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Question 8: My groomer recently said that my dog's anal
sacs were very full. What are anal sacs anyway and should I be concerned?
Answer: Anal sacs are a pair of sacs located between the internal and
external anal sphincter muscles on either side of the anus in
carnivores. The walls of the sacs are lined with
numerous glands. The nature of these glands varies
somewhat between dogs and cats. The secretions from the
glands are malodorous, usually grey to brown, liquid to
granular to pasty in consistency, and are normally expelled in
small quantities with each defecation. The secretions
likely serve as a form of territorial marking or individual
identification. Problems which can arise with anal sacs
include impaction, ductal blockage, infection, abscess
formation, and rupture. Unfortunately, there are
malignant tumors which can affect the anal sacs as well.
Signs of anal sac problems include "scooting" on the floor or
ground, rubbing or licking of the anal area, rear end
sensitivity, and changes in the gait or lameness (primarily
seen in cats). Visual and manual inspection of the anal
sacs will usually reveal the problem. If necessary the
anal sacs' contents can be emptied by either external or
internal manual expression. Most groomers will only
perform external expression. If a pet has severe or
repeated episodes of anal sac problems surgical removal of the
sacs is curative. A thorough history and physical examination
is the best place to start if you have concerns that your pet
may be experiencing problems with his/her anal sacs.
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