Anal glands are small scent-producing sacs that normally empty when a dog or cat has a bowel movement, helping them communicate vital information to other animals. Problems arise when stools are too soft, inflammation occurs, or scarring prevents the glands from emptying properly. These issues can lead to impaction, infection, or — in rare cases — tumors, making it important to watch for chronic symptoms and work with a veterinarian if concerns persist.
If you notice the stool is soft, increase the amount of bone in the diet. Do not give large amounts of bone, or you will cause constipation. Also, do not give marrow bones.
Fiber is helpful. Leafy greens, psyillium husk and pumpkin are good choices.
Adored Beast Your Go2 can be used if your pet appears to be in pain or if his bum hurts.
The anal glands are two small, oval-shaped sacs located beside your dog’s anus. These glands produce a fluid with a strong odour that’s unique to each dog. When all is right with the world, these glands empty when your dog (or cat) poops. They have a little sphincter, and when your dog poops, the holes open and close, and the sacs empty as a result.
Anal glands are really important, from a perspective of what they do. Their primary function is tracking and scenting. In the wild, they’re how wolves mark their territory to warn other animals to stay out. With dogs, it’s the same. They’re a major form of communication between animals. In fact, it’s part of the reason dogs sniff each other’s butts! It’s the headline of the newspaper. Urine does this as well, but the anal glands really identify so much about an animal: their sex, if they’re sick, their approximate age, if the dogs have met before. It’s such an important thing. It’s what makes dogs so happy to smell the ground and other dogs’ poop.
Common Anal Gland Issues
There are several common anal gland issues.
1. Impacted Anal Glands
When it comes to anal gland issues, impacted anal glands are the biggest, for sure. This happens when that fluid builds up and can’t get out on its own.
In my opinion, the reason the anal glands become impacted to begin with is because a dog’s stool (and cats’ too!) were never meant to be uniform. Like when people say “they’re these nice little, perfect poops,” that’s not a good thing! They’re not supposed to be nice little, perfect poops. They’re supposed to have bumps and lumps of what they’re digesting when they poop. And when these lumps and bumps travel through and out, they massage the anal glands, and the anal glands express.
In my experience, when animals are on processed food, their stools are too soft, and they cannot massage those glands to express them. Not enough exercise, which helps with digestion, can also cause the anal glands to become impacted, as can a diet that doesn’t have enough fibre or doesn’t provide the right digestive enzymes to the gut. Solid, lumpy poops are key!
2. Inflammation of the Anal Glands
Inflammation of the anal glands is another problem. This can stem from food allergies and sensitivities. If a dog or cat has allergies and licks their bum a lot, or is scooting, that inflammatory response can also make those glands swell up, and then the sphincter becomes tight and stretched, making it hard to excrete the fluid, which then becomes a thick consistency, leading to anal gland impactions.
Additionally, once anal glands become impacted, they can become infected.
3. Scarring of the Anal Glands
Something that doesn’t get talked about enough is scarring. When dogs have their anal glands expressed, and many groomers and veterinarians will routinely do this, scar tissue can build up. Think about it like squeezing a pimple. Just like with that pimple, you keep squeezing it and squeezing it and it just gets so inflamed and becomes hard and scars. Then nothing can come out! Then the anal glands can’t express on their own anymore and you find yourself and your dog stuck in a vicious cycle of vet visits, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and even steroids.
4. Anal Gland Tumors
Anal gland adenocarcinoma/anal gland tumors are two other, far less common issues (cancer and tumors in the anal glands), so if your animal is having chronic anal gland issues please be aware and ask your veterinarian to be mindful in checking this out. See our recommendations below on how to address this.
By Dana Scott – Dogs Naturally Magazine:
Psyllium is a great food to help dogs express glands… it creates bulk to stimulate better muscle movement in the intestines. Phivo Christodoulou shared this great fiber broth recipe you can make at home.
Please read ALL the directions before feeding. It’s important to follow this recipe carefully. Psyllium husk sucks moisture out of the digestive tract… and can cause constipation if over-fed.
Psyllium Husk Recipe:
How Much To Feed Your Dog
In a pinch, you can also use water instead of bone broth. The bone broth is for extra nourishment. It also helps add flavor to encourage your dog to eat the broth. If your dog will drink a mixture made with water that’s fine too.
If your dog’s poops are still not large enough, you can slowly increase the amount of psyllium husk.
And there’s one more thing…
Supervise your dog during poop time while you’re feeding the fiber broth. This is gross, but some dogs may need help getting their poop out at first. If he’s having trouble, place your hand in a clean poop bag and pull the poop out. Your hands won’t get dirty so grit your teeth, hold your nose, and give your dog a hand if he needs it.
Note: This psyllium husk broth is a great way to help your dog’s express his anal glands. Other choices include fiber from the skins of pumpkin squash. Apples can also add beneficial insoluble fiber to your dog’s homemade diet.
Healthy Gut aids in the digestion of food and supports a healthy immune system. Helps rebalance and cultivate proper growing conditions for friendly digestive flora destroyed by antibiotics and toxins.
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Scooting, soft stool, and intermittent diarrhea in dogs can be an indication of bowel issues. Supporting bowel and anal gland health is a big part of intestinal and digestive health as a whole!
With pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, psyllium husks, lentils, cinnamon, and diatomaceous earth, Scooter’s Butt Bar contains soluble fiber to help support anal gland, digestive, and bowel health.
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“Resolving Anal Gland Issues Naturally & Preventing Them In The Future” by Julie Anne Lee, DCH RCSHom.
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): “Anal Glands – To Squeeze Or Not To Squeeze?”
“Dog Anal Glands & How to Express Them With Food” by Dana Scott.
If you have a question on this topic that wasn’t answered here, we invite you to ask it in our Facebook group.
This is what we would do:
Scooting is often a sign that the anal glands are full, irritated, or impacted. When stool is not firm enough, the glands may not empty naturally during bowel movements. This can lead to pressure, inflammation, and discomfort. Chronic scooting is commonly linked to soft stool, poor digestion, food sensitivities, or low-quality diets. Supporting gut health and improving stool quality is often the first step toward long-term relief.
Prevention starts with stool quality. Dogs and cats need firm, well-formed stools to naturally express their anal glands. Feeding a minimally processed, species-appropriate diet and addressing digestive imbalances can make a significant difference. Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and appropriate fiber (when needed) can help regulate stool consistency. Managing food sensitivities and inflammation also reduces the likelihood of chronic gland irritation.
No. Healthy dogs and cats should empty their anal glands naturally during normal bowel movements. Routine manual expression is not necessary for most pets and may even contribute to irritation if done too frequently. If a pet repeatedly requires manual expression, it is important to investigate underlying digestive, dietary, or inflammatory causes rather than relying solely on repeated gland emptying.
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