04/26/2025
Always a big debate amongst groomers. Squeeze or not to squeeze…I’ve always recommended this task be completed by our vets
🤏 If your groomer is routinely expressing your dog’s a**l glands, it could be doing more harm than good.
In healthy dogs, these glands should empty naturally during bowel movements💩—not by force. Repeated squeezing can traumatize the delicate ducts, which can lead to chronic inflammation, scar tissue that can affect the gland’s proper function, and long-term damage.
Even worse, every manual expression carries the risk of introducing bacteria🦠 and triggering infection. Unless there’s a medical reason, it’s best to leave healthy glands alone.
But here’s the thing: when those glands don’t empty naturally - and you start noticing that fishy odor🤢 - it’s usually a sign there’s a deeper issue.
Without enough pressure during a bowel movement, those glands don’t empty like they’re supposed to — and that leads to inflammation, impactions, and in some cases, full-on infections.
What’s causing those mushy poops in the first place? Often, it’s a mix of:
🥦 Low-fiber diets
🍗 Food sensitivities (like chicken, beef, or dairy)
🦠 Gut microbiome imbalance
🤏 Routine expression at the groomer
If your dog is struggling with soft stool:�Add a small dose of slippery elm or psyllium husk to your dog’s meals — it can help bulk up stool and encourage the glands to empty on their own.
🥣 Start with ¼ tsp for small dogs and increase up to 1 tsp for large breeds, based on size. Always introduce slowly, and always ensure plenty of hydration!💧
This Sunday at 12pm EST, we’re unpacking everything you need to know about a**l gland health — and how to fix it. We’ll cover home remedies, anti-inflammatory supplements, and Dr. Becker’s protocols for infection, impaction and more! PLUS all of the information from this episode, with dosages and recipes, will be available in a downloadable PDF on the Inside Scoop group page!
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