Anal Glands (Sacs) Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Location and function of anal glands As the dog or cat is viewed from behind, anal glands (also called anal sacs) are located on each side of and slightly below the anal opening, at the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. A tiny duct or tube leads under the skin to an opening directly beside the anus. All predators, whether they are canines or felines in the wild or skunks in your backyard, have anal glands. They just use them differently. Skunks discharge the secretion from these glands as a form of defense, while dogs use it primarily for territorial marking or as a form of communication. In dogs and cats, every time a stool is passed, it should put enough pressure on the anal glands that some of the secretion is deposited on the surface of the stool. Other dogs and cats are then able to tell who has been in the neighborhood, just by sniffing the stools they find. Additionally, dogs and cats recognize each other by smelling each other in the general area of the anus, since each animal's anal glands produce a unique scent. Reference: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=510 簡單的說，就是拿來標記氣味，犬貓都有這樣的功能，可以用來區分地域性。 一般在大便時肌肉的收縮，會導致肛門腺的分泌物沾附在糞便上，來達到標記的功能。 在臭鼬的應用上就比較不同，主要拿來防禦。 --

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