Canine Anal Glands

What are canine anal glands? Anal glands are two glands that are found on either side of your dog’s rectal opening (butt). Each anal gland has a small amount of brown smelly liquid that your pet uses like a dog calling card.

Anal glands receive a small amount of pressure when your dog urinates or defecates. That releases a little bit of fluid and your dog’s scent. You know when dogs meet and they raise their tails? This results in pressure to your dogs anal glands and leads to each dog trying to sniff the other’s butt, dogs can smell it but humans cannot. It’s like what humans do, instead of shaking hands, they sniff the other’s butt to get the other’s unique scent.