Dogs are definitely adorable but the problems they have aren’t. Sometimes these problems could be smelling foul and generally, this foul smell comes from dog glands, which are basically located near the dog’s anus.
These dog glands secrete a strong-smelling fluid, due to which we get that unpleasant fishy smell and it’s really bothering.
Generally, glands are normally emptied without any external efforts but sometimes when they don’t, the buildup can cause a persistent fishy odor.
However, it can be cured and many proven methods can help dog anal gland odor removal and express your dog’s anal glands safely.
What Causes Dog Gland Smell?
Dog glands generally don’t smell because when the anal glands or the anal sacs produce strong-smelling secretion, these secretions express naturally during defecation but when they cannot get expressed, it causes a foul smell.
The smell happens to occur because the glands don’t empty correctly and it causes infection or abscess, which causes the unpleasant smell.
There are a couple of causes that could be responsible for unemptied glands.
Poor Diet
A healthy and nutritious diet is extremely important for dogs.
When they don’t get enough fiber, they cannot pass soft stools, which leads to a failure in expressing the gland.
Obesity
People who don’t think obesity is a problem should know that excess weight causes pressure on the glands, which further stops proper drainage from the gland.
Allergies
Allergies are many times responsible for inflammation and irritation in the anal glands that again cause the smelling.
Genetics
Just like other health problems, dogs, especially small or toy breeds, can inherit gland issues.
Insufficient Exercise
Some dogs are super active but many are couch potatoes but that doesn’t mean they won’t do exercise because every dog needs exercise.
Good exercise helps in maintaining bowel movement and prevents gland odor.
5 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Dog Gland Smell
How to treat dog gland issues has been a constant question that many dog parents struggle with.
But don’t worry; there are many proven ways to get rid of gland smell.
Regular Gland Expression
Normally dogs can express their glands themselves, but when they can’t, they need manual gland expression so it can be done either by a groomer or a vet.
However, if you are comfortable doing it by yourself, you can do it at home but with hygiene.
Improving Diet with Fiber
Many dog parents have found that their dogs have shown better stool when they added fiber to their diet.
Fiber helps in firmer stool, which naturally expresses the glands during bowel movements.
Using Gland-Support Supplements
Along with these methods, you can also go for gland-support supplements to support anal gland health.
They have many nutrients like fiber, probiotics, and anti-inflammatories that help in gland functioning.
Frequent Grooming and Hygiene
Hygiene is very important for every dog and you can prevent infections and odor by cleaning the area regularly.
You can use pet wipes or a damp cloth every time your dog defecates.
Encouraging Regular Exercise
A highly active dog can rarely have a dog gland smell.
So dog anal gland odor removal can be done with the help of regular exercise, as it helps in better digestion and gland functioning.
How to Express Your Dog’s Anal Glands Safely
Preventing dog anal gland odor is very important because it not only smells bad but also causes infection.
You have to express your dog’s anal glands safely so that no smell remains. This can be done manually at home if you want to; otherwise, you can get help from vets or groomers.
You need certain things and follow steps to express dog glands at home.
Things You Need Are:
- Disposable gloves
- Paper towels
- A damp washcloth or pet wipes
- A bowl of warm water with mild pet shampoo (optional)
- Treats for rewarding your dog
Here are the steps to express your dog’s glands at home:
Prepare Your Dog
Your dog should be ready for the procedure; make sure they are calm. Then you have to adjust their position.
Small dogs can be placed on a stable surface while larger dogs should stand in a comfortable position.
Find the Glands
Once your dog is in the right position, wear your gloves and look for anal glands that are positioned at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions around the anus.
Gently Apply Pressure
Once you find the glands, you have to simply put pressure on them, but remember it should be gentle, and you will see a little fluid released onto the paper towel.
Clean the Area
If you think there is no residue left, then clean the area properly with pet wipes or a damp washcloth.
Dietary Changes to Prevent Gland Odor
A healthy diet is very important for every dog and if their diets are even a little off, it can affect their health, including gland odor.
Managing dog gland smell requires you to make some changes in the diet of your dog.
Increase Fiber Intake
Do not forget fiber is crucial for a healthy stool, both in humans and dogs, so give your dogs fiber-rich foods like pumpkin, apples, and brown rice.
These food items help in expressing glands.
Choose High-Quality Proteins
Dogs need quite a lot of protein, especially if they are super active. So give them lean proteins like chicken, turkey, and fish for better digestion.
Add Probiotics
People do not generally consider probiotic supplements for dogs but they must because it improves gut health and reduces inflammation in the anal glands.
Either you can go for supplements or you can simply feed them yogurt, whatever suits them the best.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated assures healthy digestion and prevents constipation so make sure your dog drinks plenty of water every day.
When to Seek Veterinary Help for Gland Problems
When the dog gland smell remedies don’t work or you feel like it’s an emergency situation, then you must seek help from a professional vet.
The emergency could be when:
- The odor does not go away and stays even after expressing the glands.
- Your dog is scooting, licking, or biting at their rear too often.
- You notice the glands are swollen, red, and painful.
- Blood or pus coming from glands could be pretty serious too.
- Your dog is extremely constipated or having chronic diarrhea.
- You must run to a vet whenever you see these symptoms. Vets will look for infections, abscesses or underlying health conditions that could be causing the foul odor. Sometimes vets might even remove the gland by surgery.
Dog parents have been questioning how to treat dog gland issues but it’s not a one-day thing.
Dog gland smell is definitely unpleasant, and you can try dog gland smell remedies but when they don’t work, please go to the vet as soon as possible because bad gland smell could be a serious health issue.
