I have never seen him scoot his butt on the carpet like some dogs do when they're having trouble draining
the anal sac.
Identifying and treating
anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs.
They are referred to as perianal gland tumors, dog
anal sac tumors, anal polyps or as an adenoma (another name for benign tumor).
Anal sac gland adenoma — This is a non-malignant lesion, but found very rarely in dogs.
Anal sac palpation or expression is diagnostic.
Treatment of Perianal and
Anal Sac Tumors J. Kirpensteijn Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Chemotherapy combined with surgery has been used in a few cases, but their efficacy in the treatment of apocrine gland
anal sac adenocarcinoma has not been established yet.
Other than the occasional
anal sac expression most dog owners never need to worry much about that area BUT things may be different for the German shepherd dog owner.
The lesions develop from the apocrine glands of
the anal sac.
When possible, the minimal workup should consist of directed history taking, physical examination,
anal sac palpation / expression, radiographs and urinalysis.
Median survival for dogs with
anal sac adenocarcinomas was 544 days and dogs with tumors < 10 cm having a significant better prognosis.
Other, but rarer, causes of metastatic calcification include kidney disease (this is the most common cause in cats), malignant tumors producing abnormal hormones that increase blood calcium concentrations (e.g. tumors of the lymphoid system and glands of
the anal sac), diabetes mellitus and lung disease.
Canine
anal sac or gland tumors tend to grow slowly and are diagnosed after they result in clinical symptoms that are similar to an impacted anal gland.
Apocrine gland
anal sac adenocarcinoma is very proliferative, therefore aggressive extirpation is recommended.
Apocrine Gland Adenocarcinoma of
the Anal Sac: Catch it early to improve prognosis — Km L. Cronin, DVM, Dipl.ACVIM
See also: Allergies and Your Pet,
Anal Sac Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, Dental Health, Ear Infections, Exercising Your Pet, Fleas, Geriatric Wellness, Heartworm Disease (Cats), Heartworm Disease (Dogs), Internal Parasites, Neutering Your Pet, Nutrition for Cats, Nutrition for Dogs, Obesity, Spaying Your Pet, Ticks, Vaccinations, Wellness for Your Pet
A couple weeks ago, around midnight, my dog's
anal sac spontaneously ruptured.
Small, obese dogs are at the highest risk of
anal sac disease.
«Obesity in Dogs,» «
Anal Sac Disease in Dogs.»
Most groomers offer
anal sac expressing for less than $ 10.
Overweight dogs tend to have chronic
anal sac problems because their anal sacs do not empty well.
In some cases, the dog had an episode of diarrhea or digestive upset a week or two before the clinical signs of
anal sac disease became evident.
Anal sac disease is very painful.
If
the anal sac ruptures, you may see blood or pus draining from the rectum.
The most likely cancers to cause this effect are lymphomas, which often are an intestinal cancer, and
anal sac adenocarcinomas.
You can read about
anal sac problems here.
Some dogs even appear to lack control of the anus or
anal sac ducts so that small quantities of fluid will drain out when they are resting, leaving an unpleasant lingering odor in the home.
The canine anal area has two kinds of glands which are prone to tumor formation, the perianal glands (also called the circumanal or hepatoid glands) and the apocrine
anal sac glands.
These include nail trims,
anal sac expression, collecting bloodwork (individual testing fees apply), and some vaccination boosters.
Dogs, however, employ several different «languages» Body language — comprising a broad repertoire of facial expressions and body postures such as, play bows, butt - swings, submissive grins, pilo - erection, ear dips and tail wags Vocal communication — via a wide variety of barks plus all sorts of whimpers, whines, howls and growls Olfactory communication — by investigating muzzles, ear glands, tail glands, vaginal and
anal sac secretions and particularly, from sniffing urine and fecal deposits of other dogs.
Tumors form in
the anal sac walls.
Anal sac adenocarcinoma is treated with surgical removal, followed in some cases by tradition therapy and chemotherapy.
These problems are referred to as dog
anal sac disease,
anal sac impaction and Sacculitis, which is another name for a canine
anal sac infection.
Biologic Activity of Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia ™) in Canine Apocrine Gland
Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma (AGASACA).
These dogs are not able to completely empty
their anal sac.
Dogs have
an anal sac (gland) on either side of their anus.
Any time your dog shows elevated calcium levels, he should also be checked for
anal sac adenocarcinoma.
Anal sac adenocarcinoma is an uncommon condition affecting older dogs that can cause tumors to grow on the anal sacs.
The test will find out if it they are in
the anal sac, or in the feces.
Anal sac adenocarcinoma has been diagnosed in both male and female dogs.
Atopy (inhalant allergies) are the most common cause but ear infections have been associated with food allergies, flea allergies and even allergies to the dog's own
anal sac secretions, in some cases.
Regurgitation / vomiting of swallowed blood from other gastrointestinal diseases related to the urogenital tract or
anal sac disease
Accordingly, partnering with a board - certified veterinary dermatologist may be uniquely helpful to identify an underlying issue that predisposes a patient to
anal sac impaction.
Underlying causes may be fleas or other insect bites, allergies, ear infections, burs or mats in hair, dirty coats,
anal sac problems, or irritant substances.
If your dog becomes unexpectedly excited or stressed,
his anal sac may release spontaneously and uncontrollably, emitting a foul smell that is distinguishable from flatulence by its fishy overtone.
Additionally, it's not uncommon for dogs to secrete
anal sac fluid when scared or startled.
Those patients with persistent
anal sac impaction often benefit from surgical removal of them.
Anal sac secretions serve as canine calling cards.
For dogs with chronic issues,
anal sac removal is a viable option.
Dogs with health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity,
anal sac disorders, pancreatitis, kidney disease and other problems, may have different nutritional requirements than average adult dogs.