Pedigree Dogs Vet – Tail Dragging
Quite often dog owners think their dog has worms because it is dragging its tail on the ground. This activity is instead a sign that the dog is having trouble with its anal glands (sacs).
What are anal glands? They are primarily used for territorial marking and communication, not only in dogs, but all predators. They are small pouches located on each side and slightly below the anal opening, at the 4 o’ clock and 8 o’ clock positions. A small duct leads from the gland to an opening directly beside the anus. The sacs contain a thick, strong-smelling liquid that is pressed out when a dog relieves itself. This allows other dogs to recognise each other because each dog produces its own unique scent.
Your dog will let you know if it has a problem. Quite often it will exhibit behavioural changes, such as dragging its tail along the ground, chasing its tail, and paying more than the usual amount of attention to the base of the tail. Sometimes the dog may be in so much discomfort that it won’t be able to sit or may have trouble relieving itself. The dog may even try to bite if you go near its back end.
Such signs may mean your dog is suffering from impaction, infection, abscesses, or tumours. The most common problem is impaction, which prevents a sac from emptying. There are a number of reasons for this, such as the conformation of the animal, the softness of the stool, or the thickness of the anal gland secretion. The gland becomes full of fluid and puts pressure on the surrounding area, causing discomfort. The glands can be expressed manually by your vet or groomer by gently squeezing them and pushing upwards. This may have to be done every few weeks.
The impacted gland can become inflamed, infected or abscessed, all of which cause pain and itching. Tumours can also form on the gland. These are frequently secondary to testicular tumours in male dogs. Once the dog is castrated, the tumours will frequently resolve.
If you think that your dog has a problem, you should contact your vet. In severe cases, the dog will be put onto antibiotics and painkillers and may have to undergo an anaesthetic in order to have the glands flushed or even removed. Dogs with recurrent anal gland problems may also be put onto a high fibre diet. This increases the faecal bulk, thus putting more pressure on the glands, which will cause them to express naturally.
For further enquiries, please phone Animals First Veterinary Hospital 045 480478
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