Anal Sacs:

This service will only be performed at your request as not all animals need this and in some cases, could cause more harm then good.

Anal sacs (also called "anal glands") are two small glands just inside your pet's anus. The material secreted into these glands is thick and foul smelling. Domestic animals have largely lost their ability to empty these sacs voluntarily. Walking around and normal defecation serves to empty the glands but some animals become unable to empty their glands on their own at all. The sacs become impacted and uncomfortable. Dogs with impacted anal sacs usually scoot their rear on the ground in an attempt to empty the glands. Some dogs will lick their anal area and other dogs will chase their tails. Cats often lick the fur off just under their tails.

This could be due to inflammation (irritation), infection, impaction (plugged up with thick or gritty secretion) or even tumors in the sacs. This causes discomfort which leads to the scooting behavior. Impaction is a common problem.

The first step is to check the anal sacs when any pet has a history of scooting.

If the sacs have been emptied adequately, the scooting should stop in a couple of days.

If scooting continues for more than a few days after sac emptying, the sacs should be re-checked. For some individuals, it takes several treatments before the sacs stay empty. If the sacs are empty and scooting is persisting, another cause (such as itchy skin, tapeworms, or even lower back pain) should be investigated.

An abscess can form and rupture out through the skin. This is a painful, messy and pretty smelly condition often mistaken for rectal bleeding. If an anal sac abscess forms, it must be properly treated by your veterinarian (usually requires antibiotics).

This depends on the pet; however it is best to let the pet tell you when the sacs are full. If the pet starts scooting again, it is time to bring it in.

A non-invasive technique that helps some pets is a change to a high fiber diet. This will produce a bulkier stool that may be more effective in emptying the sac as it passes by.