Blocked anal glands in dogs – signs and treatment

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It means the small sacs near your dog’s anus that produce a strong-smelling liquid are blocked.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your dog rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Anal glands are small sacs near a dog’s anus that produce a strong-smelling liquid and naturally empty when a dog poos.^[1] Blocked anal glands are usually easy to treat, but particularly painful or infected glands might need additional treatment.^[1]

Signs

Scooting or dragging the bottom along the ground
Nibbling or licking the anus and/or lower back
Pain when pooing or when the back end is touched
Straining to poo
Sitting down or suddenly looking around at the back end because of discomfort

How a vet finds out

Physical examination of your dog’s bottom

How vets treat it

Carefully expressing the glands
Pain relief if the glands are particularly painful
Antibiotics if the glands are infected

What the experts say

“Scooting (dragging bottom along the ground) ; Nibbling and licking the anus and/or lower back ; Pain when pooing or when their back end is touched ; Straining to poo ; Sitting down or looking around at their back end very suddenly (due to discomfort)”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What are anal glands?

Anal glands are small sacs near a dog’s anus that produce a strong-smelling liquid used for marking territory and naturally empty when a dog poos.^[1]

What signs can blocked anal glands cause?

Signs can include scooting, nibbling or licking the anus or lower back, pain when pooing or when the back end is touched, straining to poo, and suddenly sitting down or looking around at the back end because of discomfort.^[1]

How might a vet treat blocked anal glands?

A vet may examine your dog’s bottom and carefully express the glands; if they are particularly painful or infected, additional treatment such as pain relief and/or antibiotics might be needed.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages