Have you noticed some swelling on the bottom of your dog or found him/her scooting on the floor? In either case, your canine friend could be suffering from anal gland problems. This happens when these tiny glands are unable to express the anal sacs (and they become filled with fluid). Keep reading to know about some effective home treatment options for a dog swollen anus.
Problems with your dog scooting its bum on the carpet? Here are 7 Simple Home Remedies for Dog Scooting.
What Causes a Dog’s Swollen Anus?
Irritated (or infected) anal glands are often responsible for the swelling on your dog’s bottom. Impacted glands will make your pooch scoot around the house and may become infected if they are not treated. The swelling will be accompanied by a nasty smell and your pooch will lick the affected area to relieve soreness. Dogs will also resort to scooting in an attempt to relieve the sacs and find some comfort.
Dogs suffering from chronic diarrhea are most vulnerable to this condition. This is because soft stools are unable to apply enough pressure on the anal sacs. Hence, they are not emptied and the accumulation of fluid will cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
How to Soothe Dog Irritated Anus?
Many owners tend to rush to their vets for getting the anal glands of their dog expressed. Although it will relieve the discomfort, regular expression from the vet can make the glands dependent. This means that they won’t be able to express themselves naturally and can become inflamed. Hence, it’s highly recommended to try the following home remedies because they are safe and can relieve your pup’s problems.
Warm Compress for Dog Anus
The Calendula Compress has proven to be quite useful for the swelling of your dog’s butt. It will relieve the inflammation by helping the glands to express. Here’s how you can make (and apply) this compress.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of water.
- Add 8 drops of Calendula tincture into the salt mixture.
- Now, soak a cloth with this mixture and hold it against the swollen anus of your dog.
- Keep the cloth in its place until it becomes cool.
- Apply this warm compress every hour until the swelling goes down. It will also open the anal glands and help them to drain.
Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
A swollen anus is very painful for your dog and anti-inflammatory treatments can be quite effective in providing immediate relief. For example, Witch Hazel can relieve sore bottom and make things a little comfortable for your pooch. Here’s how to use it.
- Moisten a cotton ball or cleansing pad with an unscented and alcohol-free witch hazel.
- Apply the witch hazel to your dog’s swollen anus.
- Repeat the process with several cotton balls (or cleansing pads).
Check out these Home Remedies for Dog’s Bleeding Anus.
Fiber Broth
Fiber is an essential nutrient for maintaining the health of your dog’s digestive system (including anal glands). Giving your dog a fiber-rich diet maximizes the chances of natural expression of these glands. This is because fiber helps in the formation of solid stools that will put significant pressure to empty the anal sacs. Therefore, fiber broth can be an excellent remedy for dogs with the swollen anus. Read on to learn how you can make (and apply) fiber broth for your furry friend.
- Heat 1 cup of bone broth (or water) for a few minutes.
- Then, add 2 tablespoons of psyllium husks to it and stir until the mixture attains jelly-like consistency.
- Turn off the burner and allow the mixture to cool before feeding.
- Feed the broth to your dog (as a replacement meal) for 1-2 days so that the stools become firm.
Anal Gland Supplements
The specific formula of these supplements focuses on improving the function of anal glands and keeps the anal sacs empty. Although not many companies are making these products, supplements with flax seed and beet pulp can be beneficial. Similarly, pumpkin and dandelion roots are often found in anal gland supplements.
Express the Anal Glands of Your Dog
This is one of the most effective home remedies to help a dog with a swollen anus (due to anal glands). However, it’s highly advisable to contact a professional groomer or veterinarian if you haven’t done that before. He/she can guide you about the process and answer all your queries so that you could do it yourself in the future. Here’s how you can express your pup’s anal glands.
- Start the process by wearing gloves. The fluid in the anal glands has a nasty smell and can make your hands quite messy.
- Then, put some absorbent pee pads or paper towels on the floor and place your dog on top of them. This will prevent the fluid from polluting (or damaging) the floor. You can also use a bathtub for this purpose.
- Now, lift the tail of your dog (with your left hand) and use the thumb and forefinger of your right hand to squeeze the anal sacs.
- Repeat the process a few times so that the sacs are emptied completely.
- Clean the remaining fluid from your dog’s bottom with paper towels or doggy wipes.
NOTE: Make sure that your dog’s anal glands are actually filled because expressing them for no reason can cause inflammation (and anal gland sacculitis).
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