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Why do my dog's anal glands smell so soon after being expressed?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | neutered | 8 years old | 95 lbs

My dogs anal glands have been expressed twice in the past 2 weeks and now smells again. :(

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 11th, 2016

Poor Sidney! If they are smelling again, it is likely that they need to be expressed or he may have an infection of them. Some dogs have continuing problems with their anal sacs, and Sidney should be checked out by the vet tomorrow to find out why that area is smelling.

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8Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 17th, 2020

    You may not have completely emptied Hank's anal glands, or he may be having anal gland problems. If it continues I'd recommend having your vet examine Hank's glands - anal glands can become infected or inflamed and this can lead to leakage.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Jenny, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 24th, 2017

    If you are comfortable expressing them you can. If not, unless you see swelling or redness around the area then it is fine to wait into your vet or groomer opens to do this for you. You may need to give her a bath to help get the smell off though. If it is red or swollen then that is a sign of abscess and can be painful to express so you will want your vet to handle that

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my dog scooting his butt after recent anal gland expression?
Hi there. It sounds like Lucky's anal glands are probably full again. This can be a recurring issue in some dogs, unfortunately. I would recommend taking him back to the vet tomorrow to have them checked and expressed again, if needed. You can ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this at home if you want to, to help avoid frequent vet visits for this problem in the future.
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Why does my dog have a fishy odor even after anal gland expression?
I guess the best course of action would be to have the glands checked over to make sure they aren’t infected. If it’ s all fine, a permanent solution would be to have them removed. I would discuss all the pros and cons of the surgery with your vet and then decide accordingly. I have performed this surgery several times and it can make a huge different for both dogs and owners because of anal glands continuous issues and discomfort or just odour !
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Why is my dog expressing her anal glands? What does it mean?
It may be that her [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs/) are full and she is only able to express a little bit at a time. When too full, [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-impacted-dog-anal-glands/) can cause intense itching. Dogs will scoot (dragging her butt) on the floor or lick excessively for relief. This can cause injury. If she is unable to express her glands, an abscess can develop. This may require sedation or anesthesia to lance and drain. The best thing to do is to take her to your veterinarian or an experienced groomer to her glands expressed. Some dogs never need their glands expressed, some need to go every month and some just need a one time visit. The terrible smell is normal. If the smell lingers, consider using an [enzymatic cleaner](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/brand/natures-miracle) to thoroughly cleanse soiled areas.
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Why do my dog's anal glands leak constantly, smell awful, and stain?
These are two little glands inside the dog's rectum. They naturally fill with a material that ranges from thin, light colored liquid to a thick paste. When a dog defecated, this material is released -- most of the time not all of the liquid is release but over the course of each defecation, enough is released that the glands do not overfill. With some dogs though, this process does not occur as easily. This can be due to the material being too thick to be expressed, the stool being too soft or diarrhea which does not apply enough force to the gland to express the fluids or due to an underlying disease process. The most common cause of recurrently full anal glands is an underlying allergy problem. Dogs with skin sensitivity or allergies often have anal glands that need to be emptied on a routine basis. If the glands become too full, the material can become infected or the gland can rupture. In this case, the area will heal but antibiotics are typically needed. After the anal glands are
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My dog's anal glands smelled fishy. Should I take her to the vet?
Anal glands are normally expressed during the act of defecation. If you continue to smell the odor, see her licking her hind end or dragging her hind end along the floor, then she should be examined by your veterinarian for possible impacted anal glands.
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My dog's anal glands were expressed, why is she still leaking?
The anal glands may be actually infected and a part from expressing them a lavage or a local antibiotic may be needed. I would recommend to have her checked again to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately.
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Why is my dog still licking his butt after anal glands were expressed?
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Why are my dog's anal glands constantly needing to be expressed?
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Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Dog's anal glands full again in 3 days? Were they not expressed?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. It is more likely that her glands were not fully expressed on Monday. It would be unlikely for them to completely fill up again in three days. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dog's bum leaks and smells after anal gland expression. Is it infected?
I think you are right to suspect an infection as the signs you described may be compatible with it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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