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Anal Sac Disease

Anal Sac Disease

What are anal sacs?

The anal sacs are a type of scent gland which are located on either side of the anus at the 8:00 o’clock and 4:00 o’clock positions under the skin. They produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid which enables the dog to mark its territory and identify other dogs. They can spontaneously empty under times of stress but are normally expressed when the dog defecates. These are the same type of organs that a skunk has to scare away its enemies. Certain breeds and/or types of dogs are predisposed to anal sac disease.

What disorders can occur in the anal sacs?

There are four main diseases that occur in the anal sacs:

1. Impaction: Is when the fluid becomes thick and solidified.

2. Infection: Is when bacteria grow in the fluid and produce puss.

3. Abscessation: Is when the infection builds to create a hot, tender swelling in the sac.

4. Adenocarcarcinoma (malignant tumour): Is when there is excess tissue forming into a hard mass.

 How are various anal sac diseases treated in traditional Western medicine?

The treatment varied depending on the condition, for impaction it is to express (squeeze out) the sacs and clean out the solidified material. For infection, the sacs must be expressed and antibiotics administered to kill the bacteria. If the sacs abscessate, this will need surgical draining by your veterinarian surgically and antibiotic treatment. Adenocarcinomas may need to be surgically removed and dogs may require palliative chemotherapy but the prognosis is poor as it usually spreads rapidly to regional lymph nodes.

Holistic Management of Anal Sac Disease.

In many instances anal sac conditions can be managed with a combination of dietary changes and western or Chinese herbal medicine to match the individual animal. In some instances the problem resolves completely as the cause has been treated, not just the symptoms.

 My dog has had several bouts of anal sac disease. Is there any long term cure?

Many dogs have recurrent anal sac disease. It is especially common in the small breeds and those obese dogs where they do not drain well, thus these dogs are predisposed to recurrent problems. If a dog has several episodes of anal sac disease, the sacs can be removed surgically. However, it is worth trying to consider what may be causing the anal sacs to be a problem in the first place. Things to consider as potential causes include; food intolerances, spinal/arthritic changes, dietary fibre. Many dogs with chronic food intolerances, have improved anal sac health after eliminating the triggers. Similarly, in older dogs additional quality fibre such as cooked pumpkin, soaked psyllium husks or chia seeds added to a fresh food diet daily can help express them naturally or reduce how often they need to be expressed.