Case Story: Darcy’s Rear of the Year!
Darcy is an adorable senior dog who has been suffering with anal sac disease.
She first presented with scooting and discomfort around her back end and a noticeable change in her happy self.
Upon examination, we found that her anal glands had become very full of thick content causing her discomfort and making manual expression of the glands both difficult and painful for Darcy.
To alleviate her discomfort, she was sedated allowing us to carefully express and examine her anal glands. A small catheter was placed on each anal gland duct to perform a thorough flush with a saline fluid, ensuring any remaining content was effectively removed. We also applied a small amount of anti-inflammatory and analgesic liquid directly into each anal gland via the catheter, resulting in a marked improvement on her comfort levels. She went back to herself after this procedure and now she receives regular check-ups to ensure that her anal sacs remain clean and do not develop any further complications.
Anal glands are two round bags located on the left and right side of the anus, just on the inside. They release a very characteristic, foul-smelling fluid. Dogs, cats and other animals use this fluid to mark their territory when they poop, they can also release this fluid when they are very excited or nervous.
Small breeds are predisposed to anal sac disease. There are several common causes of anal sacs problems, including failure to drain, allergies and excessive gland secretion. When left untreated, impacted anal glands may lead to infection, pain, and abscess formation. In chronic cases, surgical removal of the anal glands may be considered as a viable option to provide a long-term solution. Several of our vets here at WTV frequently perform this delicate operation!
