Anal Glands

We do not express anal glands. One of our favorite holistic veterinarians, Dr. Karen Becker, explains why you should see your veterinarian, not your groomer, if your pet is experiencing anal gland issues.

"If a dog's anal sacs are manually expressed (emptied, in other words), they lose the ability to empty on their own, as nature intended. So I'm not a big fan of expressing anal glands just for the heck of it. It's like taking a laxative when you're not constipated – there's no point, and eventually, those organs you're 'helping along' will no longer do their job effectively. If there's a problem with your dog's anal sacs, I strongly recommend you work with your vet not only to solve the immediate problem, but to find the reason the glands aren't expressing normally when your dog has a bowel movement, and to re-establish anal gland tone."

-Dr. Karen Becker

For more great information from Dr. Karen Becker on why we as professional groomers do not express anal glands, click here.

#analglands