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7-27-2010

Pug Scooting and Anal Gland Issues

Does your Pug scoot their rear end across your carpet? Do they scoot across the grass in your lawn? Do you ever wonder, “Why in the world is my Pug rubbing their bum across the ground?”

Some owners falsely believe that a dog will scoot to rub feces off of themselves after eliminating.

However, scooting actually points to a problem with the dog’s anal sac glands. This is a very common problem and must be checked out.

Why? Because treatment can vary from needing to express the dog’s anal glands to a more serious issue of infection and possible surgery.

Therefore, let’s discuss the details of this important subject in our new topic: “Pug Scooting and Anal Gland Issues”

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What is Scooting?

Scooting is the motion that a Pug makes when they rub their rear end across the floor or ground. They do this because their anal glands fill up with fluid. Getting rid of this extra fluid is called “Expressing the anal sac glands”.

Do All Pugs Have Anal Sac Glands?

Yes. Just like the appendix in the human body, dogs have anal sac glands that seem to serve no needed purpose in the animal’s body. These are found on all Pugs. There are actually 2 of them, found right under the skin that surrounds the Pug’s anal muscles.

What Happens to These Glands on a Pug?

These glands hold a substance that is similar looking to a brown oil. The smell from the dog’s anal sac gland secretion can be quite terrible. Sometimes, when a Pug eliminates, if the bowel movement is very hard or large, it will press against the sac and cause the secretions to come out. However, most dogs have soft eliminations that are not hard enough to cause any secretion.

So what happens? The glands become engorged with fluid and can cause quite a bit of discomfort to a Pug.

If a Pug has anal sacs glands that fill up with too much substance, this can cause the dog to feel very uncomfortable. That dog will then scoot their bottom across the floor in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Many times, it is their scooting that will cause the sac to “break open” and the secretions will spurt out.

Is this A Serious Pug Health Problem?

It all depends.

When the fluid builds up enough for the dog to scoot, this means that the sacs are impacted. If the Pug does not break the sac while scooting, some type of treatment must then be done. Even if the sacs break on their own, they will build up again. Regular, on-going treatment should always be done before there are any more serious problems.

When Can This Get Serious?

This can turn into a serious canine health issue if the glands are not released of the fluid on a regular basis. If this is not done, the watery fluid will eventually turn to a substance that is as thick as peanut butter. (Sorry for that, if you are eating a PB & J sandwich while reading this!).

Once this happens, it is very, very difficult for you, a vet or a dog groomer to express the fluid out. Also, once done, there is a much great risk for the dog to get a bacterial infection and/or abscess.

How is this Fixed?

The glands must be released of fluid on a regular basis. For each Pug this will be a different period of time. You will know that it is time to have them released when they grow larger.

Normally, they will be the size of a kidney bean and you won’t normally be able to see them or feel them when bathing your Pug.

As they become filled with excess fluid, they will grow the size of grapes. You will then be able to see these lumps that are just beneath the surface of the dog’s skin.

There are 3 people who can express the glands:

•    You
•    Your dog’s veterinarian
•    Your dog’s groomer

Expressing your Pug’s Glands Yourself

You should understand what you are getting into if you choose to do this yourself! Anyone who is squeamish should not do this. Also, the odor can be extremely overwhelming and the process is usually very messy.

Still ready to do this? Okay! You will want to place your Pug in the bathtub to express the glands. As if “popping a pimple”, you will want to put a finger on each side of the sac. You then will press upwards and inwards towards the rectum. If you do not see the fluid come out, you will then want to have your Pug’s vet or groomer take care of this. If you want to learn the exact technique, the vet or groomer should be able to show you how they perform this action and then you may wish to try on your own again.

Having Your Vet or Dog Groomer Do This

Many owners choose to have their Pug’s vet or groomer do this procedure; there is no shame is saying that you do not prefer to do this or that you are not able to do this.

If the glands have not been expressed in quite a while and this has gotten to the point of the fluid turning into more of a solid, you must have the veterinarian handle this.

Your Pug may need to be given a sedative medication. A catheter will be put into the duct of the gland. The vet will then slowly inject water into the gland until the secretion is removed from your Pug.

Most veterinarians will then inject an antibiotic ointment into the glands to protect against any possible bacterial infection. If there is a break of the skin, this will need to be cleaned with antiseptic solution. The vet will usually flush this solution into the gland each day until it has healed. This is the best treatment method, as the dog’ gland must be allowed to heal from the inside first. Do take note that this can quickly mount into huge vet bills; therefore it is best to make sure that your dog has their glands expressed regularly so that this more serious issue does not happen.

What About Surgery?

There are instances in which your Pug may need surgery for this issue. Some dogs tend to have very frequent problems. If so, it is usually recommended for the anal glands to be surgically removed. After all, they serve no purpose in the dog’s body and you do not want you and your dog to have to keep dealing with these issues.

For this type of canine surgery, your Pug will be given a general anesthetic. The glands will be removed and stitches will hold the area closed until they heal, about 2 to 3 weeks later.

Can I Prevent This?

Unless the anal glands are surgically removed, you cannot stop them from filling with fluid. You can, however, make sure that they do not fill to the point of becoming a health problem. Check the glands at least each month to see if they have grown enough to be visible. You can also have your dog’s vet or the dog groomer check the glands at each visit. Many dog groomers express the sacs as part of the normal dog grooming process.   If the sacs can be expressed by the vet or dog groomer while the fluid is still thin, your Pug should not have any serious health issues.

Other Reasons?

While the most common reason for a Pug scooting will be the anal gland fluid, other possible reasons could be feces stuck to the dog’s fur or worms.   If you notice your Pug scooting across the floor or ground, while this may look cute, this is the sign that there is a problem.

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