Introduction

When an owner suspects that her dog may have “something unusual going on” in the area around the anus, she should take her pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. In most cases, anal sac problems are not emergencies. However, if left untreated, the conditions can worsen rapidly and become more difficult to treat once diagnosed. The goals of treatment are to relieve pain, empty the anal sacs, reduce inflammation, control any infection and remove tumors surgically if necessary or appropriate.

Treatment Options

Acute treatment for dogs with impacted anal sacs involves gentle manual expression of the contents of the anal sacs, which typically is done by a veterinarian or veterinary technician. In cases that recur frequently, the owner can be taught how to perform this procedure at home. If infection is present, the veterinarian will flush the sacs with sterile saline and apply an antibiotic or antiobiotic/steroid ointment or cream directly into the affected sacs. Sedation or anesthesia are usually necessary for those procedures. Anal sac abscesses that have ruptured are treated the same way, using saline, antibiotics and topical steroid treatments. Systemic antibiotics are frequently recommended as well. If the abscess has not yet ruptured, application of topical hot packs several times daily can help bring the abscess to a head. Then, the veterinarian can lance the abscess to establish drainage and relieve the dog’s discomfort.

Chronic treatment for recurrent cases includes weight management, increased dietary fiber intake and possible surgical removal of the anal sacs or any tumors that are present.

Prognosis

With appropriate medical treatment, the prognosis for dogs with non-cancerous anal sac disorders is good. Most affected dogs respond well to non-surgical medical management of the condition. If the anal sacs must be removed, whether due to cancer or for some other reason, the prognosis becomes more guarded. The prognosis is also guarded if no treatment is undertaken.