How To Clear
Cocker Spaniel Anal Glands

It's important to clear Cocker Spaniel anal glands as soon as they become impacted otherwise your Cocker's glands may become infected and he may develop an abscess.

If your Cocker develops an abscess, your Cocker's anus will swell up and may turn a dark, angry-looking purple color.

The abscess will fill with pus, which may occassionally seep from your dogs anal glands.

Abscesses can cause your Cocker Spaniel a great deal of pain.

He won't be able to walk normally and he'll try to 'scratch' his bottom whilst dragging himself across the floor - not too pretty to watch!

Your dog will probably also lick his bottom quite frequently to ease himself.

That's why it's important to clear impacted anal glands as soon as you notice the problem.

If you think your Cocker Spaniel has an abscess, speak to your vet who will lance the abscess for you and will probably give your dog a course of antibiotics.

How To Clear Impacted Anal Glands In Dogs

Helpful Tip: I recommend you don a pair of latex gloves before you begin expressing Cocker Spaniel anal glands - it can get very messy and very smelly!

• Ask a friend to hold your dog's head, while you get behind him.
• Hold and lift his tail, and move the fur out of the way to expose his anus.
• Soak the area with warm water - I use a soft cloth for this job but you could also use cotton wool.
• Using your index finger and thumb, gently push and squeeze the lower outside and bottom edges of your dog's anus.
• Cocker Spaniel anal glands are small, about the size of a pea, and you should be able to feel them just under the skin's surface, near the anal opening.
• This gently squeezing action release a thick, unpleasant smelling substance - if it doesn't, repeat the warm water and cloth process, and try again.
• If this doesn't work, I recommend you take your Cocker Spaniel to see the vet, as impacted anal glands can be painful for your dog and will need quick treatment to prevent infection.

However, if you suspect your dog has infected anal glands, don't hesitate to take your Cocker Spaniel straight to the vet. I don't recommend you try and treat it yourself.

Prevention And Treatment Of Problems In Cocker Spaniel Anal Glands

I recommend you add a quick check into your cocker spaniel grooming routine - you can learn more about grooming Cocker Spaniels here.

However, if impacted anal glands become a regular occurance, you should speak to your vet.

He may suggest increasing the fibre content in your Cocker Spaniel diet to help bulk up your dog's stool.

(The process of passing a solid stool places the correct pressure on your dogs anal glands. It's this pressure that helps the glands express themselves normally - without any assistance from you!)

In cases of regular occurences, where the vet is unable to resolve the problem to his satisfaction, he may recommend that the anal glands are removed surgically.

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