What Is Gland Expression in Dog Grooming? Signs and Who Should Do It

Welfare note: This guide covers gland expression as part of routine grooming care. It does not replace veterinary advice. If your dog shows signs of pain, swelling, coloured discharge, or bleeding near the anal area, contact your vet directly rather than booking a grooming appointment.

Gland expression in dog grooming refers to the manual emptying of the anal sacs, two small glands located at approximately the four and eight o'clock positions around a dog's anus. Dogs naturally express these glands during bowel movements, but some dogs cannot do so independently and require manual assistance from a professional groomer or vet to prevent discomfort, impaction, or infection.

What Are the Anal Glands and What Do They Do?

Understanding gland expression in dog grooming starts with understanding the glands themselves. The anal sacs are two small secretory glands located just inside the anus at the four and eight o'clock positions. Each produces a small amount of oily, strong-smelling fluid that is unique to each dog. This fluid functions as a scent marker for communication and territorial identification between dogs and is the reason dogs instinctively sniff each other's rear area when meeting.

How Healthy Glands Work Naturally

In most healthy dogs, the anal glands express automatically during bowel movements. The pressure of passing a firm stool squeezes the glands and releases a small amount of fluid without any intervention. Dogs with consistently firm stools and correctly positioned glands empty their glands naturally throughout their lives and never need gland expression in dog grooming as a separate service. For these dogs, the glands function correctly on their own and routine manual expression is unnecessary.

Why Some Dogs Cannot Express Naturally

Some dogs cannot empty their anal glands without manual assistance. Contributing factors include soft or inconsistent stool that does not create enough pressure during defecation, naturally positioned glands that do not compress during bowel movements, obesity that reduces the pressure differential around the anus, and breed-specific anatomy. Small and toy breeds are disproportionately represented among dogs that need regular gland expression in dog grooming settings, though any breed and any size of dog can be affected. If your dog regularly shows signs of gland discomfort, a professional groomer or vet is the correct first contact.

Signs Your Dog May Need Gland Expression

Recognising the signs of anal gland fullness is important for acting early and preventing discomfort from progressing to impaction or infection. The table below distinguishes between signs of routine fullness, which a professional groomer can address, and signs of infection or abscess, which require immediate veterinary attention only.

The first four signs in this table indicate gland fullness that a professional grooming salon can address as part of a routine gland expression in dog grooming appointment. The last three signs, redness, coloured discharge, and pain responses, indicate infection or abscess that a groomer cannot and should not treat. Any of the last three signs requires a direct vet appointment, not a grooming booking. A trained groomer who notices these signs during a session will stop immediately and refer the owner to a vet.

For a full overview of the correct order of grooming tasks and where gland expression fits in a professional session, see Dog Grooming Steps: The Complete Home Grooming Sequence.

What Happens During Gland Expression in Dog Grooming

Many owners want to understand exactly what gland expression in dog grooming involves before consenting to the service. Knowing the process removes anxiety and helps set accurate expectations for how the dog may react. The procedure itself is quick, takes one to two minutes in experienced hands, and is performed at the start of the bath so the expressed fluid is rinsed away immediately.

External Expression: What Professional Groomers Perform

In a professional dog grooming salon, gland expression is always external. The groomer positions the thumb and forefinger at the four and eight o'clock positions around the anal area, applies gentle inward and upward pressure, and fluid is expressed through the anal openings. The procedure takes one to two minutes and is performed just before the bath so the expressed fluid is rinsed away immediately. Most dogs tolerate it with minimal distress when glands are not infected or severely full. The key reason to have this done at a professional grooming salon rather than at home is that trained groomers have the correct technique and the experience to recognise when something requires a vet referral.

Internal Expression: Veterinary Scope Only

The internal method performed by vets or veterinary nurses involves inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to directly palpate and empty each gland. This method empties the glands more completely than external expression and allows the practitioner to assess the fluid's colour and consistency, which provides diagnostic information about gland health that external expression cannot deliver. A vet performing internal expression can identify early signs of infection, impaction, or abscess formation. Groomers do not perform internal expression; this method is within veterinary scope only. Owners who have read online guides for home expression using the internal method should be aware that incorrect technique carries a real risk of injury to the dog. The safest approach for any owner is to book a professional grooming appointment for routine gland expression and to visit a vet when any of the warning signs in the table above are present. For professional handling and positioning techniques used for anxious or uncomfortable dogs during grooming procedures, see Dog Grooming Restraint Techniques: Safe Handling by Size and Situation.

Groomer vs Vet: Who Should Perform Gland Expression?

The most common question owners have after learning about gland expression in dog grooming is which professional to contact. The right provider depends entirely on the dog's current signs. The table below maps each situation to the correct action so owners can make the right call without guesswork.

The groomer's role in gland expression in dog grooming is clearly defined: routine external expression for dogs showing signs of fullness with no infection, as part of a professional grooming appointment. The vet's role begins as soon as any sign of infection, pain, abnormal fluid, or recurring impaction appears. A professional groomer who follows best practice will proactively refer owners to a vet whenever any warning signs are present, rather than proceeding with expression and risking harm to the dog.

For a practical guide to what to include in a regular grooming routine and how often to book professional appointments for breeds prone to gland issues, see Dog Grooming Tips and Routine: The Complete Coat-by-Coat Guide.

How Often Does a Dog Need Gland Expression?

How often a dog needs gland expression in dog grooming depends on how quickly the individual dog's glands refill after each session. Evidence-based guidance exists for both the minimum and maximum that prevents under-expression and over-expression.

Dogs whose glands express naturally with every bowel movement need no manual intervention at all, and routine expression on these dogs can cause chronic irritation and reduce natural gland function. For dogs that do require regular attention, the correct frequency is determined by how quickly the glands refill between sessions, typically observed over the two to four weeks after the first professional expression. Dogs with recurring fullness every four to six weeks have expression incorporated into their regular professional grooming appointment at that interval. Dogs with faster refilling may need a standalone gland expression appointment at a grooming salon every two to four weeks. If a dog requires expression more frequently than every two weeks, this is a signal that an underlying issue (soft stool, diet, weight, anatomy) needs veterinary investigation rather than increasingly frequent grooming visits. For typical professional grooming session lengths and how gland expression fits within them, see How Long Does Dog Grooming Take? Breed Times and What Speeds It Up.

Breeds More Commonly Affected

While any dog can develop anal gland issues, several breeds popular in the UK are statistically more likely to need regular gland expression in dog grooming settings. Understanding whether your breed is in this group helps owners build a proactive professional grooming routine before problems develop.

Small and toy breeds are disproportionately affected, including Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Toy and Miniature Poodles, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. French Bulldogs and Pugs frequently have gland issues linked to their anatomy and softer stools. Overweight dogs of any breed are also more likely to need regular expression. Cocker Spaniels and Springer Spaniels have a higher incidence of anal sac disease than most medium-sized breeds. For any of these breeds, asking your groomer to include gland expression at every appointment is a practical preventative step. A regular groomer will notice if glands refill faster than expected and advise a vet follow-up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gland Expression in Dog Grooming

Common questions from owners encountering gland expression in dog grooming for the first time.

Is gland expression painful for dogs?

Routine gland expression in dog grooming should not be painful when performed correctly by a trained professional and when the glands are not infected or severely impacted. Mild discomfort is normal and brief. A dog that reacts with significant pain or distress is showing signs that the glands may be infected or abscessed; this requires a vet appointment rather than continued expression.

Should gland expression happen at every grooming appointment?

Only if the dog consistently shows signs of fullness between appointments. Routine gland expression in dog grooming on a dog whose glands are functioning normally can cause chronic irritation and reduce natural gland function. The trigger for expression should be signs of fullness, not a fixed schedule. Your groomer will assess the glands at each appointment and recommend expression only when it is indicated.

What does anal gland fluid smell like?

Healthy anal gland fluid has a very strong, fishy, or metallic odour. A sudden fishy smell from your dog when they sit or scoot is a reliable early sign of gland fullness. Abnormally foul or putrid odour combined with visible discharge indicates infection and requires a vet visit rather than a grooming appointment.

Can I express my dog's glands at home?

Home expression is not recommended for most owners. Incorrect technique causes pain, inflammation, and risk of injury. Professional groomers train extensively in the correct positioning and pressure for external expression; they are also trained to recognise when something does not look normal and to refer owners to a vet. Booking a professional grooming appointment is the safest and most effective approach for the large majority of owners.

What happens if glands are never expressed when needed?

If a dog's glands fill and are not emptied, the fluid thickens and solidifies into an impaction. An impaction is painful and, if untreated, can progress to a bacterial infection and then to an abscess that may rupture through the skin. Abscess rupture requires veterinary treatment including antibiotics and sometimes surgical drainage. Keeping up with regular gland expression in dog grooming appointments for dogs that need it prevents this entire progression. For professional grooming tools used in full-service dog grooming salons, see EliteTrim's dog grooming tools and accessories.

Conclusion

Gland expression in dog grooming is a routine procedure for dogs whose glands do not empty naturally. The signs table tells owners when to book a professional grooming appointment and when to go directly to a vet. A trained groomer is the safest first step: correct technique, correct positioning, and the experience to refer to a vet when something does not look right.