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Anal Glands

 
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The anal glands or anal sacs are small, paired sacs located on either side of the anus between the external
Sphincter ani externus muscle

The Sphincter ani externus is a flat plane of muscular fibers, elliptical in shape and intimately adherent to the integument surrounding the margin of the anus....
 and internal sphincter muscles
Sphincter ani internus muscle

The Sphincter ani internus is a muscular ring which surrounds about 2.5 cm of the anal canal; its inferior border is in contact with, but quite separate from, the Sphincter ani externus....
. Sebaceous gland
Sebaceous gland

Sebaceous glands are small glands in the skin which secrete an oily matter in the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and hair of animals. In humans, they are found in greatest abundance on the face and scalp, though they are distributed throughout all skin sites except the palms and soles....
s within the lining secrete a foul smelling liquid that is used for identification of members within a species. These sacs are found in all carnivora
Carnivora

The diverse Order Carnivora includes over 260 species of eutheria mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal....
 except bear
Bear

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives....
s and sea otter
Sea Otter

The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 Kilogram , making them the heaviest members of the Mustelidae, but among the smallest marine mammals....
s.

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Dog

The dog is a domesticated subspecies of the Gray Wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties....
s, these glands are occasionally referred to as "scent glands", because they enable the animals to mark their territory and identify other dogs.






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The anal glands or anal sacs are small, paired sacs located on either side of the anus between the external
Sphincter ani externus muscle

The Sphincter ani externus is a flat plane of muscular fibers, elliptical in shape and intimately adherent to the integument surrounding the margin of the anus....
 and internal sphincter muscles
Sphincter ani internus muscle

The Sphincter ani internus is a muscular ring which surrounds about 2.5 cm of the anal canal; its inferior border is in contact with, but quite separate from, the Sphincter ani externus....
. Sebaceous gland
Sebaceous gland

Sebaceous glands are small glands in the skin which secrete an oily matter in the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and hair of animals. In humans, they are found in greatest abundance on the face and scalp, though they are distributed throughout all skin sites except the palms and soles....
s within the lining secrete a foul smelling liquid that is used for identification of members within a species. These sacs are found in all carnivora
Carnivora

The diverse Order Carnivora includes over 260 species of eutheria mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal....
 except bear
Bear

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives....
s and sea otter
Sea Otter

The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 Kilogram , making them the heaviest members of the Mustelidae, but among the smallest marine mammals....
s.

Dogs

In dog
Dog

The dog is a domesticated subspecies of the Gray Wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties....
s, these glands are occasionally referred to as "scent glands", because they enable the animals to mark their territory and identify other dogs. The glands can spontaneously empty, especially under times of stress, and create a very sudden unpleasant change in the odor of the dog. The anal glands normally empty when the dog defecates. Failure to empty results in discomfort from the full anal gland pushing on the anus. The glands can be emptied by the dog's keeper, or more typically by a groomer or veterinarian, by squeezing the gland so the contents are released through the small openings on either side of the anus. Discomfort is evidenced by the dog scooting its posterior on the ground, licking or biting at the anus, sitting uncomfortably, difficulty sitting or standing, or chasing its tail.

Anal Gland Abscess
Discomfort may also be evident with impaction or infection of the anal glands. Anal gland impaction results from blockage of the duct leading from the gland to the opening. The gland is usually nonpainful and swollen. Anal gland infection results in pain, swelling, and sometimes abscess
Abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infection process or other foreign materials ....
ation and fever. Treatment is by expression of the gland, lancing of an abscess, and oral antibiotic
Antibiotic

In common usage, an antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics belong to the group of antimicrobial compounds used to treat infections caused by microorganisms, including fungus and protozoa....
s and antibiotic infusion into the gland in the case of infection. The most common bacteria
Bacteria

The Bacteria are a large group of unicellular microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals....
l isolates from anal gland infection are E. coli
Escherichia coli

'Escherichia coli' , is a Gram negative bacterium that is commonly found in the lower gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. Most E....
, Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococcus faecalis ? formerly classified as part of the Group D Streptococcus system ? is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium inhabiting the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other mammals....
, Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium, Endospore bacterium of the genus Clostridium. C. perfringens is ubiquitous in nature and can be found as a normal component of decaying vegetation, marine sediment, the Intestine of humans and other vertebrates, insects, and soil....
, and Proteus
Proteus (bacterium)

Proteus is a genus of Gram-negative Proteobacteria....
 species.

Anal glands may be removed surgically in a procedure known as anal sacculectomy. This is usually done in the case of recurrent infection or because of the presence of an anal sac adenocarcinoma
Anal sac adenocarcinoma

An anal sac adenocarcinoma is an uncommon and aggressive malignant tumor found in dogs that arises from the tissue of anal glands. At least one case has been reported in a cat....
, a malignant tumor. Potential complications include fecal incontinence (especially when both glands are removed), tenesmus
Tenesmus

Tenesmus is a feeling of incomplete defecation. It is experienced as an inability or difficulty to empty the bowel at defecation. It is frequently painful and may be accompanied by involuntary straining and other gastrointestinal symptoms....
 from stricture or scar formation, and persistent draining fistula
Fistula

In medicine, a fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect....
e.

Anal gland fluid is normally yellow to tan in color and watery in consistency. Impacted anal gland material is usually brown or gray and thick. The presence of blood or pus indicates infection.

Opossums

Opossums
Didelphimorphia

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. They are commonly also called possums, though that term is also applied to Australian fauna of the suborder Phalangeriformes....
 use their anal glands when they "play possum". As the opossum mimics death, the glands secrete a foul-smelling liquid, suggesting the opossum is rotting. Note that opossums are not members of the carnivora, and that their anal sacs differ from those of dogs and their relatives.

Skunks

Skunk
Skunk

Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to excrete a strong, foul-smelling #Anal scent glands. General appearance ranges from species to species from black and white to brown or cream colored....
s use their anal glands to spray a foul-smelling and sticky fluid as a defense against predators.

Weasels

Research by the Institute for Pheromone Research and the Department of Chemistry, Indiana University suggests that weasels may well use their anal glands in gender recognition. Zhang JX et al. Possible coding for recognition of sexes, individuals and species in anal gland volatiles of Mustela eversmanni and M. sibirica.

See also

  • Anal sac adenocarcinoma
    Anal sac adenocarcinoma

    An anal sac adenocarcinoma is an uncommon and aggressive malignant tumor found in dogs that arises from the tissue of anal glands. At least one case has been reported in a cat....


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