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
Work with your vet to try and figure out the underlying causes. 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 may be a really good fit. The freshly prepared ingredients we use like lentils, sweet potato, carrots, and linseed mean that our recipes contain both soluble and insoluble fibre (the types that keep the gut bacteria happy and keep everything moving through).
We can also perfectly portion your dog’s meals to help them lose a few pounds too along with ensuring that you only receive our low-fat options (chicken, turkey and fish).