▷ Do French Bulldogs Need Glands Expressed?

French bulldogs are adored by their owners for their friendly personalities and big smooshy faces. Like other breeds, they need to get regular exercise and a healthy diet to stay healthy. An important aspect of their care is making sure their anal glands are expressed when needed.

Do French Bulldogs Need Glands Expressed?

Most French Bulldogs need their anal glands expressed to make sure their anal sacs don’t become impacted or infected. Anal glands are two small, pea-sized sacs filled with a malodorous secretion. Their purpose is to produce a foul-smelling liquid to mark territory — a bit like the colored tags sprayed by skunks. Anal gland expression helps to prevent inflammation of the glands, and can provide relief from the discomfort caused by an impacted gland.

Why Express Anal Glands?

Expressing anal glands can help to avoid infection or blockage of the glands, which can be painful and uncomfortable for your French Bulldog. Too much short-haired or shedding fur around the anus can also block the glands, which can also lead to issues such as scooting, itching or bite sores.

How Are Anal Glands Expressed?

Anal glands should be expressed by a trained veterinarian or an experienced pet groomer. It’s a quick process that involves gently pressing on the gland from outside the skin (just above the anus) to release some of the fluid.

At Home Care

A few things can be done at home to help keep your Frenchie’s anal glands healthy:

Ensure your dog is eating a high-quality diet – this can also help minimize the amount of time their glands need to be expressed.
Make sure their anal area is kept clean – if your dog goes outdoors, then regular baths with a gentle shampoo can help keep the area free of dirt and smegma, which can cause blockage or irritation of the glands.
Look out for signs of infection – if your Frenchie’s anal area is red or sore, then you should have them checked out by your veterinarian to make sure there’s no infection present.

French Bulldogs need their anal glands expressed to help prevent infection and blockage of the glands, which can be painful and uncomfortable for your French Bulldog. This process should be done by a trained veterinarian or an experienced pet groomer, and a few things can be done at home to help keep your Frenchie’s anal glands healthy such as ensuring they are eating a high-quality diet, keeping their anal area clean, and keeping an eye out for signs of infection.

Regular anal gland expression also helps keep your dog comfortable, as an impacted and/or infected gland can be very uncomfortable. Taking these steps will help you keep your Frenchie healthy and prevent long-term problems that can arise with untreated anal gland issues.

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