Many pet owners choose to take their dogs to pet stores for bathing, which is both convenient and hassle-free. But have you noticed that besides bathing the dog, cleaning the ears, cleaning the paws, and trimming the nails, for some reason the dog's rear end is also being squeezed? Here, the editor answers that this is actually squeezing the dog's anal glands, which is also part of the cleaning process. Today, let's talk about why you should clean your dog's anal glands. Let's take a look below.

The anal glands are a pair of exocrine glands located in the mucous membrane on both lower sides of the dog's anus. Their main function is to secrete a stimulating-smelling liquid that serves as a dog's mark. If the secreted liquid is too viscous or accumulates excessively, it is difficult to be discharged. The vast majority of anal gland inflammations are caused by anal gland obstruction. Affected dogs show symptoms such as initial itching after defecation and when resting, dragging their anus on the ground while walking forward or rubbing back and forth on the floor, turning back to lick or bite the area around the anus or the outer side of the upper hind legs and the base of the tail. If not treated promptly, the affected dog may show hind limb walking difficulties, suddenly place the anus on the ground after a few steps, spread both hind legs, and look back at the anus. Further development may cause anal gland rupture, forming cavities on one or both sides of the anus with purulent and bloody discharge.

Therefore, good daily care is essential to prevent further worsening of anal gland inflammation. Daily care means squeezing the anal glands each time the dog is bathed and cleaning at least once a month. Small dogs have smaller anal gland ducts which secrete more viscous substances and are difficult to expel, so regular anal gland expression is necessary for small dog care.

Through this article, everyone should understand why you should clean your dog's anal glands. The editor reminds you to feed your dog stable dog food to prevent diarrhea and constipation. The diet should include an appropriate amount of crude fiber, reduce protein and bone content, and reduce fat content.