my dogs problem

Question
My 2 year old dog has had a problem for the last 7 months to a year on and off.  Every now and then she has a problem with some kind of anal discharge.  Its a small amount of a clear liquid with a lot of brown solids (fecal matter?) in it.  It smells horrible and it get over our bedding and carpet.  She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort or pain and doesn't act ill in anyway, and other than this problem, she seems to be a perfectly healthy dog.  Would you have any insight into what this may be?  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer
You are describing normal anal gland secretions. Every dog(and cat) has a pair of anal glands that secrete a fishy, foul-smelling substance into the anal sac. The paired anal sacs sit on either side of the rectum. These secretions are expressed periodically when they have a bowel movement or for no good reason at all by rubbing their rear end on your carpet! You can have these glands emptied periodically by your vet, especially if they seem to be bothering the dog. Sometimes these sacs will become infected and they will develop an abscess in the perirectal area. This is serious and requires medical and sometimes surgical intervention.

I suspect your dog does not have a problem with her anal sacs but is just choosing to express them at inopportune times in inconvenient places! If you are concerned have your vet check the glands to make sure there is no underlying problem

Dr. G.