My 9-year-old dog just had her anal glands emptied last week. Does this hurt the dog? She is still licking her behind like it hurts.

Expression of the anal sacs can lead to some residual irritation especially if the gland was impacted. Impaction occurs when the liquid secretion sits in the gland for a long time, and dries out, becoming pasty in texture. This irritates the gland, often leading to scooting, or rubbing the anus along a carpet. Once the gland is swollen and irritated the increased digital pressure needed to express the gland can bother the dog both during and after the event. This sort of irritation usually disappears in a few days.

Lingering irritation can be associated with anal gland infection. Impacted glands are prone to infection and this can be the source of residual pain. If the dog continues to lick the area, a follow-up appointment should be scheduled so that the veterinarian can check for infection, or a recurrence of anal impaction. If the glands are quite irritated, the veterinarian may choose to infuse the gland with a soothing medication to help settle things back down. If infection is developing, antibiotic therapy may be required.