How to Remove the Anal Gland Scent from Your Sofa

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Summary: If you're looking for a product to help remove the anal gland scent from fabric, try Nature's Miracle Advanced or a DIY Thieves Cleaner (ingredients below).

16-ounce glass spray bottle
3 tbsp of organic witch hazel
50-80 drops of Germ Fighter by Plant Therapy
Fill the bottle with water

If you have ever been near a dog when they expressed their anal glands, then you know the smell. And you know the pain when they jump down off the sofa or get up from their dog bed and there's that circular wet spot left behind.

Well, the dog bed isn't toast, you don't need to put the sofa on the side of the road - the scent can be removed quickly and easily and this post shares how I was able to do this when my dog was having anal gland issues.

Last night sucked big time. Rodrigo's anal glands expressed in a circle the size of a 50-cent piece on the sectional. I've been wondering what happened – he was lying there, and maybe he farted, or maybe it just happened – this has happened with Sydney in the past, but it wasn't so much.

All of a sudden J said, “wow, did you fart or do you have [dog poo] on you.” He made Rodrigo get down so that he could check his backside (with his long hair, it's been known to happen if he has a loose or toothpasty poo), and that's when J saw the 50-cent piece.

Surprisingly, he touched it and smelled his fingers (hee hee hee), and then all hell broke loose. Not really, but he wasn't pleased and started talking about getting rid of the sofa, that the dogs should be banned from the furniture and whatnot.

I got to work.

A Product Every Dog Owner Should Have

There is one product every dog owner should have on hand, and that's Nature's Miracle Advanced Stain & Odor Remover. It must be the “advanced” formula. It was recommended to me by friends when I was about to throw away a chair soaked in cat urine. I sprayed the chair enough for Nature's Miracle to soak into the cushions (the urine had been there for a bit) and put the chair on the front porch.

I didn't believe it would work.

That was four years ago – the chair is Zoey's favorite seat in the house. Update: we kept that chair for 9 more years before getting rid of it (due to old age).

Nature's Miracle Advanced and Anal Glands

It turns out that it works just as effectively on anal gland fluid and the scent. While J was pricing the cost of a new sofa, I started looking for our bottle of Nature's Miracle Advanced and sprayed it on the 50-cent piece area, and within seconds, the anal gland smell was gone, and the fabric wasn't damaged.

I put my nose to it many times during the evening. It was gone.

I sprayed a few other places where Rodrigo had sat down to make sure.

Expressing Anal Glands

I've written about expressing anal glands in the past. I knew Rodrigo wasn't done. He'd been skooching earlier, and since a problem with anal glands is unheard of with him, I was concerned.

I cleaned up his backside using hydrogen peroxide (the only thing that will remove the anal gland oils) on a tissue, then poured it on my hands because I didn't use gloves or a thick enough wad of tissue. The anal gland smell was gone immediately from my hands, but not from Rodrigo.

He went outside to “work it out” and came back in. I wiped the area again with hydrogen peroxide (using a thicker wad of tissue), and the smell was greatly reduced.

Diet and Anal Glands

Should raw fed dogs have issues with anal glands? In a perfect world, no. I had been feeding the dogs food from a source that Rodrigo couldn't eat. The food gave Rodrigo gas and loose stool that couldn't effectively express his anal glands on the way out.

Anal Glands and Dogs Health

So now I'm wondering if Rodrigo needs to make a trip to the vet; could he have an anal sac impaction?

Impaction is when the anal glands aren't expressing naturally or entirely when the dog's poop. This could be because a dog's poop is too small to do the job or too soft (which could be the case with Rodrigo). I would need to take him to the vet to have them manually expressed to avoid a potential infection. I don't want to do it myself because I don't know how to do it effectively.

When the anal gland scent started to diminish, and I confirmed that Rodrigo wasn't showing any signs of illness, I decided to wait until the morning to see where we stood. If the smell were still powerful after his morning bathroom break, I would call for a vet visit.

In the meantime, Rodrigo gets some canned pumpkin (the pure kind) or Olewo carrots in his breakfast to help make his poo a little more solid, and more fermented vegetables (or rabbit fear/ears) in his evening meal will provide more fiber.

Read More About Raw Feeding

21 Comments

Kimberly on March 5, 2018 at 8:38 am

That wasn’t my experience; however, it’s always advised to do a test spot.

Cassidy on March 4, 2018 at 10:34 pm

Does this bleach out any type of material?

Kimberly on September 5, 2016 at 9:28 pm

Thanks for the tip, Vicki! I’ll look up Sunny & Honey. It would be nice to have it around just in case.

Vicki -T on September 5, 2016 at 5:17 am

I love Natures Miracle! But, for the really tough smells (urine in particular) If you are able to clean your item with said icky smell-Try Sunny & Honey Carpet Miracle. I have diluted it to hand wash a few items ( sparingly )
I have an older dog and this is the ONLY thing that gets that pungent, ammonia smell out. I have only seen it on Amazon but with their shiiping you can have it in about two days. If you have tried Natures Miracle but it just doesn’t do it, Sunny & Honey may just be the solution for you! Hope this helps!

Dawn on April 6, 2016 at 10:19 am

My dog had some anal leakage and the smell is now on my couch I bought the spray natures miracle and I found that it made the odour stronger than making it disappear. I have sprayed it twice and I mean soaked it and it is not leaving any time soon

Kimberly on June 23, 2015 at 8:28 am

I hope so too. It’s a nasty smell. Wow!

Dirk Baeuerle on June 23, 2015 at 8:11 am

I have a beagle who had an infected anal gland 2 weeks ago and am still dealing with the strong odor left behind. I will get the Nature’s Miracle spray – have an entire bedroom carpet (14’x14′) and stair hall and stairway to spray. Also have a sofa to spray. Hoping this helps.

Kimberly on February 8, 2015 at 7:50 pm

Very cool! Let me know if it works!

DianeTampa on February 8, 2015 at 7:44 pm

I swear by Nature’s Miracle! It cleans and absolutely deodorizes cat and dog smells. I am going to clean out my garage, hose the concrete floor down and let it dry, then fully treat with Nature’s Miracle Advanced. Once dried, I am going to seal/stain the floor.

Aftern14 years of three cats and multiple cat boxes out there, we have a litter box smell on the floor that I cannot get rid of.

I am confident I will have successful results.

Thank you for a great product!

Kimberly on January 14, 2015 at 4:03 pm

I wonder if Nature’s Miracle isn’t as effective on carpet, because you have to get it through so many layers – the carpet, carpet pad, and subfloor. But I poured half a bottle on a chair and it saved it. Not sure if I just got lucky or if it was just a smaller amount than what others have dealt with.

We give our dogs raw goats milk. It’s actually great for dogs and cats, because it hasn’t been processed/pasteurized so we don’t have to worry about lactose intolerance. Goats milk is also more tolerable than cows milk, which is why our dogs get it. It’s very good for them. Check it out 🙂

Lai-Lai on January 14, 2015 at 3:07 am

Nature’s Miracle is not very effective on getting cat urine smell out of carpets though.

You shouldn’t give your dogs milk; they’re lactose intolerant after puppyhood. That’s why he gets runny shits.

Kimberly on December 15, 2014 at 8:24 pm

Your welcome. Can you not express your dog’s anal glands? If you can, you can ask your vet (or a groomer) to show you how to do it effectively and that may help. We started adding a digestive enzyme to Rodrigo’s diet and that helped – he hasn’t done it since. We use OptaGest. Another great option is Olewo carrots. you an get both on Amazon.

matt on December 15, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Thanks for sharing this. My poor pooch is about 11 my vet thinks (I found her ten years ago in the street and in poor health) 5 years ago is when she first started having problems. Pumpkin nor benefiber helped her. She now ruined my leather couch and is no longer allowed on it,but sneaks up there when I leave lol. I was very, I don’t know (pissed wouldn’t begin to describe it), but I can’t get the cold heart to be mad at her. It’s not her fault. She’s just as disturbed with the odor as me. She was just diagnosed with that impactment. And at her age its far too dangerous for surgery or removal of glands. But I will try the peroxide idea. It won’t fix it but that’s my best hope. Can’t afford a vet visit every week.

Rebekah on September 14, 2014 at 8:19 pm

Ugh. I am gagging thinking about this. I have had it happen once, with one of my cats, and it was HORRID. I can see Les reacting the same way as J, though I probably would not have remained as cool and collected as you.

Jana Rade on September 14, 2014 at 10:43 am

Cookie squirted a bit of that in excitement couple of times; never on furniture, though, thankfully 🙂

Lindsay on September 13, 2014 at 4:12 pm

Oh gosh, that is funny about J’s reaction, only because it didn’t happen to me! I’m thankful I’ve never had a dog that really seemed to have an issue with anal glands. I’m so glad the Nature’s Miracle will take the smell out of your couch.

Pawsitively Humane on September 13, 2014 at 1:24 pm

Thank you for sharing such helpful tips. We are definitely going to try Nature’s Miracle. Reading some good reviews here.

Kimberly on September 12, 2014 at 4:54 pm

Ohhhh good to know!

Kimberly on September 12, 2014 at 4:29 pm

My pleasure. We always have 2 bottles of Nature’s Miracle on hand, because it’s amazing!

It's Dog or Nothing on September 12, 2014 at 9:01 am

We love the advanced formula at our house! Atka has had diarrhea a few times on the carpet and that stuff works wonders.

Leah Erb on September 12, 2014 at 7:17 am

I love Nature’s Miracle! It saved my carpet from several mysterious dog events. Thank you for the hints on pumpkin and milk thistle, too.

Kimberly on March 5, 2018 at 8:38 am

That wasn’t my experience; however, it’s always advised to do a test spot.
Cassidy on March 4, 2018 at 10:34 pm

Does this bleach out any type of material?
Kimberly on September 5, 2016 at 9:28 pm

Thanks for the tip, Vicki! I’ll look up Sunny & Honey. It would be nice to have it around just in case.
Vicki -T on September 5, 2016 at 5:17 am

I love Natures Miracle! But, for the really tough smells (urine in particular) If you are able to clean your item with said icky smell-Try Sunny & Honey Carpet Miracle. I have diluted it to hand wash a few items ( sparingly )
I have an older dog and this is the ONLY thing that gets that pungent, ammonia smell out. I have only seen it on Amazon but with their shiiping you can have it in about two days. If you have tried Natures Miracle but it just doesn’t do it, Sunny & Honey may just be the solution for you! Hope this helps!
Dawn on April 6, 2016 at 10:19 am

My dog had some anal leakage and the smell is now on my couch I bought the spray natures miracle and I found that it made the odour stronger than making it disappear. I have sprayed it twice and I mean soaked it and it is not leaving any time soon
Kimberly on June 23, 2015 at 8:28 am

I hope so too. It’s a nasty smell. Wow!
Dirk Baeuerle on June 23, 2015 at 8:11 am

I have a beagle who had an infected anal gland 2 weeks ago and am still dealing with the strong odor left behind. I will get the Nature’s Miracle spray – have an entire bedroom carpet (14’x14′) and stair hall and stairway to spray. Also have a sofa to spray. Hoping this helps.
Kimberly on February 8, 2015 at 7:50 pm

Very cool! Let me know if it works!
DianeTampa on February 8, 2015 at 7:44 pm

I swear by Nature’s Miracle! It cleans and absolutely deodorizes cat and dog smells. I am going to clean out my garage, hose the concrete floor down and let it dry, then fully treat with Nature’s Miracle Advanced. Once dried, I am going to seal/stain the floor.

Aftern14 years of three cats and multiple cat boxes out there, we have a litter box smell on the floor that I cannot get rid of.

I am confident I will have successful results.

Thank you for a great product!
Kimberly on January 14, 2015 at 4:03 pm

I wonder if Nature’s Miracle isn’t as effective on carpet, because you have to get it through so many layers – the carpet, carpet pad, and subfloor. But I poured half a bottle on a chair and it saved it. Not sure if I just got lucky or if it was just a smaller amount than what others have dealt with.

We give our dogs raw goats milk. It’s actually great for dogs and cats, because it hasn’t been processed/pasteurized so we don’t have to worry about lactose intolerance. Goats milk is also more tolerable than cows milk, which is why our dogs get it. It’s very good for them. Check it out 🙂
Lai-Lai on January 14, 2015 at 3:07 am

Nature’s Miracle is not very effective on getting cat urine smell out of carpets though.

You shouldn’t give your dogs milk; they’re lactose intolerant after puppyhood. That’s why he gets runny shits.
Kimberly on December 15, 2014 at 8:24 pm

Your welcome. Can you not express your dog’s anal glands? If you can, you can ask your vet (or a groomer) to show you how to do it effectively and that may help. We started adding a digestive enzyme to Rodrigo’s diet and that helped – he hasn’t done it since. We use OptaGest. Another great option is Olewo carrots. you an get both on Amazon.
matt on December 15, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Thanks for sharing this. My poor pooch is about 11 my vet thinks (I found her ten years ago in the street and in poor health) 5 years ago is when she first started having problems. Pumpkin nor benefiber helped her. She now ruined my leather couch and is no longer allowed on it,but sneaks up there when I leave lol. I was very, I don’t know (pissed wouldn’t begin to describe it), but I can’t get the cold heart to be mad at her. It’s not her fault. She’s just as disturbed with the odor as me. She was just diagnosed with that impactment. And at her age its far too dangerous for surgery or removal of glands. But I will try the peroxide idea. It won’t fix it but that’s my best hope. Can’t afford a vet visit every week.
Rebekah on September 14, 2014 at 8:19 pm

Ugh. I am gagging thinking about this. I have had it happen once, with one of my cats, and it was HORRID. I can see Les reacting the same way as J, though I probably would not have remained as cool and collected as you.
Jana Rade on September 14, 2014 at 10:43 am

Cookie squirted a bit of that in excitement couple of times; never on furniture, though, thankfully 🙂
Lindsay on September 13, 2014 at 4:12 pm

Oh gosh, that is funny about J’s reaction, only because it didn’t happen to me! I’m thankful I’ve never had a dog that really seemed to have an issue with anal glands. I’m so glad the Nature’s Miracle will take the smell out of your couch.
Pawsitively Humane on September 13, 2014 at 1:24 pm

Thank you for sharing such helpful tips. We are definitely going to try Nature’s Miracle. Reading some good reviews here.
Kimberly on September 12, 2014 at 4:54 pm

Ohhhh good to know!
Kimberly on September 12, 2014 at 4:29 pm

My pleasure. We always have 2 bottles of Nature’s Miracle on hand, because it’s amazing!
It's Dog or Nothing on September 12, 2014 at 9:01 am

We love the advanced formula at our house! Atka has had diarrhea a few times on the carpet and that stuff works wonders.
Leah Erb on September 12, 2014 at 7:17 am

I love Nature’s Miracle! It saved my carpet from several mysterious dog events. Thank you for the hints on pumpkin and milk thistle, too.