Ask the vet
Esther Van Luipen
I regularly get people coming to the counter in the practice to ask for a wormer because their dog is scooting along the floor on their bum. While it is important to worm you dog every three months, there is a very small chance that a wormer will be the right remedy for this ailment. In 90 per cent of the cases this ‘scooting’ is being caused by full or blocked anal glands, not by worms. The solution for this problem is simple – but if you have a delicate disposition brace yourself – they just need to be squeezed at the vet’s.
Us humans should be very happy we’re not cursed with anal glands, because they can be an awful nuisance. They were designed by nature for the wolf, before it was domesticated. When wolves would eat their prey, they would often eat them with bones and all. These bones could be dangerous to the digestive system and difficult to pass, so nature invented anal glands, which secrete a sort of lubrication for the anus.
Our present-day, domesticated dogs no longer eat fresh cadavers, but they still have the anal glands producing their whiffy contents. If a dog doesn’t eat enough fibre in its diet, the anal glands don’t get ‘squeezed’ naturally, and they can fill up. The dog gets a feeling of discomfort in his bum, and to try to get rid of this, they start scooting on the floor.
In some dogs the anal glands are positioned in a way that they never get squeezed out properly. This happens a lot in, for example, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and West Highland white terriers. Those dogs sometimes need to call into the vet on a regular basis to have their glands squeezed.
What happens if the glands are not squeezed? Again, the squeamish amonst you should brace yourselves: If the glands stay full they can get infected and form abscesses that can burst out through the skin of the dogs behind. This is very painful, so it is important to take preventative action.
It is easy to prevent your dog’s anal glands from filling up by making sure you get dog food with enough fibres in it. Super premium foods will provide the right diet, so call into your vet to get advice on the right food for your dog. If this doesn’t do the trick your dog might have a sensitive digestive system and will need to go on a special diet – your vet will be able to advice you on the best route.
Esther van Luipen is a veterinary surgeon in Claremorris Small Animal Practice. Feel free to contact her with any of your small-animal concerns on 094 9373955 or at living@mayonews.ie.
