I don’t know when it started, squeezing the dog anal glands seems to have become a routine operation for raising dogs like bathing and deworming. After some trouble, I finally successfully squeezed out the gland fluid. The sour smell is not something I can forget for a while. However, what I have worked so hard may have hurt the dog. Why do I say that?
What is the anal gland? What is the function
First of all, we need to know what the function of the anal gland is. The anal glands are a pair of glands located at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock below the dog's anus. When the dog defecates, the anal glands will secrete strong odor and discharge it. On the one hand, it can lubricate the dog's anus, and on the other hand, it can also mark the location.
When dogs meet, they will smell each other's butts. In fact, they are smelling the smell of the anal glands, because the fluid of the anal glands will indicate the dog's health, diet, gender and other information. Therefore, the anal glands are also a good social tool for dogs. In addition, when the dog is frightened, the anal sphincter contracts and the anal glands will be involuntarily secreted.
Therefore, the anal glands are an important communication tool between dogs, and under normal circumstances they will be secreted naturally, and there is no need for people to help squeeze out gland fluid. If you frequently squeeze the dog's anal glands for a long time, it may cause the dog to lose its autonomous secretion function, causing the dog's anal glands to swell and inflamed. At this time, you can't help but squeeze.
However, if the dog has diarrhea and soft stool for a long time, in this case, the dog cannot squeeze and secrete the anal glands when defecate, or the dog's anal glands are swollen and inflamed, and the dog frequently licks its butt or grinds its butt on the ground. At this time, it is necessary to manually squeeze the anal glands for the dog.
In addition, dogs with obesity, elderly, lack of exercise, and greasy diet are also prone to problems. Pet owners should take their dogs to exercise more and do not feed their dogs greasy or high-carbohydrate foods to keep their anal glands healthy.
How to correctly clean the anal glands
a. Hold the dog to adjust the direction, determine the position of the anal glands, and do not put your face close to the anal glands (otherwise there is a terrible thing)
b. Wrap a tissue on your fingers, put your index finger and thumb into the position of the anal glands, and massage the anal glands
c. Squeeze the anal glands from the inside out, and squeeze the anal glands outward. Liquid from the anal glands will be sprayed or flowed out of the anal glands
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