Canine Anal Sac Inflammation Symptoms

Canine anal sac inflammation symptoms include spinning in circles, licking their own butt, or sitting on the ground and rubbing their butt against it, as well as making painful sounds during defecation. The main causes are due to a lack of regular cleaning of the anal gland secretions or bacterial infections. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian for proper medication treatment, and surgery may be necessary if necessary.

Causes of Anal Sac Inflammation

Dogs are prone to anal gland inflammation because they often sit on the ground, don't pay attention to cleaning after defecation, and have their anus exposed for a long time. Bacteria and viruses take advantage of this opportunity to cause anal gland inflammation. Another situation is when owners do not regularly squeeze their dog's anal glands, causing excessive secretions, blocked ducts, or poor anal sphincter function. This leads to the retention of secretions within the glands, causing infections, inflammations, and swelling.

How to Distinguish between Anal Sac Inflammation and Prolapse

You can distinguish between them by carefully observing the symptoms or going to the hospital for examination. The common manifestations of anal gland inflammation are swollen and red anus, and a peculiar smell. After defecation, dogs will have the behavior of dragging their butt on the ground. Prolapse refers to the exposure of the dog's rectum, which will cause the dog a great deal of pain. There are many reasons for prolapse, such as constipation, colitis, diarrhea, and childbirth. If it's not too severe, it can be self-treated, but it's better to go to the hospital for treatment.

Treatment of Anal Sac Inflammation

For dogs already infected with anal gland inflammation, in addition to using the squeeze method to empty the pus in the anal sac, physiological saline or 0.1% potassium permanganate solution can be used to rinse, and then injecting antibiotic drugs into the anal sac. For the treatment of the skin surface around the anal gland, Erythromycin ointment can be applied. If the dog's anal sac inflammation is severe, it is still recommended to send the dog to a pet hospital for treatment, and surgery may be necessary when necessary.