Published by Herb & Hound Co. | Natural Canine Health, NZ Made
Roxy is a six-year-old Labrador with a personality bigger than most rooms she walks into. She’s also the reason RearRelief exists.
When Roxy was three, we started noticing something was off. The constant licking at her rear. The an occasional fishy smell that had no obvious explanation. At first, it was easy to brush off — dogs do strange things. But when it kept happening, and then kept getting worse, we knew something needed attention.
What followed was a year of vet visits, dietary changes, and a lot of trial and error. We’d get on top of it, and then it would come back. We changed her food. It helped a little, but not enough. We kept researching, kept asking questions, and eventually started looking at what herbal medicine had been doing for this kind of problem long before anyone thought to put it in a clinic.
Three months after we started Roxy on the tincture we’d developed, the vet visits for her anal glands stopped. The licking settled. She’s six now, and while we stay on top of it, it’s no longer the constant battle it once was.
RearRelief was made for Roxy. But it’s for every dog owner who’s been quietly Googling “why does my dog keep licking their bum” at 11 pm and not finding a satisfying answer.
So — What Are Anal Glands, Exactly?
If you’ve never had to think about anal glands before, consider yourself briefly lucky. They’re two small sacs located on either side of your dog’s anus, at roughly the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions. Each sac contains a pungent, oily fluid that is — in the grand tradition of nature’s more unpleasant designs — actually quite important.
In the wild, anal gland secretions serve as a form of chemical communication. When a dog defecates, the pressure of passing a firm stool naturally expresses the glands, leaving behind a unique scent signature. It’s how dogs identify each other, mark territory, and communicate. That’s also why dogs are so interested in sniffing each other’s rear ends — they’re essentially reading a detailed biological business card.
In domestic dogs, this system works beautifully when everything is functioning as it should.
The problem is that for a significant number of dogs — particularly certain breeds and those on highly processed diets — it very often doesn’t.
When Anal Glands Go Wrong
The most common issue is impaction — where the glands don’t empty properly and the fluid builds up inside. Over time, impacted glands become uncomfortable, then painful, and if left untreated, can become infected or even abscessed.
The causes are varied, but the most frequent contributors include:
Stool consistency — firm stools naturally apply pressure to the glands as they pass. Soft, loose, or poorly formed stools — common in dogs on low-fibre or highly processed diets — don’t create enough pressure to empty the glands effectively.
Low dietary fibre is directly related to stool quality. Many commercial dog foods don’t contain adequate fibre to support healthy anal gland expression.
Food sensitivities and allergies — chronic inflammation from food reactions can cause swelling in the tissue around the glands, reducing their ability to drain properly.
Obesity — excess weight can alter the anatomy around the glands, making natural expression more difficult.
Breed predisposition — smaller breeds like Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, and Beagles are most commonly affected, but as Roxy proves, Labradors and other larger breeds are far from immune. In fact, any dog can develop anal gland problems regardless of size.
Chronic skin conditions — dogs with ongoing skin inflammation often have related issues with the tissue surrounding the glands.
Signs Your Dog May Have Anal Gland Issues
This is the section most owners find themselves nodding through, often thinking back to signs they noticed but weren’t sure how to interpret.
Scooting — dragging their bottom along the floor or ground is probably the most well-known sign. It’s their way of trying to relieve pressure or discomfort they can’t reach any other way.
Excessive licking or chewing at the rear — exactly what we noticed with Roxy. A dog who returns to this area repeatedly, particularly after toileting, is usually trying to manage discomfort.
A fishy or unusually strong odour — the fluid inside anal glands has a distinctive, pungent smell. When glands are full or leaking, that smell becomes noticeable to owners — often described as fishy or musky.
Swelling or redness near the anus — visible inflammation around the area can indicate the glands are impacted or infected.
Discomfort when sitting — a dog who seems reluctant to sit, shifts position frequently, or reacts when their rear is touched may be experiencing anal gland pain.
Straining to defecate — when the glands are very full or inflamed, defecation can become uncomfortable, and dogs may strain more than usual.
Chasing their tail — not always playful. Repeated tail-chasing can be a dog’s attempt to get to an area of irritation they can’t otherwise reach.
If your dog is showing signs of infection — significant swelling, discharge, bleeding, or obvious pain — see your vet promptly. Infected or abscessed anal glands need professional treatment.
What Your Vet Will Typically Do
For most dogs presenting with anal gland issues, a vet will manually express the glands — a quick but unglamorous procedure that provides immediate relief. For many dogs and owners, this becomes a routine, with vet visits every few weeks or months, depending on severity.
In cases of infection, antibiotics are usually prescribed. In severe or recurrent cases, surgical removal of the glands (anal sacculectomy) may be discussed — though this comes with its own risks and is generally considered a last resort.
The challenge many owners face — the one we lived with Roxy — is that manual expression treats the symptom but not the cause. The glands fill up again. The cycle repeats. The vet visits continue. It can feel like an endless loop with no clear exit.
Getting to the Root of It,
The most meaningful changes tend to come from addressing the underlying contributors — particularly diet and inflammation. Here’s where to start:
Increase dietary fibre. Adding fibre to your dog’s diet is often the single most impactful change you can make. Firmer, bulkier stools mean more natural pressure on the glands during defecation. Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling), psyllium husk, and cooked sweet potato are all gentle ways to add fibre.
Review their food. If your dog is on a highly processed diet, it’s worth considering whether the ingredients are contributing to soft stools or chronic low-level inflammation. High-quality protein, minimal fillers, and no artificial additives make a meaningful difference for many dogs.
Identify and manage food sensitivities. If you suspect a food allergy or sensitivity is driving chronic inflammation, talk to your vet about a structured elimination trial.
Maintain a healthy weight. Even modest weight reduction in overweight dogs can improve anal gland function by changing the pressure dynamics in the surrounding tissue.
Consider herbal support. Traditional botanical medicine offers several herbs with long histories of use for reducing inflammation, supporting lymphatic drainage, and improving the tissue health of the structures surrounding the anal glands.
The Botanicals in RearRelief
RearRelief was formulated with one goal in mind: to address the underlying inflammation and tissue health that contribute to recurring anal gland problems, rather than simply managing the symptoms.
The blend draws on herbs traditionally used in both human and veterinary herbal medicine for their anti-inflammatory, lymphatic, and tissue-supportive properties — working gently with the body to reduce the conditions that allow anal gland issues to take hold and keep returning.
Like all Herb & Hound Co. products, it’s made in small batches on the Coromandel using certified organic herbs, a palm-free glycerine base, and NZ spring water. Alcohol-free, preservative-free, and easy to administer — even for the fussiest of dogs.
It took three months to make a real difference for Roxy. Every dog is different, and we’d never promise a quick fix. But for a problem that had followed her for a year, that felt like nothing short of a turning point. A Note on Realistic Expectations: Anal gland issues, particularly chronic ones, rarely resolve overnight. The approach that tends to work best combines dietary adjustment, appropriate veterinary care when needed, and consistent herbal support over time. RearRelief is designed to be part of that broader approach — not a replacement for it.
If your dog is currently experiencing infection or significant discomfort, please see your vet before starting any supplement. RearRelief is best used as an ongoing support tool once any acute issues are under control.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian if your dog is showing signs of anal gland infection, significant pain, or any sudden change in condition.