Paraanal glands in dogs: inflammation and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Dog lovers know that not only can their pets be a joy to be around, they also require care and attention. Pets, just like people, suffer from various diseases. The paraanal glands in dogs are a common problem. Hosts need to know what might be causing their inflammation and how to deal with it.

What is this?

All animals have these glands, dogs of this kind are no exception. On the sides of the anus are small pouches filled with a special secret with a pungent odor.

These are the same glands as sweat or sebaceous, only the discharge from them is sharper and has a light brown color. In the wild, animals mark their territory with this secret, scare off enemies. If the dog lives in an apartment, then the need for paraanal glands disappears, the secret begins to stagnate there, as a result, inflammation begins.

Pathogenesis of disease

Inflammationparaanal glands in dogs occurs gradually. In the normal state, these sacs contain a watery liquid. With diarrhea or a violation of the muscle tone of the anal sphincter, the process of excretion of the secret is disturbed, sometimes its complete cessation is observed.

Stagnation causes the secret to become thick. Gradually, as it accumulates, the sacs increase in size and clog the paraanal glands in dogs.

If no action is taken, the glands may rupture. When a bacterial infection also joins, the inflammatory process can be both ascending and descending, while ulcers and fistulas form on the skin of the animal.

Causes of inflammation

Animals living on the street practically do not suffer from this problem, but pets, for various reasons, often cause their owners concern about this.

There are several reasons that can provoke this disease:

1. hereditary factor. Most often, this genetic predisposition is found in small dogs, such as pugs, bulldogs. And if the animal is also overweight, then this aggravates the situation.

2. Wrong diet. Often the owners pamper their pets with food from their table. Be aware that excessive amounts of fatty, s alty or sweet can lead to blockage of the anal glands.

3. Little physical activity. This is especially true for domestic dogs, who are forced to sit in an apartment all day waiting for their owner.

4. Reduced immunity. It is also the preserve of domestic animals, unlike their wild relatives.

5. Careless owners. Often the inflammatory process begins due to the carelessness of the owner, who did not see the blockage of the anal glands in time.

Varieties

One inflammatory process may differ from another, in total there are two forms of this disease:

1. Obstruction of the anal glands. At first, this process does not cause anxiety to the animal, but as the pouches fill, the dog begins to react painfully to touching the tail.
2. Inflammation of the anal glands in dogs. Most often, it begins to develop after bacteria enter the wound. If the secret does not come out, then suppuration or abscess occurs, which can break through, and a fistula is formed. If in this situation the animal is not helped, then complications are possible, up to death.

Symptoms of the disease

When the paraanal glands in dogs begin to clog, it practically does not manifest itself in any way. The animal may experience some discomfort, from which it tries to get rid of itself. Moreover, most often at this stage, the secret begins to become thicker, therefore, in the absence of a reaction from the host, the inflammation process will only progress over time.

You need to see your veterinarian immediately if you find any of the following symptoms in your pet:

• The dog grabs itselftail.
• Eating her anus often.
• Pet twirls its tail.
• When touched on the back, the animal experiences pain.
• Pain during bowel movements.
• "Rides" on the priest.

In some cases, body temperature rises

A loving owner will always pay attention to the anxiety of his pet and will do everything to save him from suffering. This is a fairly common problem - inflammation of the anal glands in dogs. Treatment is required immediately so as not to bring the matter to serious complications and irreversible consequences.

Diagnosis of inflammation

Usually making a diagnosis is not difficult. It is enough for a competent specialist to examine the animal in order to understand the problem. To prescribe adequate treatment, it is necessary to conduct functional diagnostics and clinical studies.

During the examination, the doctor must find out the color and consistency of the secret, the presence of smell. If there are streaks of blood and a fetid odor in the discharge, then it can be said with certainty that bacteria have become the culprits that the paraanal glands in dogs have become inflamed. Treatment will have to be done with antibiotics.

Therapy for inflammation of the anal glands

Treatment of such a disease is usually carried out in several stages:

1. Mechanical cleaning of glands.
2. Antibacterial treatment.
3. Surgical intervention.

Depending onseriousness of the situation, the doctor prescribes treatment. If you notice he alth problems at the very beginning, then you can get by with cleaning, which can be easily done at home.

Cleaning the paraanal glands in a dog

If you try a little, then this procedure can be easily done at home, and not take your pet to the vet. There are two ways to do it. The first is as follows:

1. It is necessary to put the dog in the bath, if the pet is small, then you can get by with a basin.
2. Have to call someone for help to hold the animal.
3. Put on gloves and feel for the gland on the sides of the anus.
4. Take the tail and lift it up as high as possible.
5. With your free hand, gently squeeze the area on either side of the anus, while a liquid of an unpleasant odor and a thick consistency should come out.

In case of inflammation, the paraanal glands in dogs are enlarged, the photo demonstrates this well, therefore, as a rule, there are no problems with their detection.

The second way to save your pet from suffering is as follows:

• Get the dog in the tub again.
• Put on gloves and grease your index finger with Vaseline.
• Then you need to insert your finger into the anus, while the palm should be perpendicular to the floor.
• Feel for the gland and press on it with your index finger from the inside, and from the outside with your thumb.

Cleaning the paraanal glands in a dog gives the animal anxiety, so it is necessary that someone support the pet under the stomach.

Inflammatory process

If you do not clean the anal glands, then the secret begins to accumulate, becomes thick, bacteria actively multiply in it. This is how the inflammatory process begins, already by the behavior of the animal one can suspect its presence:

• The dog constantly gnaws under the tail.
• Often rubs anus on floor or furniture.
• The anus is swollen and red.
• The hair around the glands begins to fade, fall out.
• Irritation, rash and scratching are noticeable on the skin.

If you have these symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Once the diagnosis of para-anal inflammation in a dog is confirmed, the treatment will be more severe than with a normal blockage.

The doctor removes the contents of the glands, treats the skin with an antiseptic and prescribes rectal suppositories. This is more effective than topical treatments and pills, although your pet will resist such intervention.

Abscess

Everyone knows: if there is no special hole for removing liquid, then when the gland is full, it will find a place to exit. The wall breaks, the secret flows out. An abscess is a small hole through which a yellowish fluid oozes all the time.

Neighboring tissues begin to inflame, hurt, the dog often licksthe affected area, bacteria enter the wound and multiply intensively. All this leads to a sharp deterioration in the animal's well-being, it becomes lethargic, the temperature rises.

In such a situation, it is urgent to run to the veterinarian, he will show how to clean the paraanal glands in dogs in order to prevent this from happening again, remove all the pus and treat the wound. If necessary, drainage is installed, and candles are prescribed, for example, Proctosedil.

In difficult cases, a course of antibiotics is indicated to suppress the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

Removal of anal glands

Glandular blockage occurs at different rates in dogs. For some, cleaning once every six months is enough, and there are those who will have to resort to such a procedure every week. In such situations, veterinarians advise to remove the paraanal glands in the dog in order to avoid relapses.

Surgical intervention is often indicated for an abscess, especially if the tissue is severely damaged. It is more humane to remove it than to treat the disease for a long and painful time.

The operation is simple for a doctor. Two incisions are made slightly above the glands, brought out and cut off. Since during this operation the rectum and anus are not touched in any way, the next day the animal feels the same as before.

To prevent the seams from coming apart, the dog should be walked more often so that it does not endure the urge to go to the toilet, and replace the diet with a lighter one.

Prophylacticevents

Any disease is easier to prevent, including inflammation of the paraanal glands in dogs. Treatment will not be needed if you follow some simple recommendations:

1. Increase the time of walking with the animal. They must become regular; if it is possible to leave the dog in the yard, then it is advisable to do this periodically.
2. Make sure that the animal empties its intestines and bladder in a timely manner.
3. If you don't have enough time to walk the dog, take care of it, then it's better not to get a pet.
4. Your pet should be able to frolic with other dogs.
5. Regularly take antihelminthic therapy.
6. Check your dog's anal glands periodically.
7. Do not overfeed the animal. Obesity has not yet benefited anyone, including dogs.

If an animal appears in the house, then all care for its he alth falls on the shoulders of the owner. It, like a small child, constantly needs love and attention to itself. It is advisable before you get a dog, consult with a veterinarian about all the problems and difficulties in keeping it. Otherwise, illiteracy and indifference can cost your pet dearly.