Anal glands are present on both sides of the anus in dogs and cats. These glands are naturally drained whenever your pet has a bowel movement. In a few cases, when the fluid becomes thick enough to be drained or expressed, it can clog the anal gland, which can then become infected and swollen. If left untreated or undiagnosed, the infection can cause a painful abscess.
At Bloor-Kipling Animal Clinic, we offer full-service veterinary care, including anal gland treatments in Etobicoke. Over the years, we have successfully administered anal gland medications for dogs to treat the ongoing infection and discomfort.
Symptoms of Anal Sac Disorders
- Scooting on the floor.
- Excessive itching on the anus.
- Pain during the bowel movement.
- Brown or red spots on pet bedding.
- Bad smell from the rear body.
- Swelling and redness in the anal area.
Diagnosis Of Anal Gland Expression in Dogs
As your qualified veterinarian, we’ll do a complete medical assessment to learn about any recent illness, infection, injury, or changes in diet or behaviour your pet has experienced. After this, we can track when the anal sac problem started and how it started getting worse.
To perform a proper anal gland expression in Etobicoke, we’ll do a thorough physical exam, including temperature, weight, heart rate, and blood pressure. After this, a rectal exam is done to take an exact expression of the anal sac. In difficult situations, other tests such as complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry, urinalysis, fecal examination, anal swab and digital radiographs may need to be done.