How to Express Dog Anal Glands at Home

If your dog is "scooting" (dragging their butt on the rug) or licking their rear excessively, their anal glands are likely full. Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The smell is often described as "rotten fish meets metallic skunk."

What Are They?

Two small sacs located at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock inside the anus. They secrete a scent marker every time the dog poops.

• Normal: They empty naturally with firm stool.
• Impacted: Soft stool or genetics leads to them filling up like water balloons.

Risks of DIY

If you squeeze too hard, you can rupture the sac, which requires surgery. If you are unsure, pay a groomer $15 to do it.

When NOT to Do It Yourself

There are situations where at-home expression is not just inadvisable—it can make things worse:

• Visible swelling or redness around the anus. This suggests an abscess that needs veterinary lancing and antibiotics, not manual pressure.
• Your dog cries or snaps when you touch the area. Pain beyond mild discomfort indicates infection or impaction severe enough to require sedated expression.
• You have tried twice and nothing comes out. Repeated forceful attempts bruise the tissue and can push bacteria deeper into the gland.
• There is a history of recurring abscesses. Chronic cases may need the glands surgically removed (the AVMA's pet care resources discuss when surgery becomes appropriate).

Impaction vs. Infection: Know the Difference

Understanding the difference helps you decide between a home fix and a vet visit.

• Impaction: Glands feel firm and swollen. Discharge is thick, pasty, and brown. Your dog scoots and licks but tolerates touch. Home expression is appropriate for mild cases.
• Infection (Abscess): The area is hot, hard, and extremely tender. Discharge is yellow-green pus or blood. Your dog may cry, refuse to sit, or run a fever. This requires antibiotics and possibly lancing—do not attempt home expression.

Impacted glands can progress to infection if left untreated, so early intervention matters. If you express the glands and the fluid is anything other than brown or gray, stop immediately and call your vet.

The Guide (External Method)

1. Wear Gloves: Latex/Nitrile.
2. Location: Do this in the bathtub or outside.
3. Position: Lift the tail high.
4. Feel: Palpate the sides of the anus at 4 and 8 o'clock. You should feel two firm "grapes".
5. Squeeze: Place a paper towel over the anus. Gently push IN and UP with your thumb and forefinger.
6. Result: Brown/Gray fluid should jet out onto the paper towel.
7. Clean: Wash the area thoroughly with soap.

When to Stop

If the fluid is:

• Yellow/Green pus: It's infected. Go to vet.
• Blood: It's ruptured. Go to vet.
• Nothing comes out: Stop. Don't bruise them.

Prevention (The Fiber Fix)

To stop doing this manually, firm up their poop. Add Glandex chews or pureed pumpkin to their diet.

Read Next: Dog Diarrhea Fixes

Breeds Prone to Anal Gland Issues

While any dog can experience impacted anal glands, smaller breeds are disproportionately affected. Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Basset Hounds are frequent visitors to the vet for this issue. Their smaller anal gland ducts are more easily blocked, and their stools may not provide enough pressure to express the glands naturally. If you own a breed prone to this problem, consider scheduling regular gland checks with your groomer every 4-6 weeks as a preventive measure rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.

How Often Should You Express: Frequency Guidelines

There is no one-size-fits-all schedule. Use your dog's symptoms as a guide and adjust based on their breed and diet:

• Small Breeds (Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus): Every 4-6 weeks is common. Their narrow ducts clog more easily.
• Medium Breeds (Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs): Every 6-8 weeks if symptomatic. Many do fine with dietary fiber alone.
• Large Breeds (Labs, Goldens, Shepherds): Rarely need manual expression unless they have chronic soft stool. Focus on a high-fiber diet instead.

Keep a simple log—note the date you express or notice scooting, and a pattern will emerge within a few months. If you find yourself expressing more frequently than every three weeks, talk to your vet about underlying causes like food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do dog anal glands need to be expressed?

There is no universal schedule because it varies by individual dog. Some dogs never need manual expression because firm stools do the job naturally. Others, especially small breeds, may need it every 4-8 weeks. If your dog is scooting, licking their rear, or producing a fishy smell, the glands are likely full. Keeping a log of when you notice symptoms helps establish a pattern so you can express them proactively.

Can impacted anal glands cause serious health problems?

Yes, if left untreated, impacted anal glands can progress to an abscess—a painful, infected pocket that may rupture through the skin near the anus. Ruptured anal gland abscesses require veterinary treatment including antibiotics, flushing, and sometimes surgical repair. In rare cases, chronic anal gland problems can indicate an anal sac tumor, particularly in older dogs. Regular monitoring and prompt treatment of impaction prevents these complications.

Why does my dog scoot on the carpet after pooping?

Scooting immediately after defecation usually means the anal glands did not fully empty during the bowel movement. The remaining fluid creates pressure and irritation that the dog tries to relieve by dragging their rear on a textured surface. Occasional scooting is normal, but daily scooting signals that the glands are consistently failing to empty on their own and need manual intervention or a dietary change to firm up the stool.