When the anal sac disease is at the impaction stage, the most common treatment is an outpatient procedure called expression in which the veterinarian applies pressure to the anal glands until the thickened secretions are expelled from the sacs. Sedation may be needed if the dog is nervous or is in great pain.
For the anal sacculitis stage of the disease, the same expression procedure is performed; afterwards, an antibiotic-steroid combination ointment is applied directly to the anal sac. In addition, the examining veterinarian may prescribe oral antibiotics to help fight infection. To help determine the appropriate antibiotic, the veterinarian may also need to take cultures to identify what type of bacteria caused the sacculitis.
When anal sac disease is at the abscess stage, a surgical procedure is required if the abscess has not already ruptured. The veterinarian, after sedating the dog or placing it under general anesthesia, will surgically open the infected anal sac to clean out the infected material and drain the remaining liquid.
Following surgery for ruptured abscesses, an antibiotic-steroid combination ointment will be applied directly to the anal sac to fight infection and inflammation. An oral antibiotic probably will be prescribed as well. As in the treatment of sacculitis, culture of the abscess may be necessary to help determine the best antibiotic medication. If infection continues after the surgery, surgical removal of the anal sac may be required.
