This post has been updated. My sweet Pebbles passed away August 31, 2021 at the age of 15. We still and always will miss her very much!
Pebbles And Her Anal Gland Issues
Anal Sac Issues can be difficult to deal with. I’m going to tell you something that if my Pebbles knew I was telling you she would be so embarrassed! So, let’s just not tell her, okay? It’s been several years ago now, but Pebbles used to have frequent infections of the anal sac. But, before I get into that, let’s talk about anal glands.
What Are Anal Glands?
Your Chihuahua has two anal sacs, also called anal glands, located on the lower sides of his anus. They are located between layers of muscles that make up the rectum. When all is working as it should, they are naturally expressed through the duct that connects the gland to the “world outside”, each time your Chi poops.
Anal glands are scent glands — some people refer to them as “anal sacs.” They are located between the layers of muscles that make up the rectum and when all is working right, they are naturally expressed through the duct that connects the gland to the “outside world,” each time your Chihuahua poops.
If your Chihuahua’s diet does not meet his or her nutritional needs or has an inherited biological problem the sac can malfunction. It can be very painful for your Chihuahua as the fluid builds up and then becomes infected.
Have you noticed your Chihuahua scooting across the carpet? He or she is trying to relieve the discomfort of a fluid buildup in the anal sac.
when does it become a problem?
The most common problem is, as mentioned above, they become impacted and they are not being extricated and the fluid builds up in the glands. This then often leads to infection.
If this is allowed to continue they will become abscessed. When this happens it may require surgical repair and even may require a drain to be placed. Then they will require antibiotics and pain medication as it can be extremely painful at that point.
Often once this happens the problem can become chronic and they may suffer recurrent problems with their anal glands. Some of the possible causes are:
- Not getting sufficient nutrients in their diet.
- Chronic (deep) skin infections with bacteria and/or yeast
- Skin mite infestations
- Food allergies
- Environmental allergies
- Being overweight or obese
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels or function)
what can you do?
- Work with your veterinarian to figure out and manage the cause of the problem mentioned above.
- If your Chihuahua is overweight, help them to lose weight and maintain their ideal weight.
- Add fiber to their diet. Canned pumpkin (NOT PIE MIX!) is a great way to naturally add fiber to their diet.
- Add fish oil to their diet. Krill oil, is the best with the most Omega 3 fatty acids. They also serve as an anti-inflammatory.
- If you suspect a food allergy, change their current diet. Most food allergies are caused by processed grains, corn, or meats such as chicken, fish, or beef. Eliminate any of these one at a time to see if there is an improvement. If not, go ahead and add it back and eliminate another until you find the one he or she is sensitive to.
- Do not automatically have your Chihuahua’s anal glands regularly expressed. Never allow a groomer to do it and don’t ask your veterinarian to do it regularly. This can cause damage to the delicate tissue and actually make the problem worse. (see video below by Dr. Karen Becker, DVM).
back to pebbles and her anal glands issues
When Pebbles was little she began to have frequent anal gland fluid build-up and once the infection became abscessed and she had to have surgery. That broke my heart because she was obviously in excruciating pain even when on pain medication until it completely healed.
That is when in my research for my book, “Sit, Stay, And Create Your Own” (no longer available) I realized that Pebbles’s problem all stemmed from her diet of processed dry dog food even though I was feeding her a premium brand.
At first, I began feeding her NomNom a veterinarian-formulated fresh food delivery service (now get 50% off your first order-try it today!). Everything changed! She no longer had problems with her anal glands and her health improved despite her heart disease.
After I did all the research for my book (mentioned above) I began making my own nutritionally balanced fresh dog food customized for each of my Chihuahuas’ nutritional needs. I do not recommend this for everyone unless you are guided by a veterinarian nutritionist or someone who legitimately knows canine nutrition.