Dog scooting: Why it happens and How to stop it (Part 8- Dog Behavior & Training)
Welcome to the 8th part of the 57-part series on Dog behavior and training.
In butt scooting, a dog drags his anus along the ground. In case your dog’s butt is bothering him, he might drag it on the carpet or grass in an attempt to alleviate that itch or discomfort.
Why does it happen?
1. The most common reason for a dog’s scooting behavior is the problem in his anal glands. Anal glands are two small internal sacs positioned on either side of a dog’s anus. In normal dogs, they contain a smelly liquid that adds a unique and identifying scent to their excretion, and this unique scent helps dogs to mark and identify their territory. In normal conditions, these sacs get empty when a dog has a bowel movement. But in case the anal glands get inflamed or clogged, it prevents this liquid from being expelled when the dog poops. Instead, it builds up inside the two sacs, which in turn, makes the dog uncomfortable. To alleviate this very discomfort, a dog drags his anus on the ground or the carpet. Scooting is only one of the many symptoms of anal sac problems. Other signs include chewing or licking his rear area, redness and swelling around the anus, and trouble in defecating.
2. Another reason why your dog might be dragging his bottom can be the presence of internal parasites. Dogs generally get tapeworms because of the ingestion of worm-infested fleas. These tapeworms, then, may appear around his anus and may cause severe itching, which in turn results in butt scooting by your dog to relieve himself.
3. Matted hair and stools around the rectum can also be one of the reasons for a dog dragging its bottom along the ground. Long-haired dog breeds are more prone to such conditions. In such cases, the stool may get accumulated in his hair or under his tail, which may cause discomfort to him. And therefore, he may drag his bottom to remove any residual matter. In such cases, trim away his dirty hair and wipe off his rear area with a warm damp cloth as this will give him relief and will reduce his urge to drag his bottom along the ground.
4. Bacterial and fungal skin infections can also cause itching and burning of his rear area. Abdomen and bladder or urinary tract infections can cause scooting in him as well.
Before jumping to any conclusions or treatment options, it is very crucial to first identify the exact reason for this behavior in your dog because then only you will be in a state to help him.
1. Next time when you see your dog dragging his bottom, the first thing that you should do is to lift his tail and examine if the anus and the hair around it are clean. Make sure that there is nothing stuck in those areas, such as a piece of grass or stool. Sometimes when a dog defecates, his poop or grass gets stuck in his butt which causes itching, and thus this behavior. If you find anything stuck in those areas, make sure to clean it. This will definitely relieve him, and he will not feel the urge anymore to rub his bottom against the floor.
2. You should also examine your dog to rule out the possibility of tapeworms. Tapeworms look like tiny creamy-white worms or like small, immobile rice grains. If you see any of these around your dog’s anus, consult your vet about deworming him and other suitable treatments.
3. If you observe a powerful, foul smell around your dog’s bottom, it may indicate that your dog is suffering from an anal sacs problem.
This foul smell may indicate infection of the sacs in your dog. As soon as you notice the foul smell, make it a point to consult your vet immediately.
If you liked this article and want to know more about dog behavior issues and ways to manage them — Check out the link below!
And to know about cat-related behavior issues and their rectification — Check out this link!
Happy pet parenting!
