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Pennard Vets

Anal gland expressing

Do your dog’s anal glands need expressing?

Most dogs are able to empty their anal glands by themselves with no problems – and their owners won’t need to know anything about the function of this part of their anatomy.

However, when something does go wrong, owners soon know about it!

Fortunately, while not the most pleasant procedure, expressing anal glands is painless and helps to avoid unnecessary discomfort for pets.

All you need is an appointment with one of our fabulous nurses who can do the procedure for you – and the service is free for all of our Pet Health Club members.

What do your dog’s anal glands do?

Dogs have anal glands, that contains a pungent liquid that they use to mark territory, and which is released when they go to the loo.

Healthy anal glands will empty of their own accord and it is not necessary to have them emptied manually unless your pet is showing signs of discomfort.

However, it is relatively common for the glands to overfill and become blocked, at which stage it is important to contact us so that we can help your pet and relieve discomfort.

When do they need manually emptying?

If your pet is having problems with their anal glands, you may notice any of a range of symptoms, including:

    • Scooting, or rubbing their bottom along the ground
    • An unpleasant smell, often described as fishy
    • Excessive licking and cleaning of their rear end
    • Pain or discomfort when toileting

If your pet is diagnosed with blocked anal glands, emptying them is a procedure we can do during a nurse consultation.

One of our nursing team will pop on some gloves and use their finger to gently squeeze the gland. Never try this yourself at home, as it is possible to cause permanent damage if done incorrectly.

In severe or repeat cases, it may be necessary to use medication or even surgery to alleviate the symptoms – but usually, expressing the glands will resolve the issue.

Find out more about anal gland expression by speaking to one of our team.

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Available Practices

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    Sevenoaks
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    Tonbridge
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    Maidstone
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What we’re talking about

Pet Health Club

Would you like the peace of mind that you are doing the right thing for your pet?

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    Unlimited Vet and Nurse Consultations
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    Core Vaccinations as recommended for your pet’s age
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    Routine flea and worm control, as recommended by us
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    Unlimited nail clips and anal gland checks as advised
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    Annual senior blood and urine tests plus blood pressure check

Pet Health Club

Would you like the peace of mind that you are doing the right thing for your pet?

  • green check
    Unlimited Vet and Nurse Consultations
  • green check
    Core Vaccinations as recommended for your pet’s age
  • green check
    Routine flea and worm control, as recommended by us
  • green check
    Unlimited nail clips and anal gland checks as advised
  • green check
    Annual senior blood and urine tests plus blood pressure check

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