I’ve been a practicing veterinarian in Texas for over a decade, and anal gland problems are one of those issues clients rarely bring up directly—until their dog starts scooting across the living room carpet or licking obsessively under the tail. When that happens, the first question I usually hear is whether something is “wrong back there.” The second question, almost without fail, is whether food has anything to do with it.
Based on what I’ve seen in exam rooms, grooming facilities, and follow-up visits over the years, diet plays a much bigger role in anal gland trouble than most people realize.
The Role of Diet in Anal Gland Health
How anal glands are supposed to work
In a healthy dog, the anal glands empty naturally during bowel movements. Firm, well-formed stools apply pressure to the glands as they pass, expressing a small amount of fluid. Owners never notice it, and neither does the dog.
Problems start when that mechanism fails. The glands fill up, the fluid thickens, and dogs become uncomfortable. That’s when you see scooting, tail-chasing, licking, or sudden sensitivity around the hind end.
While anatomy, breed, and body condition matter, stool quality is the factor I discuss most often—and it is heavily influenced by food.
Where food fits into the picture
I don’t believe dog food is the sole cause of anal gland issues, but I do think it’s one of the most common contributors. I’ve watched patterns repeat themselves too many times to ignore.
A few years ago, I treated a young mixed-breed dog whose glands needed to be expressed every three weeks, like clockwork. It wasn’t overweight, had no infections, and its anal sacs looked structurally normal. What stood out was his stool—soft, bulky, and inconsistent. His owners had switched foods several times based on marketing claims and flavor variety. Once we settled on a diet that produced firmer stools and stayed consistent for a couple of months, the gland issues quietly disappeared. I didn’t change anything else.
That’s a story I could retell in different versions dozens of times.
Soft stools are the real enemy.
In my experience, the biggest food-related trigger is chronically soft stool. Not diarrhea—just stool that lacks enough firmness to do its job.
Many foods produce this without owners realizing it’s a problem. Grain-free formulas, very high-fat diets, and foods containing multiple novel proteins can all contribute, especially in dogs with sensitive digestion. Even some premium foods do this simply because they’re richer than what a particular dog tolerates well.
I’ve had clients insist their dog’s stool looks “normal,” only for me to see it described as soft-serve ice cream instead of something you can easily pick up. That difference matters more than people think.
Fiber: helpful, but often misunderstood
Fiber is one of the most misunderstood elements of dog food. I see owners swing between extremes—either choosing very low-fiber diets because they sound more “meaty,” or adding enormous amounts of pumpkin and supplements without guidance.
In practice, moderate, appropriate fiber often helps anal gland problems. It firms stool and increases bulk, which improves natural gland expression. But too much fiber can cause loose stool and gas, which puts you right back where you started.
I remember a senior spaniel whose owner added multiple fiber supplements at once after reading online advice. The dog’s stool volume doubled, but firmness didn’t improve. We simplified the diet, removed the extras, and used a balanced fiber source in their place. Within weeks, the scooting stopped.
Food sensitivities and low-grade inflammation
Another pattern I see involves dogs with subtle food sensitivities. These dogs don’t have dramatic reactions—no hives, no vomiting—but they live with mild intestinal inflammation. Their stools are inconsistent, and their anal glands struggle to empty properly.
One case that stuck with me involved a rescue dog adopted last spring. He came in every month for gland expression. We eventually switched him to a limited-ingredient diet with a single protein he hadn’t eaten before. It wasn’t an overnight fix, but by the third month, his glands were staying empty on their own. His stool quality improved first; the gland issue resolved second.
That order of events is standard.
Common mistakes I see owners make
The most frequent mistake is changing foods too often. Every switch resets the digestive system, sometimes before it’s had time to adapt. I’ve seen dogs bounce between half a dozen brands in a year, all in good faith, but never settle into consistent stool quality.
Another mistake is assuming frequent anal gland expression is normal. I’ve had owners tell me their groomer empties the glands every visit, so they thought that was just part of routine care. In reality, frequent manual expression can make glands more dependent on it over time.
Finally, many people blame anal glands without paying attention to the body condition. Even mild weight gain changes the angle and pressure around the glands. Food portions matter as much as food choice.
My professional opinion on diet and anal glands
I don’t recommend chasing trendy diets for dogs with anal gland issues. I recommend boring consistency. A food that produces firm, regular stools and agrees with your dog’s digestive system is far more valuable than one with impressive marketing language.
For dogs with recurring problems, I usually look for:
- A diet that produces firm, easy-to-pass stools
- Moderate fiber, not extreme levels
- Fat content that matches the dog’s tolerance
- Fewer ingredient changes over time
I’m not opposed to supplements, but I rarely start there. In many cases, adjusting the base diet solves the problem without adding anything extra.
When food isn’t enough
There are dogs whose anal gland issues persist even with excellent stool quality. I’ve seen this in certain small breeds, dogs with chronic allergies, and those with anatomical quirks. In those cases, food helps but doesn’t completely resolve the issue.
Still, even when diet isn’t the sole solution, it’s almost always part of managing the problem. Poor stool quality makes everything else harder.
What years in practice have taught me
If there’s one thing working with real dogs has taught me, it’s that anal gland issues rarely come out of nowhere. They develop quietly, often alongside subtle digestive changes that owners don’t think to mention.
Food doesn’t just fuel a dog—it shapes digestion, stool, and the mechanics that keep anal glands functioning naturally. Ignoring that connection leads to repeat vet visits, frustrated owners, and uncomfortable dogs.
When stool quality improves, anal glands often take care of themselves. And in my experience, that’s not a coincidence—it’s physiology doing what it’s meant to do once the diet supports it.