---
title: "Dog Anal Glands & Scooting: A Groomer's Honest Guide"
description: A York groomer explains dog anal glands and why dogs scoot. At Fluffs we don't express anal glands at all, we leave that to your vet. Here's why.
---
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Dog Health
# Dog Anal Glands Explained: Scooting, Signs and When to Worry
A York groomer explains dog anal glands and why dogs scoot. At Fluffs we don't express anal glands at all, we leave that to your vet. Here's why.
[Lucy](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/author/lucy)
Oct 13, 2026
---
If your dog has been dragging their bottom along the carpet, licking under their tail, or bringing a faint fishy smell into the room, you've probably landed here wondering about anal glands. The short, honest version is this: anal glands are completely normal, most dogs empty them by themselves every time they poo, and they should only be expressed by hand when there's an actual problem. Routinely squeezing healthy glands isn't good for your dog, and I'll explain why below.
I'm a groomer, not a vet, so my job here is to help you understand what's going on and know when to pick up the phone to your vet rather than to a salon.
## What are anal glands?
Anal glands (also called anal sacs) are two small sacs just inside your dog's bottom, at roughly four and eight o'clock. They hold a strong-smelling fluid that's part of how dogs scent-mark, and in a healthy dog they empty naturally when a firm stool passes. When they empty properly on their own, you never really need to think about them at all.
Problems start when they don't empty as they should, and the fluid builds up, thickens, or the sacs become blocked or infected. That's when you see the signs owners usually come to me worried about.
## Signs of an anal gland problem
The classic signs, according to the [PDSA](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/blocked-anal-glands-in-dogs), include:
- **Scooting:** dragging their bottom along the floor or grass
- **Licking or biting** around the tail base and bottom
- A **fishy or foul smell** that seems to follow your dog around
- **Straining, discomfort or pain** when pooing
- Swelling, redness or a sore-looking area near the anus
A word on scooting specifically: it's a symptom, not a diagnosis. Dogs scoot for anal gland trouble, yes, but also for [other reasons](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/symptoms/scooting-in-dogs) like worms, itchy skin, allergies or something stuck in the fur. That's exactly why guessing (or routinely emptying glands) isn't the answer.
## What causes anal gland trouble?
Several things make blockages more likely:
- **Soft or loose stools**, which don't press firmly enough on the glands to empty them
- **Being overweight**, which changes the muscle tone around the area
- Naturally **narrow gland openings** in some dogs
- **Skin allergies** and chronic soft poo, which raise the risk
You'll notice diet and weight run through most of that list, which is why a good-quality diet, the right amount of fibre and a healthy weight often do more for anal glands than any hands-on treatment.
> **Vet note:** Please don't try to express your dog's glands yourself from a YouTube video. Done wrong, it's painful and can bruise or damage the delicate tissue. If your dog needs it, your vet can do it safely, or show you how properly for your individual dog.
## The responsible truth: don't empty healthy glands
This is the part I feel strongly about. There's a common belief that anal glands should be emptied at every groom, just in case. They shouldn't. Healthy glands that are emptying on their own are best left completely alone.
Regularly expressing glands that don't need it can actually cause harm: it can irritate and inflame the area, and there's a real concern that it can interfere with the normal muscle tone and make a dog more dependent on manual emptying over time. In other words, "just in case" can create the very problem you were trying to prevent. Glands should be expressed only when there's a genuine issue, and ideally after a vet has confirmed that's what's going on.
## Where I stand: I don't do this, your vet does
I want to be completely clear about this, because it varies from salon to salon. **At Fluffs, I do not express anal glands at all, internal or external.** It isn't a grooming job, and it shouldn't be done routinely or without a proper examination first.
Expressing anal glands is a job for your **vet**. They can examine your dog, rule out the other causes of scooting, and express the glands safely and only if they genuinely need it. Anything involving a blockage, infection or abscess is firmly veterinary territory too.
What I **will** always do is keep an eye out while your dog is in with me for a [full groom](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-prices-and-packages-in-york). If I notice scooting, a fishy smell, swelling or a sore-looking bottom during a groom, I'll tell you straight away and point you to your vet. That's the responsible line, and it's one I won't cross.
## Frequently asked questions
**Why is my dog scooting across the floor?** Scooting usually means something is irritating their bottom: often anal glands, but also worms, [itchy skin](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy) or trapped debris in the fur. Because the causes overlap, the safest move is a vet check rather than assuming it's the glands.
**Do dog anal glands need emptying regularly?** No. Most dogs empty them naturally when they poo, and healthy glands should be left alone. Emptying them routinely "just in case" can irritate the area and may make problems more likely, so it's only done when there's a genuine issue.
**What does an anal gland problem smell like?** People often describe it as a strong, fishy or metallic smell that lingers on your dog, their bedding or wherever they've been sitting. A persistent smell like that, especially with scooting or licking, is worth getting checked.
**Can my groomer sort out my dog's anal glands?** At Fluffs, no. I don't express anal glands at all and I'll always send you to your vet. Gland expression should be done by a vet who can examine your dog first, because scooting has several possible causes and healthy glands are best left alone.
## This isn't veterinary advice
We're professional dog groomers, not vets, so please treat this as friendly general guidance. If you're worried about your dog, or before acting on anything here, speak to your local vet, who can examine your dog and advise properly. In an emergency, contact your vet or nearest out-of-hours clinic.
---
*Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. We don't express anal glands (that's a job for your vet), but if we spot the signs while your dog is in with us, we'll always tell you and point you in the right direction. [Get in touch to book.](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/contact-fluffs)*
[Dog Health](https://www.fluffsyork.co.uk/dog-grooming-tips-and-tricks/tag/dog-health)
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