Being a dog parent, I can understand how hard it is to see them in any distress. If you’ve noticed your dog leaking clear fluid from the anus, it’s natural to worry about its well-being. But what’s causing it?
Dogs can leak clear fluid from their anus due to several reasons. These include poor diet, injury to the anal sacs, loose stool, infection, or even obesity. Anal discharge may also happen due to full anal glands.
Read on as I discuss these causes behind anal discharge in detail, along with diagnosis and treatment. I’ve also provided some prevention tips you must take care of.
What is the Clear Fluid Leaking from Dog’s Anus?
That clear fluid or liquid leaking from your dog’s anus is called the anal gland fluid.
Both female and male dogs (cats and other animals) have two anal glands, or anal sacs, on both sides of their anus. About the size of a small grape, these pocket-like glands connect to a small tube that releases a very strong, foul-smelling liquid.
Note: Anal gland fluid often smells like rotten fish or musky.
This distinctive liquid not only helps your dog scent mark its territory and communicate with other canines by sniffing their posteriors, but, most importantly, its physiological function ensures the stool passes smoothly. Hence, you’ll find your fur baby leaking it in small amounts while pooping.
8 Common Causes of Clear Fluid Leakage from Your Dog’s Anus
Below are the key causes of clear fluid leakage from your pup’s anus:
1. Full Anal Glands
If you find your canine dragging its bottom across the floor or licking its anus, it’s a sign that your dog’s anal glands are full. And thus, the clear fluid has started to leak. Impacted or infected glands also share the blame here.
I highly recommend a quick visit to your veterinarian in this case!
2. Diarrhea
The next possible cause for clear fluid leakage in most dogs is diarrhea. Frequent release of loose stool pressurizes the anal glands, making them leak more liquid than usual.
3. Genetics/Breeds
Your dog’s genetics or breed also influences its vulnerability to anal gland issues, which results in clear fluid leakage. Normally, small breeds like Poodles, Chihuahuas, Beagles, and Basset Hounds are the worst affected. But large breeds aren’t fully protected, either.
4. Obesity
Is your dog obese or weighs 20% more than its ideal weight? If so, this extra body fat is likely pressurizing the anal glands to discharge more anal gland fluid.
5. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes, or imbalances, are another common cause of unusual clear liquid leakage from your dog’s anal glands. These may be associated with puberty (which happens between 7 months to 2 years), pregnancy, or any specific medical condition.
“My female Chihuahua started showing first signs of puberty when she was around one year old. I remember her leaking an unusual amount of anal gland fluid then.”
6. Parasites
It goes without saying that parasites like worms are potential threats to your dog’s digestive system. Leaving them untreated ignites many anal gland issues and results in fluid leakage. Regular deworming is, thus, necessary.
7. Food/Environmental Allergies
Certain food or environment-related allergies make your canine’s anal glands produce more fluid than its capacity, ultimately causing leakage. That’s why keeping your dog away from any allergen is recommended.
To do so, you can stick to a strict diet plan for your canine, maintain cleanliness indoors, avoid taking your dog out in pollen seasons, and switch to hypoallergenic treats and toys.
8. Injury or Trauma
If an injury around your dog’s anal area has inflated, impacted, or ruptured the sacs in any way, a clear fluid leakage becomes inevitable. Look for any forceful impact, bite, or fall, followed by a quick visit to the veterinarian.
Symptoms of Anal Fluid Leakage in Dogs
There are many ways to identify anal fluid leakage in dogs, for example:
- Dragging their rear end along the ground, called scooting
- Excessively licking around the anus or bottom of their tail
- Unusual redness around their anus
- Pain during defecating
- Foul odor from their hind end
- Changes in their stool
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Chasing or biting their tail
Some dogs may also:
- Appear withdrawn or less active
- Show no interest in eating or drinking
- Find sitting uncomfortable
Whatever the symptom(s) with your dog, get it thoroughly examined by a vet and seek immediate treatment.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Clear Fluid Leakage
Based on your dog’s age, breed, severity of the condition, underlying problem, and health history, the vet may refer to the following diagnosis and treatment options for clear fluid leakage:
1. Diagnosis
- Physical examination, including a digital rectum scan of your canine
- Manual expression to look for the presence of anal gland fluid
- Additional tests, ranging from Ultrasound, Fine-Needle Aspiration, and Biopsy to Bacteria Culture
2. Treatment Options
- Manual expression of the anal glands to remove the excess fluid buildup
- Treatment using antibiotics or steroids
- Anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce swelling around the glands
- Dietary changes to incorporate more fiber-rich foods, like Purina ONE Lamb and Rice Formula With EverRoot Calming Supplements and Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food.
- Surgery (in chronic or severe cases)
Tip: These 10 vet-approved homemade dog food recipes are worth feeding your beloved four-legged friend.
Always check with your veterinarian for a tailored diagnostic and treatment plan for your beloved pup.
Prevention Tips for Clear Fluid Leakage from Dog’s Anus
Take care of your dog’s anal glands and subsequent fluid leakage with these easy preventive tips:
- Regularly monitor your dog’s health
- Feed your canine a high-quality and high-fiber diet to promote smooth bowel movements
- Ensure proper hydration to prevent constipation, which can also cause anal gland issues
- Take your dog out for exercise to keep its weight under control
- Keep the anal area clean to avert fecal residue and matting
- Add essential supplements to your dog’s diet after consulting a vet
- Avoid over-manual expression of the anal sacs
Prevention is always better than cure, and the above tips will help you greatly with your dog’s anal discharge problem.
FAQ’s
What Are Some Common Causes of Anal Discharge in Dogs?
Some common causes of anal discharge in dogs include genetics, infections, trauma, fiber deficiency, obesity, parasites, and hormonal changes. If you’ve got a small dog breed, it’s more likely to get troubled with anal discharge than its large brethren.
Is Anal Discharge in Dogs Fatal?
No, anal discharge in dogs isn’t fatal in most cases. However, it can turn worse if not treated on time.
Can Diet Problems Cause Anal Discharge in Dogs?
Yes, diet problems can cause anal discharge in dogs. This is especially true if it lacks sufficient dietary fiber, which is vital in bulking the stool and putting pressure on the anal sacs to express naturally.
Is My Dog’s Anal Discharge Due to Cancer?
Whether your dog’s anal discharge is due to cancer or not can only be determined by proper examination. In most cases, it’s just impacted or infected anal sacs behind the problem.
Wrapping Up
Although anal discharge is a common problem in dogs, you must stay vigilant as soon as you notice them leaking clear yet foul-smelling fluid from the anus. While it’s mostly due to an underlying infection, don’t miss out on other possible causes.
For example, this could well be due to injury to the anal glands, obesity, diarrhea, etc.
Anal discharge may not be fatal for your canine. But its early diagnosis and timely treatment should always be your priority.
Do you have any other questions regarding your dog’s health? Feel free to ask them!
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.