I know it may not be the most pleasant health  topic  I have discussed with you.  But, nevertheless it is an important topic we should have a brief look at as some Miniature Schnauzers run into health problems with the glands.

 Anal Sacs

Have you ever found your Miniature Schnauzer to have any of the following symptoms?

• To have a rather bad smell despite frequent baths?

• To be seen holding their tail up, dragging their  bottom across the floor?

• To be seen regularly licking or chewing near his rectum?

Well, one   of the possible causes could be your Miniature Schnauzer's anal glands.

Anal glands, or anal sacs, are two small glands (more like small pockets really) which are present in all  dogs (and cats for my readers who also have a cat!) situated just below and either side of the anal opening.

These two sacs produce a substance that is secreted in tiny amounts through ducts just inside the rectum when pressure is put on the glands - most commonly by the passing of feces.

This substance has a strong (rather yucky) odor which is very unpleasant to us but has been useful in the past to animals for marking their territory. 

What can go wrong with anal glands?

Well, as I mentioned above, anal glands can  sometimes cause health problems for any dog.

Sometimes the anal gland secretions are not released naturally and build up - leading to thickening of the secretion, clogging of the duct and sometimes even infection and abscesses.

You may have seen your Miniature Schnauzer with their tail up, dragging his behind across the floor (this is called "scooting"). This may be an attempt to relieve the pressure and discomfort of impacted anal glands.

Scooting can cause damage to the anus and may indicate that your pet is having trouble with his anal glands and needs some type of intervention.  

When bacteria find their way into the glands, infection can occur and lead to an abscess. Your pet may whimper or cry when attempting to defecate and try to lick the area - this should alert you to the possibility of infection.

Abscesses can also be extremely painful for your Miniature Schnauzer and will require the attention of a vet and possibly antibiotics to clear the infection. For this reason, it is best to prevent complications as much as possible.  

Prevention and Treatment.

REMEMBER, many dogs never seem to have a problem with their anal glands.

For those that do have a dog with anal gland issues, the anal glands should be regularly checked and expressed when necessary in order to empty the build up of secretions from the gland.

This can be done by your vet, dog groomer or even by you - getting the knack of this is not difficult especially once you have been shown the technique.

BUT, DO NOT try   expressing the glands unless you have been shown how to do it by your Vet or a good groomer, as you could damage your dog.

Again, not all Miniature Schnauzers need their anal glands expressed manually. Discuss with your Vet or professional groomer first.

 To express your pet’s anal glands use your fingers or a thumb and forefinger to gently apply pressure on either side of the anal opening - on the outside of the glands. Press inwards and upwards and you should see the fluid being expressed. 

 Can't do it yourself?

Many owners will not wish to do this themselves and that's fine.

Alternatively, another  option that may help prevent the sacs getting blocked is providing you dog with a higher fiber diet.  This will produce a bulkier stool that may be more effective in emptying the sac as it passes by.

In Summary Then...

So in summary, many dogs never seem to have a problem with their anal glands. 

Some do have anal gland problems and  the symptoms mentioned above will   help alert you to this.

For more information on the Health  and all aspects of caring for your Miniature Schnauzer, please see our resources box below.

Lastly, as per usual, when in doubt, please have a chat with your Vet as I am not a Vet.

That's it for now and I promise the next newsletter will  be 'fresher' one!

Hope you found that helpful.

warmly,