Key Takeaways
- A balanced diet with real ingredients and steady fiber is your dog’s first line of defense against anal gland drama.
- Signs like scooting, licking, or funky bathroom habits are your cue to look closer at their digestion and diet.
- The Pets Table recipes are built to keep guts happy, stools solid, and butts out of the spotlight, exactly how nature intended.
Let’s talk about the topic no one wants to bring up at the dog park: the dreaded butt scoot. If your dog’s been dragging their behind on the carpet, it’s not just for laughs. Their anal glands might be crying for help. And believe it or not, what’s in their bowl could be part of the problem.
At The Pets Table, we get it. No one wants to talk about anal glands during dinner, but understanding the link between diet and those tiny, troublemaking sacs can save your pup (and your nose) a lot of discomfort.
From fiber and fat to protein quality and hydration, the food you choose can make all the difference between a happy tail and a vet visit you’d rather avoid.
What Are Anal Glands?
Anal glands (also called anal sacs) are two tiny scent glands tucked just inside your dog’s rear end. Every time your dog poops, those glands release a small amount of fluid that helps mark their territory. It’s how dogs tell each other, “Hey, this poop’s mine.”
When everything’s working properly, you’ll never notice them. But when they get clogged or inflamed, you definitely will. That’s when you start seeing the infamous butt scoot across your favorite rug, or your dog licking their backside like they’re trying to fix the problem themselves.
Anal glands can become impacted for a few reasons, such as genetics, allergies, or even their diet. Smaller breeds are notorious for it, but large dogs aren’t immune either. If the glands don’t empty naturally during a bowel movement, they can swell, get infected, and become seriously uncomfortable.
Can Food Cause Anal Gland Problems?
What goes in the bowl has a direct line to what comes out, and that affects how well your dog’s anal glands do their job. When your pup’s diet is missing the right balance of nutrients, their poop can turn too soft to naturally empty those glands.
Soft or inconsistent stools don’t create enough pressure to express the glands, which means that fluid just sits there. Over time, it thickens, builds up, and turns your dog’s butt into a ticking time bomb of discomfort. That’s when you start seeing scooting, licking, or those awkward mid-walk “squat and scoot” combos no one’s prepared for.
Low-quality or filler-heavy foods can also play a role. Ingredients like corn, soy, or unnamed meat meals can be tough to digest and cause inflammation throughout the digestive tract, including those tiny glands. And if your dog has food sensitivities or allergies, that inflammation can go from mild irritation to full-on blockage fast.
Even fat content matters. Diets too high in fat can upset the digestive rhythm, leading to loose stool and poor gland expression, while too little fat can make digestion sluggish. It’s all about balance, and that balance starts with what’s in the bowl.
What To Look for in Dog Food To Keep Anal Gland Issues Away
Good food leads to good business, especially for your dog. What goes into their bowl directly affects what comes out, so here’s what to look for.
Whole Ingredients
Start with real ingredients that sound like food. Dogs process real chicken, beef, and veggies way better than filler-packed kibble that’s basically edible sawdust.
Fiber
Fiber is like the unsung hero of anal gland health. Too little, and nothing works right. Too much, and you’ll be out there with a roll of poop bags questioning your life choices. Ingredients like pumpkin, oats, and sweet potatoes help your dog’s poop hit that perfect middle ground: firm, consistent, and efficient.
Gut-Healthy Additions
And of course, gut health deserves a standing ovation. A healthy gut keeps inflammation down, digestion steady, and stools reliable.
That’s why we build every recipe at The Pets Table with postbiotics, balanced fiber, and whole ingredients your dog’s body actually recognizes. Whether you choose our Air-Dried Plan for crunch-loving pups or our Fresh recipes for the fancy ones, every bite helps keep things smooth, steady, and scoot-free.
When To Take Your Dog to the Vet
A little scooting every now and then isn’t unusual, but constant dragging, licking, or signs of pain mean those anal glands might be more than just “annoyed.” Keep an eye out for red flags like swelling around the rear end, blood or pus near the anus, or your dog yelping when they sit or poop.
Those are signs things have moved past diet-level fixes and into “please let a vet handle this” territory. Infections or impacted glands can get painful fast, and the last thing you want is your dog sitting funny for a week because their butt feels like it’s on fire.
If the issue keeps coming back, your vet can help figure out what’s causing it, whether it’s allergies, anatomy, or a diet that’s missing something crucial. They might express the glands manually, prescribe medication, or suggest switching to a more balanced food like The Pets Table, where digestion support is built right in.
Other Ways To Support Healthy Digestion (and Keep Those Glands Happy)
Beyond feeding the right food, there are a few easy ways to keep everything running smoothly.
Hydration
First up: hydration. Water keeps things moving through your dog’s system and helps form stool that’s firm but not, you know, brick-level firm.
If your pup isn’t a big drinker, mix a splash of warm water or low-sodium broth into their meals. The Pets Table Fresh recipes already have higher moisture content, which is a bonus for keeping digestion flowing.
Activity
Next, activity matters. Regular walks and play sessions do more than tire out your dog. They literally help stimulate digestion. Think of movement as nature’s laxative. A quick backyard zoomie or a solid game of fetch can make a world of difference for gut health.
Routine
And don’t sleep on routine. Feeding your dog at consistent times helps regulate their digestive rhythm so their body knows when to, well, “go.” Combine that with clean, balanced meals, and you’ve basically built them the Rolls-Royce of digestive systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dog’s food is actually good?
Start with the ingredient list. It should read like a grocery list, not a science experiment. Real meat should come first, followed by veggies and whole grains you actually recognize.
If it sounds like a chemistry quiz or lists “by-product” anything, that’s your cue to bail. The Pets Table recipes are made with real, whole ingredients you can pronounce, so you know exactly what your dog’s eating (and what’s keeping their butt drama-free).
My dog’s poop looks fine. Could they still have anal gland issues?
Possibly! Poop is a big clue, but it’s not the whole story. Even with normal-looking stool, your dog might scoot, lick, or act uncomfortable if their glands aren’t emptying all the way. Regular vet checks, balanced meals, and good hydration help keep things working behind the scenes. If your dog’s butt suddenly becomes the main character, that’s your sign to investigate.
How often should I switch or update my dog’s food?
If your dog’s thriving (think good poop, shiny coat, no weird smells), you’re golden. But as they age or their activity level changes, it’s smart to reevaluate. Puppies, adults, and seniors all need slightly different fuel. The Pets Table makes it easy to update their plan as they grow, so their meals always match their metabolism (and their moods).
The Final Scoop
At the end of the day, anal gland issues aren’t random. They’re your pup’s way of saying their diet and digestion might need a little extra love. When their food actually supports gut health, everything else tends to fall into place.
That’s where The Pets Table comes in. Our recipes are developed with vets and crafted with clean ingredients, balanced fiber, and gut-friendly postbiotics to keep digestion running like clockwork. Whether you go for our Air-Dried Plan for crunch lovers or our Fresh recipes for the picky eaters, every bowl helps your dog feel their best from the inside out.
So if your pup’s been scooting, licking, or side-eyeing their own rear end lately, it might be time for a bowl glow-up. Take our quick quiz to personalize their plan and help your dog’s digestion stay right where it belongs.
Sources:
Anal Glands in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know | American Kennel Club
Blocked anal glands in dogs | PDSA
Can Food Cause Anal Gland Issues in Dogs? | Whole Dog Journal