Anal glands are small glands found inside your dog's bottom. These are completely natural and help them mark their scent. (Ever wondered why dogs smell other dogs' behinds when they meet and greet? Now you know.)
You should never really be able to notice anal glands, but sometimes they can kick up a bit of a stink in times of stress or if your dog's scooting (dragging their bottom on the ground). The reasons for these glands becoming irritated can be varied, but some common ones are:
- A lack of fibre in the diet
- Food/environmental allergies
- Being overweight
- Sensitive or infected skin
- Intestinal worms
If your pooch has any skin allergies you should have a look at sorting these out first, as their anal gland problem may not get better unless the skin issues are also treated.
If lack of fibre in your dog's diet is a concern, then our meals should be a really good fit. The freshly prepared ingredients we use like lentils, sweet potato, carrots, and linseed mean that our recipes are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre (the types that keep digestion regular). A settled, regular stomach should mean that your pooch's anal glands are much less likely to get full and uncomfortable.