Dogs and Anal Gland Concerns
Anal sacs are scent glands of the dog located just below, to the left and right of the rectum. As a large stool is passed through the rectum, pressure is applied to the sacs forcing a small amount of anal gland secretion to the stool. This substance serves as a marker, identifying individuals in a given territory. With a little understanding of functionality, we can now have a short primer on how your dog might be affected by anal gland problems.
However, because many of the modern, processed foods sold today lack insoluble (or bulk) fiber, insufficient pressure may be brought to bear on the anal sacs, causing them to back up or become impacted. This can lead to much discomfort for the pet. You may notice the dog scooting across the floor.
Pets with full or impacted anal glands may require manual expression of the glands to relieve pressure. However, the addition of bulk fiber to the diet can go a long way towards providing relief. We would recommend adding some oat bran or oat beta-glucan to the pet’s food. Because of the tendency of these products to draw moisture, water must be added as well to prevent constipation.