Somewhere around a client's third or fourth visit, we usually get some version of the same question, asked in a slightly lowered voice like they're confessing something: "Do you guys... do the gland thing?" Yes. We do the gland thing. It's one of the least glamorous parts of grooming and one of the most useful, and it's something most owners never think to ask about until they've watched their dog scoot across the living room carpet for the first time.
What Anal Glands Actually Do
Every dog has two small glands just inside the anus, roughly at the four and eight o'clock positions. They produce a strong-smelling secretion that dogs use for scent marking and communication with other dogs — it's a big part of why dogs are so intensely interested in sniffing each other, and each other's yards, on a walk. In most healthy dogs, normal bowel movements apply enough pressure on the way out to express the glands naturally, a little at a time, without anyone ever noticing it's happening.
Some dogs don't empty them well on their own, though. Softer stool doesn't create as much pressure, some dogs simply have narrower duct openings than others, and smaller breeds seem to run into this more often than large ones in our experience — though we've expressed glands on dogs of every size over the years. When the glands don't empty naturally, the secretion builds up, thickens, and starts to feel uncomfortable for the dog.
Signs Your Dog's Glands Need Attention
This is the part most owners recognize once they know what they're looking at:
- Scooting — dragging the rear end along the floor or carpet
- Excessive licking or chewing at the base of the tail or underneath it
- A sudden, sharp odor that seems to come out of nowhere
- Sitting down abruptly or seeming uncomfortable after being perfectly fine a moment before
- Turning to look at or chase their own tail more than usual
None of these automatically mean something is seriously wrong — most of the time it just means the glands are full and ready to be expressed. But it's exactly the kind of thing worth mentioning to us at your next appointment, or to your vet if it's happening often or seems to be causing your dog real discomfort.
Why We Check Every Groom, Not Just When You Ask
Anal gland expression is a standard part of every full groom at American Puppy, the same way we check ears and nails. We don't wait for owners to bring it up, because plenty of dogs are quietly uncomfortable without their owners ever connecting the dots — a dog who's been a little cranky or licking under their tail more than usual is often dealing with full glands, not a behavior problem. Checking every time means we catch it before it turns into the scooting, licking, or odor you'd notice at home.
The check itself takes seconds. We apply gentle external pressure at the correct angle, and if there's buildup, it releases. If the glands are already empty, which happens plenty, there's nothing to do and we move on with the rest of the groom.
When It's More Than a Routine Check
Every so often we come across glands that are more than just full — noticeably thicker, harder to express than usual, or paired with swelling, redness, or an odor that goes beyond the normal smell. That's not something we treat or diagnose; it's a sign of possible infection or impaction, and it's a conversation for your vet, not something to manage at the grooming table. We'll always tell you exactly what we found so you can make that call.
If your dog is scooting constantly, seems to be in real pain, or the area looks swollen or irritated between visits, that's worth a vet visit on its own rather than waiting for the next groom.
Should You Try This at Home?
We'd rather you didn't, honestly — not because it's some secret technique, but because it's easy to do more harm than good without knowing exactly where and how much pressure to apply. Over-expressing glands that don't need it can cause irritation of its own. This is one of those small, unglamorous jobs that's genuinely worth leaving to a professional groomer or your vet's office rather than a tutorial video and a roll of paper towels.
Part of a Normal Groom, Not a Surprise Add-On
We get asked about this often enough that we want it out in the open: gland expression is built into a full groom here, not something we spring on you afterward. If your dog needs a standalone visit for this between grooms, we're happy to do that too — no full groom required, the same way a quick nail trim doesn't require one.
Between the glands, the ears, and everything else we run through at every visit, staying on a regular grooming schedule means small issues get caught early instead of turning into the kind of thing that has your dog scooting across the floor in front of guests. We cover a few of the other early signs we watch for in our guide to knowing when your dog is overdue for a groom.
Blue and Belle get checked at every one of their own grooms, same as every dog who comes through our door in St. Charles — it's just part of the routine, not a special service. Ready to get your dog on a regular schedule? Book an appointment here and we'll take care of the whole routine, gland check included.