What are Anal Glands? Anal glands are two small glands that sit adjacent to your pet’s anus at about 4 O’clock and 8 O’clock. These glands fill with thick, foul-smelling material that in a wild animal would be excreted as part of scent marking or a defense behavior. However domestic dogs and cats primarily excrete these glands as they defecate. In some cases, these glands become impacted and blocked leading to discomfort seen as tail or bottom licking/chewing and scooting. In fact, scooting is far more commonly a result of anal gland impaction than worms which is what owners usually suspect. What to do about scooting? If your pet is scooting, it’s best to see a vet. They will likely check the anal glands and empty them by one of two ways: Externally: Gauze or tissue is held up to the anus and both sides of the anal area are squeezed. If the secretion is very pasty, this method may be inadequate to empty the sacs. Internally: A lubricated gloved finger is inserted in the anus and the sac is squeezed between thumb and forefinger into a tissue held externally. The full anal gland feels like a pea to a grape in the location. The emptying procedure is repeated on the opposite side. If the glands have been emptied adequately, the scooting should resolve in a couple of days. What if scooting continues? If scooting continues for more than a few days after gland emptying, the glands should be re-checked. For some individuals, it takes several gland evacuations in a row before the glands stay emptied. If the glands are empty and scooting is persisting, another cause (such as itchy skin, tapeworms, or even lower back pain) should be considered. What happens if an impacted gland doesn’t get emptied? If a gland is unable to evacuate its contents it will become large and painful before rupturing out the skin surface. These abscesses are extremely painful, and owners will often note bleeding around the bottom. In these cases, urgent veterinary attention is needed and some may requ