Posted by Jamie Sinclair
on August 19, 2026
Short answer: most anal gland problems in dogs come down to stools that aren't firm enough to empty the glands naturally — so diet, fibre and digestion are where prevention starts, with a vet visit for anything swollen, bleeding or painful. If you've noticed your dog scooting across the carpet, licking excessively at their rear, or catching a fishy smell you can't quite place, there's a good chance their anal glands are behind it — often described as blocked anal glands. It's one of the most common — and most misunderstood — issues UK dog owners deal with. Here's what's actually going on, which dogs are most affected, what happens when it becomes a recurring problem, and what genuinely helps, including where our Gland-EZe chews fit in.
Written by Jamie Sinclair, who writes about canine health, nutrition, and everyday care for Doggy Dailies — focused on translating veterinary research and real ingredient science into practical, honest guidance UK dog owners can use.
Table of Contents
- What Are Dog Anal Glands?
- Symptoms of Blocked Anal Glands in Dogs
- Which Dogs Are Most Affected?
- What Causes Blocked Anal Glands?
- The Role of Diet and Digestion
- Should You Express Your Dog's Anal Glands at Home?
- When It Becomes a Recurring Problem: The Real Progression
- When Surgery Enters the Conversation
- Natural Ways to Support Anal Gland Health
- What's in Our Gland-EZe Formula
- When to See Your Vet
- FAQ
- Sources
What Are Dog Anal Glands?
Anal glands (also called anal sacs) are two small glands located on either side of your dog's anus, at roughly four and eight o'clock. They naturally release a scent-marking fluid, usually during bowel movements, which is part of how dogs identify each other. In a healthy dog, this happens automatically and you'd never notice it.
Problems arise when the glands don't empty properly on their own — the fluid builds up, thickens, and the gland becomes blocked, uncomfortable or, in more serious cases, impacted, infected, or abscessed.
Symptoms of Blocked Anal Glands in Dogs
- Scooting (dragging their bottom along the ground or carpet)
- Excessive licking or biting at the base of the tail or rear
- A strong, fishy odour — sometimes on their breath, from licking; see why a dog's breath smells like fish
- Visible swelling or redness near the anus
- Difficulty or discomfort sitting, or suddenly sitting down mid-walk
- Straining during bowel movements
- Chasing or looking at their tail more than usual
If you notice swelling, bleeding, or a dog who seems genuinely distressed rather than just mildly irritated, this needs a vet visit, not home management — it could indicate a blocked gland that's become impacted or infected and needs professional treatment.
Which Dogs Are Most Affected?
Anal sac disorders affect around 4.4% of UK dogs in a given year, and breed makes a real difference — spaniel types and flat-faced breeds carry a meaningfully higher risk, while working and gundog breeds like Labradors, Boxers and German Shepherds sit at the low end (O'Neill et al., 2021, Veterinary Record). For the full breed-by-breed breakdown, see our guide to diet and anal gland issues. If you own one of the higher-risk breeds, the prevention and progression sections below are worth reading before problems start.
What Causes Blocked Anal Glands?
- Soft or inconsistent stools — firm stool naturally applies pressure that helps empty the glands during a bowel movement; soft stool often doesn't, which is the single biggest reason glands become blocked
- Overweight or low activity levels — can affect how efficiently the glands empty
- Breed and individual anatomy — as above, smaller breeds, spaniels and flat-faced dogs are more prone
- Low-fibre diets — insufficient fibre means less bulk in the stool, reducing the natural pressure needed for the glands to express themselves
- Skin allergies — a dog with itchy skin, ear or paw problems often has gland trouble driven by allergy, which fibre alone won't fix
The Role of Diet and Digestion
This is where a lot of owners are surprised: anal gland health is closely tied to digestive health, not something separate from it. Firm, well-formed stools are one of the best natural ways to help the glands empty on their own during normal bowel movements. That means fibre and healthy digestion are genuinely relevant here, not just for "tummy" issues. For the fibre benchmark, the specific foods that help, and the veterinary high-fibre diets, see our guide to the best dog food for anal gland issues.
Should You Express Your Dog's Anal Glands at Home?
Generally, no — and most UK vets advise against routine expression at all unless there's a problem. Squeezing healthy glands can inflame them and, done regularly, some vets believe it makes the glands less likely to empty on their own. Getting it wrong can also rupture an already-blocked gland. If your dog needs expressing, a vet or vet nurse does it internally in a couple of minutes; groomers often offer external expression, which is less thorough. The goal is a dog whose glands empty themselves, which comes back to stool quality.
When It Becomes a Recurring Problem: The Real Progression
It's worth understanding how anal gland disease can genuinely progress if the underlying cause isn't addressed, since most guides stop at "see your vet" without explaining what that actually looks like over time. A single occasional impaction — scooting, a vet visit, an expression, problem resolved — is common and not a cause for alarm. The pattern that matters more is repetition: veterinary sources generally treat needing expression more often than every 4 to 6 weeks, or two or more infections or abscesses within a 12-month period, as a signal that dietary and manual management alone aren't sufficient (VCA Animal Hospitals).
An abscess — a painful, hot, red swelling beside the anus that can rupture on its own — is a step up in severity from simple impaction, and always warrants a same-day vet visit even if it's a first occurrence. Left untreated, chronic gland disease can progress to fistula formation (an abnormal, non-healing tract) or permanent tissue changes, which is exactly why the escalation pattern — not just a single scoot — is what determines whether it's time to look beyond diet and expression.
When Surgery Enters the Conversation
For a genuinely small number of dogs, chronic or recurrent anal gland disease that doesn't respond to dietary change, expression, or medical management (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or gland flushing) eventually leads to a conversation about anal sacculectomy — surgical removal of the affected gland or glands. This is a real, established procedure, not a last resort taken lightly, and it's generally reserved for dogs with chronic impaction despite good management, recurring infections or abscesses, or, rarely, a tumour of the anal sac (adenocarcinoma), which does need prompt surgical attention regardless of history (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023). Dogs don't need their anal sacs for any essential bodily function, and most recover well and go on to live entirely normal lives once the diseased gland is removed — though as with any surgery, it carries its own risks and is a genuine last-resort step, not something to reach for after a single scoot.
Natural Ways to Support Anal Gland Health
- Add fibre. Pumpkin is one of the most owner-recommended natural additions — it helps bulk and firm stool, supporting natural gland expression.
- Support digestion. Prebiotic fibre and probiotics help keep stools consistent and well-formed.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Regular exercise and appropriate portion sizes help keep things moving as they should — VCA specifically notes overweight dogs tend to have chronic anal sac problems because their sacs don't empty as well.
- Stay consistent with diet. Sudden food changes can affect stool consistency, which in turn affects gland expression.
- Address allergies. If itchy skin is part of the picture, talk to your vet — managing the allergy often settles the glands too.
What's in Our Gland-EZe Formula
Our Gland-EZe chews are built directly around this diet-digestion connection. The formula includes Pumpkin Powder (460mg) and VitaFiber prebiotic fibre (250mg) for natural fibre support, alongside a gut health blend — Amylase, Protease, Lipase, Lactase, and Bromelain — and Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis probiotic strains to support healthy digestion and more consistent stool quality. Rather than treating the symptom in isolation, the formula is built to support the underlying digestive process that helps the glands do their job naturally. Rated 4.7 stars from 70 reviews.
When to See Your Vet
Occasional mild scooting that resolves with dietary support is common and usually nothing serious. However, please see your vet if:
- Scooting persists despite dietary changes
- You notice swelling, discharge, blood, or a strong odour that's getting worse
- Your dog seems to be in pain or is unusually distressed
- Expression is needed more often than roughly every 4 to 6 weeks, or you've had two or more infections/abscesses in the past year
- You notice a hard lump near the anus that doesn't behave like a typical impaction — rare, but worth ruling out a tumour
Vets can manually express blocked or impacted glands when needed, and can check for infection or, in rare cases, more serious underlying issues. Natural dietary support works well as an ongoing, preventative approach — it isn't a substitute for veterinary treatment when a gland is already blocked, impacted, or infected.
FAQ
What are the symptoms of blocked anal glands in dogs?
Scooting, licking or biting at the rear, a fishy smell, difficulty sitting and tail-chasing are the usual signs. Swelling, blood or obvious pain mean the gland may be badly blocked or infected.
Why do dogs' anal glands get blocked?
Usually because stools aren't firm enough to press on the glands as they pass. Soft stools, low-fibre diets, being overweight, breed anatomy and skin allergies all contribute.
Which dogs get anal gland problems most?
UK data shows Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, other spaniel types, Cockapoos, Shih-tzus, Bichons and flat-faced breeds are at highest risk; Labradors, Boxers and German Shepherds are at lowest.
Can I express my dog's anal glands myself?
It's best not to. Most vets advise against routine expression, and doing it wrong can inflame or rupture the gland. Have a vet or vet nurse do it if it's needed, and work on stool quality so it isn't.
What helps dogs' anal glands naturally?
Fibre (pumpkin, prebiotic fibre), probiotics for consistent digestion, a healthy weight, a stable diet and managing any skin allergies all help the glands empty on their own.
How often should a dog's anal glands be expressed?
Ideally never — a dog with firm stools empties them naturally. Needing expression more often than every 4 to 6 weeks is generally considered a sign that diet and manual management alone aren't enough.
When does anal gland disease require surgery?
Surgery (anal sacculectomy) is generally considered for dogs with chronic impaction that doesn't respond to diet and management, recurring infections or abscesses, or a rare tumour of the anal sac. It's a genuine last resort, not a first-line treatment.
Anal gland discomfort is uncomfortable for your dog and often stressful to watch as an owner — but for most dogs, it's genuinely manageable with the right dietary support and a bit of consistency.
Sources
- O'Neill et al. (2021) — UK anal sac disorder prevalence data, Veterinary Record
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Anal Sac Disease in Dogs
- Inside-out anal sacculectomy in small dog breeds and cats, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2023)
This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog shows swelling, bleeding or pain around the rear, please see your vet.
