Anal Gland Expression is a minor, non-invasive procedure. Our pets have 2 anal glands around their anus which they use to scent mark. If you imagine a clock face, they are generally sat roughly at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. Generally, pets will naturally empty their anal glands when passing faeces, however, sometimes they may not empty fully or may not empty at all due to various reasons. This then leads to them filling up and becoming ”impacted” and are required to be manually expressed. Your Vet and any Registered Veterinary Nurse employed in practice and therefore under the direction of a vet can carry out this procedure internally, this is by gently entering the anus to apply a small amount of pressure to release the gland material. However, RCVS guidelines does not allow any RVN not employed by a Veterinary Practice to enter a body cavity, the RCVS currently deem internal anal gland expression as entering a body cavity and therefore at Liverpool Vet Nurse, we can only express glands externally. This is the same procedure just carried out externally. 

There are several symptoms which can indicate your pets anal glands are impacted such as;

• Biting around the back end and visibly uncomfortable with the area, sometimes the area may be red and inflamed from biting
• A foul odour coming from the back end
• Scooting their bum along the floor

If your pet regularly has their anal glands emptied at your vets and you’ve no concerns, we can externally empty their glands when you feel they are required. If you notice your pet is showing the symptoms as described above, we can go ahead and empty the glands and we can advise if the material expressed appears normal or abnormal. If we suspect the material or anything related to the glands are abnormal, we will recommend you book an appointment with your vet for a check up. 

If your pets backend appears sore and inflamed, we can empty the glands and we will recommend if the inflammation doesn’t improve within 24 hours that you book an appointment with your vet as there may be an underlying problem causing the discomfort or they may require further treatment such as internal expression by a Vet.

What to expect at your pets Anal Gland Expression appointment. 

At Liverpool Vet Nurse, we use a fear free approach to our handling techniques. This means we follow your pets lead and make them feel as comfortable as we can during their procedure. Allowing pets to adjust to a new person is a huge help for them to gain trust and confidence around them. I will simply sit with your pet to allow me to gain their trust. 

I always bring a selection of treats to every appointment, upon booking I will ask if your pet is on any specific diet or has any condition such as diabetes which may be affected by treats. I will use treats to put pets at ease and allow them to trust my presence. 

Once your pet is feeling comfortable and happy, I will begin to carry out the procedure. I will require an owner or caregiver to hold your pet whilst I access their backend. I will carry out the procedure externally whilst wearing gloves and using cotton wool to clean away expressed material. 

Once the procedure is all complete, I will give lots of praise and more treats.

Possible complications

Generally Anal Gland Expression is a straight forward minor procedure however there can be some complications such as;

• If your dog is showing signs of aggression we can place a muzzle to safely carry out the procedure or we can assess the pets anxiety and work to build confidence prior to the procedure. Placing a muzzle is harmless to pets and allows owners, myself and pets to remain safe during the procedure. If you think your pet will require a muzzle for this procedure, please let me know where possible prior to my attendance to make sure I have a suitable size available. 
• Your pets anal glands may be too impacted for external expression and may require a vet to express them internally. Whilst unlikely, it is possible this may be the case.