experienced veterinarian or groomer because expressing your pet's anal sacs at home can be difficult and messy. Expressing the anal sacs is accomplished by one of two ways. The first method is performed internally by entering the rectum with a gloved finger and squeezing on the sacs directly until they are completely emptied. The second method is performed externally by indirectly squeezing the sacs by applying pressure with the fingers on either side of the anus until some of the contents are released. Generally speaking, the first method of internally emptying the sacs is the preferred method and most completely empties the sacs.
Of course the best way to address any problem is to treat the underlying cause and this holds true for anal sac disease as well. Since most anal sac related issues are caused by poor quality stool, feeding your pet a high quality diet that is free from excessive fillers is the first step. Keeping your pet's diet consistent and eliminating items such as certain treats and table scraps that may upset your pet's digestive health is also important. Feeding a diet that is high in fiber can also help with your pet's anal sacs as fiber can improve stool quality and add bulk, thus facilitating emptying of the sacs. If your pet has allergies, working with your veterinarian to best manage them will be another important step. Surgery to permanently remove the sacs is possible for extreme cases but generally not recommended due to the high risks, complications, and costs involved.
The information here is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace proper veterinary medical care. Please consult with your veterinarian prior to starting any new diet or if your pet has any medical condition that requires treatment.