By Dr. Laura Hady
Two of the most overlooked parts of your pet’s body may be the tail and the anal glands, located just inside of the rectum. The tail of a dog or cat is used as a counterbalance when they run or jump. Tails can also relay expressions of emotion, such as happiness, fear or annoyance, simply based on position. To perform all these functions, tails are equipped with a large nerve and blood supply. Anal glands provide a territorial scent marker for other animals via a pungent, oily fluid that is released when your pet defecates. Anal fluid can also communicate sex hormones, health and emotional status. This article will cover some medical issues and treatments related to these two important anatomical features.
- Tail trauma. The most common cause of tail trauma that I see in dogs is “happy tail,” where they wag their tail so much, it becomes traumatized when hitting the wall or other objects. Another cause of tail trauma is when dogs have the obsessive-compulsive disorder of tail chasing, and at times, biting the tail in their spinning furry. I have seen cats get their tails caught in doors or other objects. In some cases of happy tail, tail chasing and tails caught in doors, partial amputation may be necessary if nerves are damaged or if the tail won’t heal due to sores. Anesthesia and local or epidural nerve blocks are useful to limit the pain post-amputation. Anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics are often used to help with pain, inflammation and infection. While tail wraps can help some patients, the animal may struggle daily with removing the bandage material and need an Elizabethan collar or donut collar. Behavior medications for tail chasers and pain medication such as gabapentin may need to be added to the regimen.
- Tail docking that is too short. Some dog breeds have their tails docked between three and 10 days of age to meet breed standards. Some breeds of cats, such as the Manx and bobtails, are born without tails or with very short tails. Issues that arise with tails that are too short include painful or decreased ability to defecate and urinate properly, and not enough skin remaining to pull over the end of the stub. For physical rehabilitation after disc disease or a rear limb amputation, a pet can recover sooner if it has the tail as a counter balance. Your family veterinarian can determine if a medication or special diet may be more helpful to promote defecation and urination, or to keep a pet from dribbling urine due to nerve damage.
- Anal gland impaction and infection. Anal gland issues tend to occur in smaller breed dogs. The color of anal gland fluid can vary from tan to dark brown. If the fluid gets blocked coming out of the anal glands, your pet may scoot, lick or bite at their rectum or tail, and have discomfort defecating. Signs of infection include green or yellow pus-like material coming from the gland. Although dogs are more prone to anal gland issues, a cat that is not defecating in the litter box or straining to do so, may also have a clogged anal gland. Your family veterinary staff can express the anal glands for you in this case. Increased fiber in the diet, especially pumpkin, may also be recommended. Another issue affecting anal gland health can be a food allergy. Food allergies resulting in diarrhea and inhalant allergies can exacerbate licking in the area, which introduces bacteria. A dietary trial of a food with higher fiber, probiotics or one without common food allergens (chicken, beef, wheat and corn) may help some of these patients. I prefer starting with a diet change rather than repeatedly treating with oral and topical antibiotics.
- Anal gland abscesses and cancer. When the anal glands become too impacted or infected, an abscess can form and burst, which causes pain. In that case, oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are often required after the area is cleaned, and your family veterinarian has checked for any remaining fluid or impacted areas. I often have clients use diluted Epsom salt compresses on the area once a day for five days if tolerated by the pet. Surgical removal of the anal glands is an option for those pets with chronic problems. Anal gland cancers, such as adenocarcinoma, are another possibility for pets with chronic anal gland issues. These tumors occur more often in dogs. Anal gland tumors comprise only 2% of tumors in dogs but are locally aggressive and can spread to local lymph nodes and even to a pet’s spine. Your dog may have increased thirst and a higher than normal calcium level on bloodwork.
Contact your family veterinary staff for more information and/or for a rectal exam if your pet is having difficulty with tails and anal glands. We need to keep those tails wagging and their anal glands healthy.
