Dog Scooting & Anal Glands: Signs of Impaction, Abscess & When to Act

If your dog is scooting across the floor, licking its rear end obsessively, or sitting down suddenly and yelping, the anal glands are the most likely culprit. These two small sacs on either side of the anus normally empty during defecation, but when they become impacted, infected, or ruptured, they require prompt veterinary attention. This guide explains what the glands do, what goes wrong, and how to manage recurrent problems.

Last reviewed: June 2026

What Are Anal Glands and Why Do They Cause Problems?

Anal sacs (colloquially called anal glands) are two small scent-secreting sacs located at approximately the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions around the anus. They are lined with sebaceous and sweat glands that produce a brown, fishy-smelling secretion. Normally, these sacs empty via small ducts when a dog passes firm stool — the pressure of the feces naturally expresses them.

Problems arise when:

• The duct becomes blocked, preventing normal emptying → impaction
• Impacted material accumulates and becomes infected → anal sacculitis / abscess
• The abscess ruptures through the skin → anal sac abscess rupture
• Chronic recurrence leads to sac removal surgery → anal sacculectomy

Dogs most commonly affected include small breeds (Chihuahuas, Miniature Poodles, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels), overweight dogs (soft stools do not provide adequate pressure to empty the sacs), and dogs with food allergies or atopic dermatitis. The AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines 2019 note anal gland disease as among the most common soft-tissue complaints in small-breed dogs.

Signs That Your Dog's Anal Glands Are Involved

• Scooting — dragging the rear on the floor or carpet
• Licking or biting the base of the tail or perianal area
• Sitting down suddenly or appearing startled while sitting
• A strong, fishy odor from the rear end that is not the normal level of "dog smell"
• Swelling, redness, or a soft lump near the anus (may be an abscess)
• A visible wound or drainage tract near the anus (ruptured abscess — needs same-day care)
• Reluctance to sit or general restlessness

Note that scooting is not always anal glands — rectal itching from intestinal parasites, rectal prolapse, or perianal fistulas can look the same. A veterinary exam distinguishes these.

What Happens During Anal Gland Expression?

Manual expression can be done externally (pressing on the glands from outside the skin) or internally (a gloved finger inside the rectum). Internal expression is more complete and is what veterinarians typically do when there is an impaction. External expression — often done at grooming salons — is less thorough.

For a routine impaction:

• Your vet or vet tech manually expresses the sacs
• The consistency of the secretion is noted: watery-normal; thick and pasty-early impaction; bloody or purulent-infection
• If infection is present, antibiotics are prescribed; if an abscess is present, it may be lanced and flushed

Expressing your dog's anal glands at home is technically possible but generally not recommended unless trained to do so. Improper technique can damage the ducts or miss infection.

Anal Sac Abscess: When It Becomes Urgent

An impacted anal sac that becomes infected develops into an abscess — a painful, pus-filled swelling that appears as a red, purple, or brownish lump to the side of the anus. If the abscess ruptures on its own, you may find a hole in the skin near the anus draining bloody or brown-tinged fluid.

A ruptured anal sac abscess is a same-day veterinary visit, not an emergency room situation unless your dog is systemically ill (not eating, lethargic, running a fever). Treatment involves:

• Flushing the rupture tract under sedation if needed
• Systemic antibiotics (typically 2–4 weeks)
• Anti-inflammatory pain medication
• An e-collar to prevent licking

Without treatment, a ruptured abscess will not heal adequately and risks ascending infection, stricture of the duct, or development of fistulous tracts.

Costs and Treatment Options

• Routine anal gland expression: $15–$45 at a vet or groomer
• Vet exam for impacted or infected glands: $50–$150
• Antibiotic course for anal sacculitis: $30–$80
• Anal sac abscess treatment (lancing + antibiotics): $150–$350
• Anal sacculectomy (surgical removal, both sacs): $500–$1,500 depending on complexity; recommended for dogs with recurrent abscesses or anal gland cancer

Preventing Recurrence

For dogs with recurrent impaction:

• High-fiber diet or fiber supplements (canned pumpkin, psyllium, or prescription high-fiber diet) to add bulk to stools, which improves natural expression
• Weight loss if the dog is overweight — soft stools from obesity are a major contributor
• Allergy management — dogs with food allergy or atopy often have recurrent anal gland problems due to inflammation in the perianal tissue; addressing the allergy is often more effective than repeated expressions
• Regular scheduled expressions every 4–8 weeks for dogs who repeatedly impact; this buys time while dietary and allergy management is addressed

The AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines 2019 note that recurrent anal gland disease warrants investigation for underlying food allergy or environmental atopy as the root cause, not just repeated expression at the groomer.

When to See a Vet

Call your vet today if:

• Your dog has been scooting or licking its rear for more than a day or two
• You notice a soft swelling, redness, or discoloration near the anus
• There is a wound or drainage from the perianal skin
• Your dog cries or yelps when you touch its rear or when it tries to sit

Go to the ER immediately if:

• There is active heavy bleeding from the perianal area
• Your dog has a high fever, is severely lethargic, or has completely stopped eating alongside anal gland signs

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I get my dog's anal glands expressed? Most dogs never need manual expression — their glands empty naturally. Dogs who need recurrent expressions (every 4–8 weeks) likely have an underlying cause such as food allergy, obesity, or chronic soft stools. Address the root cause rather than making routine expression a permanent fixture.

Can I express my dog's anal glands at home? It is possible with training, but not recommended for most owners. Incorrect technique can block ducts or miss an early infection. If your dog needs very frequent expressions and you want to learn the external technique, ask your vet to show you — but have them confirm the sacs are not infected first.

Is scooting always anal glands? Scooting is the most common sign of anal gland discomfort, but intestinal parasites (tapeworm segments near the anus look like grains of rice), perianal irritation from diarrhea, or rectal prolapse can also cause it. A fecal exam alongside anal gland evaluation gives a complete picture.

What does an anal gland infection smell like? Infected anal sacs produce a distinctly foul, fishy, or metallic odor that is much stronger than normal anal gland secretion. If you notice an unusually strong smell from your dog's rear that persists even after bathing, have the anal sacs checked.

Will my dog need surgery for anal gland problems? Only a minority of dogs require anal sacculectomy. Surgery is considered for dogs who have had multiple abscesses, suspected anal sac adenocarcinoma (a tumor), or when medical and dietary management has failed after 12+ months of recurrence. The surgery carries a small risk of fecal incontinence, which is why it is reserved for refractory cases.

Still Not Sure if Your Dog Needs a Vet?

When you're not sure if this is wait-and-see or call-tonight, Voyage AI Vet triages in under 2 minutes. Describe what you're seeing in chat, share photos of any swelling near your dog's rear end or skin changes, or hop on a live video call if you want a second pair of eyes. Every answer comes with citations to the actual veterinary literature it's pulling from — so you see exactly where the guidance comes from, not just a chatbot's word.

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