Dogs have two small sacs on either side of their anus that produce a strong-smelling fluid, and most dogs empty these naturally every time they poop. When the glands don’t empty on their own, you can express them manually at home using a simple external technique. Before trying this yourself, it’s worth having your vet show you the process at least once so you know what normal glands feel like and can recognize when something needs professional attention.
Where the Glands Are and What They Do
If you picture your dog’s anus as a clock face, the two anal glands sit at roughly the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions, just beneath the skin and slightly inside the opening. Each one is a small sac, about the size of a grape when full, tucked just deep to the muscular ring of the anus. A normal, full gland feels like a small, firm, rounded lump under your fingertip.
These sacs produce a pungent, oily fluid that gets squeezed out in tiny amounts during bowel movements. The pressure of a firm stool passing through the rectum naturally compresses the glands and pushes the fluid out. Dogs also release this fluid involuntarily during moments of fear or stress, which is part of normal scent communication. Problems start when the fluid thickens or the glands don’t get enough pressure to empty, causing the sacs to fill up and become uncomfortable.
Signs Your Dog’s Glands Need Emptying
The most recognizable sign is scooting: your dog drags their bottom along the ground, often on carpet or grass. Other common signals include persistent licking or nibbling at the anus and lower back, straining during bowel movements, visible discomfort when their back end is touched, and suddenly sitting down or whipping around to look at their rear. You may also notice a strong, fishy smell that wasn’t there before. Any of these behaviors on their own can have other causes (parasites, allergies, skin infections), but when you see two or three together, full anal glands are the most likely explanation.
What You’ll Need
- Disposable gloves: Latex or nitrile, to keep the smell off your hands
- Paper towels or a warm washcloth: Held over the area to catch the fluid as it comes out
- Water-based lubricant: Helpful if you’re using the internal method
- A helper: Someone to gently hold your dog still and keep them calm
- Enzymatic cleaner: Anal gland fluid has an extremely strong odor that regular soap won’t fully remove from fabric or skin
Do this in a bathtub, on an easy-to-clean floor, or outside. The fluid can spray unexpectedly and the smell is difficult to get out of upholstery.
External Expression: Step by Step
The external method is simpler, less invasive, and the approach most owners use at home. It works well for glands that are full but not severely impacted.
Have your helper hold your dog in a standing position, keeping them calm and still. Lift the tail gently upward to expose the anus. Put on your gloves and hold a paper towel or washcloth directly over the anal opening. Using your thumb and forefinger, feel for the two glands at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. They’ll feel like small, firm lumps beneath the skin, roughly grape-sized when full.
Place your thumb and forefinger just below and to the outside of each gland, then apply steady, gentle inward and upward pressure, pushing toward the anus. Think of it as a “milking” motion rather than a hard squeeze. The fluid should release onto your paper towel. Work one gland at a time. If nothing comes out after gentle, steady pressure, stop. Forcing it can cause bruising or rupture.
Internal Expression: When and How
The internal method involves inserting a lubricated, gloved index finger into the rectum and pressing each gland between your finger (inside) and your thumb (outside), milking the contents outward. This technique empties the glands more completely and is the method vets and groomers typically use. It’s more effective for thickened secretions that won’t budge with external pressure alone.
Most vets recommend that owners learn this technique in person before attempting it, because the glands are small and it’s easy to apply too much pressure in the wrong spot. If you’ve been shown the technique and feel comfortable, use plenty of water-based lubricant and work slowly. The gland should flatten as it empties. If it stays firm and swollen despite gentle pressure, the contents may be too thick to express at home, and your dog needs a vet visit.
What Normal and Abnormal Fluid Looks Like
Healthy anal gland fluid is thin, brownish, and has a sharp, fishy smell. It may range from light tan to dark brown. This is what you should see when you express a gland that’s simply full.
Abnormal fluid is a warning sign. Thick, pasty, or gritty secretions suggest impaction, where the fluid has thickened to the point that it can’t drain on its own. Fluid that’s yellow, green, or contains blood points to infection. During an infection, pus builds up inside the sac, preventing drainage. The gland swells with trapped fluid and can eventually rupture through the skin, creating an open wound near the anus. If you see anything other than thin brownish fluid, or if the area around the gland is red, swollen, or hot to the touch, stop and get veterinary help.
How Often Dogs Need Expression
There’s no universal schedule. Some dogs never need manual expression in their entire lives. Others need it every few weeks. The frequency depends entirely on the individual dog, their stool consistency, body weight, and whether they have a history of gland problems. For dogs with chronic issues, some need expression as often as every one to two weeks, while others only need it every few months.
The best approach is to watch for the behavioral signs (scooting, licking, sudden discomfort) and respond when you notice them rather than expressing on a rigid calendar. There’s a real risk in doing this too often. Unnecessary expression can irritate the tissue around the glands and may interfere with the natural emptying process. Only express your dog’s glands when there are clear signs they need it.
Helping Glands Empty Naturally
The single most effective preventive measure is keeping your dog’s stools firm and bulky. A firm stool puts more pressure on the glands during defecation, which is the body’s built-in emptying mechanism. Dogs with soft or small stools are more prone to gland problems because there isn’t enough physical pressure to compress the sacs.
Adding fiber to your dog’s diet is the most practical way to bulk up their stools. Pumpkin (plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling) is a common choice because it’s a natural source of fiber that most dogs eat willingly. Apple pectin, a soluble fiber, works by absorbing fluid in the gut and forming a gel-like substance that increases stool mass. A veterinary study on dogs with impaction issues used a daily chew containing pumpkin fiber and apple pectin, dosed by weight: half a serving for dogs under 5 kg, one serving for 5 to 10 kg, two for 11 to 20 kg, three for 21 to 30 kg, and four for dogs over 30 kg. While that study used a specific commercial product, the principle holds: consistent dietary fiber helps maintain the stool bulk needed for natural gland emptying.
Maintaining a healthy body weight also matters. Overweight dogs tend to have weaker muscle tone around the anus, which reduces the mechanical pressure that empties the glands during defecation. Regular exercise supports overall muscle tone and promotes consistent bowel movements.
When Glands Need Veterinary Care
Three stages of anal gland disease exist, and they get progressively more serious. Impaction is the mildest: the fluid has thickened and the gland can’t empty, but there’s no infection yet. A vet can usually resolve this with manual expression, sometimes after softening the contents with a saline flush. Inflammation (called anal sacculitis) involves swelling, redness, and pain around the gland. The area may be visibly puffy at the 4 or 8 o’clock position. Abscessation is the most severe stage: the gland becomes infected, fills with pus, and may rupture through the skin. Dogs with an abscess often have a fever and significant pain.
Several other conditions mimic anal gland problems, including parasites, flea allergies, perianal tumors, and skin infections around the anus. If your dog’s scooting or licking doesn’t resolve after expression, or if the symptoms keep returning quickly, a thorough rectal exam can help sort out what’s actually going on. For dogs with chronic, recurring problems that don’t respond to dietary changes or regular expression, surgical removal of the anal sacs is an option that permanently resolves the issue.