Dog lovers know that their pets can not only bring joy in communication, but also require care and care. Pets, like people, suffer from various diseases. A common problem is paraanal glands in dogs. Owners need to know what can cause their inflammation and how to cope with it.
What it is?
All animals have such glands, dogs of this kind are no exception. On the sides of the anus are small sacs 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 have a light brown color. In the wild, animals with this secret mark their territory, scare away 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 the disease
Inflammation of the paraanal glands in dogs occurs gradually. In normal condition, these bags have a watery liquid. With diarrhea or a violation of muscle tone of the anal sphincter, the secretion excretion process is disturbed, sometimes its complete cessation is observed.
Stagnation leads to the fact that the secret becomes thick. Gradually, as it accumulates, the sacs increase in size and clog the paraanal glands in dogs.
If no action is taken, gland rupture may occur. When a bacterial infection also joins, the inflammatory process can be either ascending or descending, with ulcers and fistulas forming 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 give their owners concern about this.
There are several reasons that can trigger this disease:
1 . Hereditary factor. Most often, such a genetic predisposition is present in small dogs, for example, pugs, bulldogs. And if the animal is also overweight, this exacerbates the situation.
2. Wrong diet . Often, owners spoil pets with food from their table. It must be borne in mind that an excessive amount of fatty, salty or sweet can lead to blockage of the anal glands.
3. Low physical activity. This is especially true for domestic dogs, which are forced to sit in the apartment all day waiting for their owner.
4. Reduced immunity. It is also the prerogative of domestic animals, in contrast to their wild relatives.
5. Inattentive owners. Often the inflammatory process begins due to the carelessness of the owner, who did not see the blockage of the anal glands on time.
Varieties
One inflammatory process may differ from another, only two forms of this disease are distinguished:
- Blockage of the anal glands. At first, this process does not cause the animal anxiety, but as the bags are filled, the dog begins to react painfully to touching the tail.
- Inflammation of the paraanal 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 forms. If the animal is not helped in this situation, then complications are possible, even fatal.
Symptoms of the disease
When the paraanal glands in dogs are just beginning to become clogged, this is practically not manifested. 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 owner, the process of inflammation will only progress over time.
You must immediately visit a veterinarian if you find the following manifestations in your pet:
- The dog grabs its tail.
- Often licks the anus.
- The pet rotates its tail.
- When you touch the back of the animal experiences pain.
- Pain during bowel movements.
- "Rides" on the pope.
- 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 paraanal glands in dogs. Treatment is required immediately, so as not to bring the matter to serious complications and irreversible consequences.
Diagnosis of inflammation
Usually a diagnosis is not difficult. A competent specialist is enough to inspect the animal to understand the problem. To prescribe adequate treatment, it is necessary to carry out functional diagnostics and clinical studies.
During the examination, the doctor should find out the color and texture of the secret, the presence of smell. If there are streaks of blood and a fetid odor in the secretions, then it can be said with accuracy that the bacteria became responsible for the fact that the paraanal glands in dogs were inflamed. Treatment will have to be done with antibiotics.
Therapy for inflammation of the anal glands
Treatment of such a disease, as a rule, is carried out in several stages:
- Mechanical cleaning of glands.
- Antibacterial treatment.
- Surgical intervention.
Depending on the severity of the situation, the doctor prescribes treatment. If you notice health problems at the very beginning, you can do with cleaning, which is easily carried out at home.
Cleaning a dog’s paraanal glands
If you try a little, then this procedure can be easily carried out at home, and not take your pet to the veterinarian. There are two ways to do it. The first is as follows:
- It is necessary to put the dog in the bath, if the pet is small, then you can do with a basin.
- Have to call someone for help to hold the animal.
- Put on gloves and feel on the sides of the anus of the gland.
- Take the tail and raise it as high as possible.
- With your free hand, gently squeeze the area on both sides of the anus, and an unpleasant odor fluid and a thick consistency should be released.
With inflammation, the paraanal glands in dogs are enlarged, the photo shows this well, therefore, as a rule, there are no problems with their detection.
The second way to rid your pet of torment is as follows:
- Again, you need to put the dog in the bath.
- To put on gloves and to grease an index finger with vaseline oil.
- Then you need to insert your finger into the anus, while the palm should be perpendicular to the floor.
- Feel the gland and press on it with the index finger from the inside, and from the outside - with a big one.
Cleaning a dog’s paraanal glands is troubling to the animal, so it is imperative that someone supports 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. So the inflammatory process begins, already by the behavior of the animal you can suspect its presence:
- The dog constantly nibbles under the tail.
- Often rubs anus on the floor or furniture.
- The anus swells and turns red.
- The wool around the glands begins to fade, fall out.
- Skin irritation, rash and scratching are noticeable.
If there are such symptoms, then it is urgent to consult a veterinarian. When the diagnosis of "inflammation of the paraanal glands" in the dog is confirmed, the treatment will be more serious 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 external treatment and pills, even though your pet will resist such interference.
Abscess
Everyone knows: if there is no special hole for removing fluid, then with an overflowed gland, it will find a place to exit. The wall breaks, the secret flows out. An abscess is a small hole through which a yellowish liquid oozes all the time.
The neighboring tissues begin to become inflamed, hurt, the dog often licks the affected area, bacteria get into the wound and multiply intensely. All this leads to a sharp deterioration in the well-being of the animal, 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 so that this is no longer possible, remove all pus and treat the wound. If necessary, a drainage is installed, and candles are also prescribed, for example, Proctosedil.
In complex cases, a course of antibiotics is indicated to suppress the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
Anal Gland Removal
Gland blockage occurs at different speeds in dogs. It is enough for some to clean once every six months, but there are those who have to resort to such a procedure every week. In such situations, veterinarians advise that the dog remove the paraanal glands to avoid relapse.
Often surgery is indicated for an abscess, especially if the tissues are badly damaged. It is more humane to carry out the removal than it is long and painful for the animal to treat the disease.
The operation is simple for the doctor. Two cuts are made slightly above the glands, they are brought out and cut off. Since during this operation the rectum and anus are not affected in any way, the very next day the animal feels as before.
To prevent the seams from separating, the dog should be walked more often so that it does not tolerate the urge to use the toilet, and replace the diet with a lighter one.
Preventive actions
Any disease is easier to prevent, including inflammation of the paraanal glands in dogs. Treatment is not needed if you follow some simple recommendations:
- To 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.
- Make sure that the animal empties the intestines and bladder in a timely manner.
- If you do not have enough time to walk with the dog, take care of it, then it is better not to start the animal.
- Your pet should be able to frolic with other dogs.
- Regularly conduct anthelmintic therapy.
- Periodically examine the anal glands in the dog.
- Do not overfeed the animal. Obesity has not benefited anyone yet, including dogs.
If an animal appears in the house, then all care for its health rests with the owner. It, like a small child, constantly needs love and attention to itself. Before starting a dog, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian about all the problems and difficulties in keeping it. Otherwise, illiteracy and an indifferent attitude can cost your pet dearly.