Not much going on at the clinic today. Mother was worried after the long weekend that we might see lots of pets that had gotten into trouble. Maybe dogs are getting smarter and just not causing the havoc that we usually do.
Not a problem. It gives me the chance to address a topic that has been kept quiet for way too long. I am referring to our sweet smelling scent sacs – or anal glands, as my mother tends to refer to them.
Contrary to some opinions, these sacs produce the most intriguing and appealing and useful substance known to dog. The most popular use is for marking the den and surrounding lands. For me and Bea, this involves covering ground at both the clinic and our den, so we are kept very busy. Each time we produce the brown nuggets a thin coating of sweet smelling sac perfume is left behind as if to say, “Veronica was here”. Sometimes Bea and I have a contest to see who can make the most. I usually win.
The other use for the sweet smelling scents is to help us stay calm when we are nervous. Unlike those very smelly black and white cat-like creatures that skulk around outside of our den, our sacs are not intended to be sprayed to ward off enemies, but rather to emit a cloud of calm, happy aroma to soothe all that encounter it.
I know that the scents are highly sought after by people. It seems like every day dogs are brought in to the clinic to have the sacs squeezed so that people can get their hands on our valuable nose candy. Just one look at Sweet Sally’s face when she’s getting ready to harvest the puppy perfume and you would see how coveted it is. I think some dogs enjoy their own scent too much and are always licking and rubbing to make more come out. Obviously these dogs have more than enough to share, so bringing some to the clinic I guess is understandable.
I’m not sure why no one ever wants to squeeze mine. I wonder if maybe I don’t smell as good as I think I do. Nah, not possible!
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