Dog Leaking Brown Liquid from Anal Gland

As dog owners, there are a few things that we only come to realize when we take them to the vet for medical attention. Among those things is leaking anal glands; when you notice that your dog is leaking brown fluid from its rear end, this might be a possible cause.

 Leaking anal glands are not only uncomfortable to the dog, but they may develop into a serious issue if left unchecked. If you are just noticing that your dog is leaking brown fluid, worry not. This article reveals some of the symptoms associated with leaking anal glands and what to do about them.

Symptoms of Leaking Anal Glands

When your dog is not feeling well, it will act out of routine. It may be subtle at first, but eventually, it will be too much for them to bear. You can know that your dog is suffering from impacted anal glands if you notice the signs below. Note that both female and male dogs can suffer from this issue; hence do not disregard any of these signs:

  • Your canine repeatedly scoots or drags his bum across your floors, especially on carpeted areas. The dragging motion helps alleviate the itching and pressure on the anal glands.
  • The dog continuously licks or chews on his rectum interchangeably with dragging their rear on the floor.
  • When you look at the dog’s stool, it is soft and mushy.
  • The discharge of a foul-smelling brown liquid from the dog’s bum.
  • The canine strains to defecate while producing low whimpering sounds. 

What to Do About It

When you realize that the dog is in continuous discomfort, it is time to call the doctor and schedule a visit. The vet will then analyze the dog’s posterior to confirm that, indeed, leaking anal glands is the reason behind the excretion of brown fluid.

What the doctor will mostly do is manually express the anal gland. In some cases, you can get your dog’s groomer to do it if they understand the procedure. Both dog sexes face impacted anal glands; hence contact the doctor once you notice any symptoms.

Treatment 

Whether it is a big dog or a small dog, expressing the anal glands is not a pleasant experience. In fact, the dog has to be pinned down on its side to prevent it from moving around during the procedure. The vet will wear gloves and use fingers to remove the mess. At this point, do not be worried if you hear your pet whimper or yelp in pain.

Depending on the dog’s size, it may take several scoops before the vet clears the mess. Each time the doctor immerses a hand in the dog’s bum, the vet has to wear a clean glove. If the glove resurfaces without any discharge, the expression is complete.

They may shave your dog around the anus to analyze the condition of the area. If there are any splits in the anus’s skin, the vet will recommend non-invasive treatments to prevent infections.

When the Glands Rupture

Sometimes, the dog’s condition is left untreated, and the glands rupture. This means that the excess fluid had nowhere to go. When the glands rupture, it sends your canine into a world of pain because it will become an abscessed wound.

Before the condition escalates, take the dog to the vet or the groomer. Depending on how bad the raptured glands are, the doctor will give the dog some painkillers to soothe the discomfort or prescribe CBD-related products. Also, expect the vet to administer a round of antibiotics to take care of any infections. Probiotic supplements are vital in restoring the digestive tract to good condition; thus, the foul smell will dissipate.

They Sometimes Go Unnoticed

Anal glands do not block overnight; they take time to fill up and start causing an issue. If you have a furry dog, it is even harder to notice because the hair surrounds the anus. The vet would have to shave it down to see the extent of the issue.

Dogs do not talk; hence it is challenging to know when they are feeling unwell. Most dog owners tend to notice after the anal glands are full and the dog has a foul smell. If you have an older dog, you might just assume your dog’s dormancy is due to old age instead of impacted anal glands. 

It is crucial to watch the dog closely to note all the symptoms. Even if your dog is a sickling or is old, there should not be brown fluid coming from its rear end. Leaking brown liquid is, most of the time, an indication that there is something wrong with the anal glands.

Preventing Anal Gland Issues

There is no sure way of preventing anal gland issues, but a rich fiber diet might be of help. Thicker stools may assist in emptying the anal glands entirely to prevent them from filling up and leaking. However, some vets do not think that this would work in remedying the issue. 

Some doctors will prefer to settle the issue once buy conducting an anal sacculectomy. Anal sacculectomy is a surgical procedure where doctors chop off the anal glands. Your dog will never have to face such discomfort again, but they might face fecal incontinence or be on stool thinners for a bit.

Regular expression of the glands before they impact can help reduce the discomfort that the dog feels. You can ask your groomer to include this in the service every time there is a grooming appointment for convenience.

Why seek professional help?

Unless you have experience expressing anal glands, you should seek professional help. A vet will have a better chance of diagnosing any other conditions or infections your dog may be suffering from. Doing it yourself is cheaper, but if you don’t know what you are doing, you will end up causing the dog more pain and discomfort.

Conclusion

Seeing your beloved pet in discomfort is not easy; therefore, take the dog to see a vet or a groomer as soon as possible. The faster you figure out a solution for the issue, the faster your dog gets back to normal. This condition does not recur often, so there is no need to express the anal glands too often; once in a few months works fine.

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