Anal glands
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Illustration showing the location of the anal glands in a typical dog.
Many animals, including cats, dogs, weasels and skunks, have two anal glands or sacs (1 gland on each side of the anus), which are used to mark terrory, in identification and to ward off predators.
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Dogs
In dogs, these glands are occasionally referred to as "scent glands", because they enable the animals to mark their territory and to identify each other. This is the reason dogs sniff at the rear of other dogs. Dogs sometimes 'scoot'; they rub their anus on carpet because their anal glands are bothering them.The anal sacs are normally expressed (emptied) by rectal pressure during defecation. The secretion from the anal glands is a brownish liquid, although it can become thick, yellowish or creamy looking. The anal sacs can also be emptied by contraction of the anal sphincter. This involuntary contraction can be due to the dog being upset, frightened or under pressure, or the contractions can be triggered by the dog to leave its mark upon territory. Constricting the anal sphincter not only marks the territory, it permeates the dog with a characteristic odor."More than you ever wanted to know about anal sacs, or, why is my pet scooting? - Information about anal gland problems in pets" [http://www.marvistavet.com]
Impaction of the anal glands
When the anal glands fail to empty normally, the result can be impaction. Impaction is most common in small dog breeds, but can occur in any dog. Among the causes of anal gland impaction are soft stools, small anal gland openings and overactive anal glands. The anal gland secretions become thick and pasty. Anal gland impaction is treated by manual emptying of the glands.Infected anal glands
This condition is recognized by the presence of blood or pus in the anal gland secretions. The dog may also exhibit discomfort when the glands are emptying or exhibit scooting behavior. Treatment : empty the glands as described above. Once the gland is empty and the area cleansed, fill the gland with antibiotic ointment (such as Panalog) by placing the tip of the tube into the duct opening to the anal gland and squeeze the tube to fill the gland. Repeat this process every two days until the anal gland secretions are no longer showing signs of blood or pus. The dog should also be receiving oral antibiotics such as chloromycetin or tetracycline during this time.Opossums
Opossums use their anal glands when they "". As the opposum mimicks death, the glands secrete a foul-smelling fluid, suggesting the opossum is rotting.Skunks
Skunks use their anal glands to spray a foul-smelling and sticky fluid as a defense against predators.Weasels
Research by the Institute for Pheromone Research and the Department of Chemistry, Indiana University suggests that weasels (animals of genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family) may well use their anal glands in gender recognition.Zhang JX et al. Putative chemosignals of the ferret (Mustela furo) associated with individual and gender recognition. [PubMed]Zhang JX et al. Possible coding for recognition of sexes, individuals and species in anal gland volatiles of Mustela eversmanni and M. sibirica. [PubMed]
See also
References
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