the problem

All problems with anal glands require ongoing veterinary intervention if treated conservatively (read on below).  Thankfully, a single permanent surgical solution does exist for all of them.

Blocked Anal Glands

 If the duct of either anal gland becomes blocked with dried material, or with scar / inflammatory tissue, your dog's anal glands will slowly begin to fill and will be unable to evacuate.  Eventually the glands will become swollen like overfilled balloons and this will cause pain, discomfort and scooting (where your dog 'walks like a penguin' by shuffling his backside along the ground).  Your vet will usually be able to loosen any blockage and express the anal glands.  This procedure might be initially painful or uncomfortable for your dog, and they will usually continue to scoot for a day or two until their tissues settle down.  In most cases, a dog that suffers from blocked anal glands will require intermittent anal gland expressions throughout their lifetimes.  If left too long, blocked anal glands may develop into an Anal Gland abscess.

Anal Sacculitis (inflamed glands)

Since the anal glands are exposed to faecal material and bacteria via their ducts, it's not uncommon for the anal sac fluid inside the anal sacs to become a 'food bath' for bacteria.  This can lead to the glandular lining & surrounding internal tissues to become inflamed.  Anal sacculitis is therefore a chronic, painful condition that can occur even without the anal glands becoming blocked or impacted.  Symptoms are always the same as other anal gland issues (scooting, licking, biting the area & vocalising in pain).  Only your vet can distinguish anal sacculitis from the other anal gland conditions listed here.  The anal gland fluid is often pus-filled, bloody or foamy with gas.

Anal Gland Abscess

When anal sacculitis and anal gland blockage occur at the same time, an anal gland abscess results.  This is usually an acute condition where your dog will suddenly start biting or licking at the backside, often with distress and vocalising.  The entire region surrounding the affected anal gland (including the overlying skin) become hot, swollen and red.  In some cases the abscess will spontaneously rupture and a mixture of blood and pus will dribble out.  If it doesn't rupture, surgical intervention to lance and drain the abscess is required.  In most cases, some form of procedure is performed to flush and clean the anal gland, and pack it with antibiotic solution.  Most dogs that have had an anal gland abscesses will develop it again.

Anal Gland Impaction

Some smaller breeds have incompetent anal glands.  This means that they don't effectively empty the fluid in their glands.  Over time, the remaining fluid becomes dessicated from sitting in the glands for too long.  Some dogs live quite comfortably with this condition, but most feel discomfort in the same way one would feel constipation.  They show the same symptoms as all anal gland problems.  Unfortunately most impacted anal glands cannot be expressed while awake and the veterinarian will need to sedate or anaesthetise your dog to squeeze all the firm, inspissated contents out of the gland.

Overcompetent / Loose Anal Glands

This is a unique condition seen in some dogs where the anal gland fluid leaks or flows freely from the anal glands rather than only occurring during defaecation.  Although it will sometimes develop into Anal Sacculitis, this condition is often the one that causes most distress for dog owners.  Their entire house, floors, carpets and bedding become tainted with the stale fishy odour of anal glands.  No method currently exists to treat this condition with medication.

All of the above conditions can be cured with surgery.