Woofside Dog Grooming
At: 42 Keswick Gardens, Ruislip, HA4 7XN Tel: 07402 30 35 34 Email: lisa@woofside.co.uk
“Can you also express my dog’s anal glands?”
About Anal Glands
Anal glands, or anal sacs, are small glands located on either side of a dog's anus, just below the skin between the external and internal sphincter muscles. Unlike humans, dogs have these glands to produce a strong-smelling, oily liquid used for identification and marking territory. This explains why dogs sniff each other's bottoms when they meet (Kennel Club).
Anal Gland Blockage
Anal gland blockages are usually a one-off problem but can be ongoing in dogs with narrow gland openings, chronic diarrhoea, allergic skin disease, and also in dogs that are overweight (PDSA).
Symptoms
- Scooting (dragging bottom along the ground)
- Nibbling and licking the anus and/or lower back
- Pain when pooing or when their back end is touched
- Straining to poo
- Sitting down or looking around at their back end
No, sorry, a trained vet or nurse should
do it. Here's why...
Treatment
If you suspect your dog has blocked anal glands, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) advises that anal gland expression should only be performed by a vet or RVN due to the risks of incorrect technique, including pain, infection, and anal sac rupture, especially with external expression. Vets can perform internal expressions for complete emptying and to check for abnormalities like growths, whereas groomers generally only perform external expression, which is less effective and riskier.
The BDGA (The British Dog Groomers’ Association) also agree and advise that this should be dealt with by a trained vet.
Other Services
“Do you offer
Ear Plucking?”
Ear Plucking Introduction
Deciding how to manage hair in a dog's ear canal, particularly whether to pluck it out, is a subject of ongoing debate among vets and groomers. Traditionally, it was believed that removing all the hair from a dog's ear was necessary to keep it clean and to prevent ear infections. The logic was that ear hair could obstruct airflow, trap moisture and dirt, and thus encourage the growth of germs. Consequently, groomers would routinely pluck all visible ear hair as standard.
However, modern veterinary guidance has shifted. Experts now recognise that routinely plucking ear hair can sometimes cause issues, resulting in irritation and potentially even triggering the very infections it was intended to prevent. Today, vets advise a more individualised approach, only removing ear hair when there is a clear medical reason.
Clinical Impact of Complete Blockage
Excessive hair growth can lead to the formation of "hair plugs" or densely matted balls that trap wax, moisture, and inflammatory debris deep within the horizontal part of the canal. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to multiply rapidly. In extreme cases, the hair density may be so severe that the dog experiences visible hearing loss, which can be reversed once the obstruction is cleared.In these circumstances, simple cleaning is not sufficient, veterinary guidance is needed.
When It's a Medical Emergency
If the ear is totally blocked and the dog is in obvious discomfort (such as whining, head tilting, or scratching), this is no longer a basic grooming matter. Removing a solid block of hair from a painful ear is extremely uncomfortable for the dog. In these situations, a vet must handle the procedure, often using sedation to safely clear the canal and assess the health of the eardrum beneath the blockage.
Management Strategies
Trimming the Entrance
Trimming or thinning the hair around the entrance to the ear (the auditory meatus) is a good way to reduce the amount of plucking necessary. This approach improves airflow and reduces the amount of hair that can mat within the canal, while avoiding the micro-trauma caused by pulling hair from the follicles.
Selective Plucking to Restore Function
Plucking ear hair as a routine step is not recommended, but occasionally it’s needed. The goal isn’t to take out every last hair, but just enough to open up the canal and let air and treatment get through. The process can risk causing tiny, invisible tears in the delicate skin of the ear. These minor injuries, known as micro-traumas, provide entry points for bacteria and can lead to infection. Hence the requirement to only proceed if recommended by your vet
Yes, but only if recommended by your vet.
Groomer vs Vet
Professional groomers may remove minor hair and debris from non-infected ears as part of regular grooming. However, if the ear canal is so densely packed that the ear drum cannot be seen, or if there are any signs of infection, the dog should be referred to a vet for treatment.
Veterinary Intervention
For severe cases where the ear is painful, inflamed, or completely blocked, hair removal should be carried out under sedation or general anaesthesia by a veterinarian. This allows the vet to safely clear the obstruction and perform a deep ear flush to remove trapped material, reducing the risk of end-stage ear disease.
2021 Royal Veterinary College research reveals the dog breeds most affected by ear infection
Basset Hounds, Chinese Shar Peis and Labradoodles top the list when it comes to the dog breeds most prone to ear infections. Research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) aims to help owners better spot the signs and respond to the suffering from ear problems in dogs by revealing the true extent of the condition in the UK, as well as which breeds and ear-types are most prone to this painful disorder.
Ear infections (clinically known as ‘otitis externa’) are a common and often painful condition for dogs. These occur when the lining of a dog’s ear becomes inflamed and thickened in either one or both ears. The infection can be smelly, irritating and often very painful for a dog. If left untreated, the infection can spread deeper down the ear canal causing even more serious harm to the affected dog.