Understanding The Importance Of Your Pet's Anal Glands
Posted on: 8 January 2016
When it comes to being a pet owner, you have more than just loving and caring for your pet. Your pet should be on a wellness program that involves everything from receiving vaccines to anal gland care. Taking care of your pet's anal gland is often one of the worst parts of being a pet owner, but it is essential to ensure your pet remains happy and healthy. The anal glands are located right near the anal opening and hold the scent glands for your dog or cat. The anal secretions give off an odor that is unique to the animal. This is how they identify themselves to other animals and even use it to mark their territory. In an effort to keep your pet healthy, you should keep their anal glands in good condition.
Routine Checkups
It is important to have your pet checked by a veterinarian often. This provides them the opportunity to ensure that the pet's anal glands are working properly. Your groomer will also be able to determine if there are issues with the dogs anal glands as they see the dog more often and tend to work around them a lot. If you see that the pet's anal glands are bleeding, you will need to see emergency veterinarian services. It is not only uncomfortable for the pet, but it can cause serious health issues like infection or abscess. Bacteria can get into anal glands and cause the pet to experience other health issues that can make them sick.
Handling Impacted Anal Glands
It is not uncommon for your pet to experience impacted anal glands from time to time. When this happens, you should take your pet to the veterinarian to help express the glands. This process involves squeezing the glands gently so that fluid is released from the anus. This can be a smelly and messy process. If you choose to do it yourself, you want to make sure you are wearing gloves so you don't get bacteria into the opening. You can find the glands located at 8:00 and 4:00 in relation to the anus opening. A gentle squeeze should be enough to start releasing the fluid buildup.
Signs of an Impacted Anal Gland
The good thing about impacted anal glands is that there are usually signs showing there is an issue. If you start to see your dog or cat scooting across the floor, this is a sign there anus is causing them to be uncomfortable. Your pet will likely lick the area often if it is causing a problem for them. You may also smell an odor around your pet even after you have bathed them. Additionally, you can sometimes see the swelling of the anal glands if they are impacted.
To learn more, contact a veterinary clinic like Northside Emergency Pet Clinic.
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