You probably can see a dog dragging his butt on the ground a couple of times per month. It may look funny or weird but this is a sign that the dog needs help and he has an issue. Why do dogs drag their butts on the ground? There are 7 common reasons why dogs do this and today we will explain that. Keep in mind that we will call this dog scooting and it is precisely as you can imagine. Anyway, let’s see the top reasons why dogs do this.
Reasons Dogs Drag Their Butts On The Ground
Problems With Anal Glands
All dogs have anal glands that are located in the anus (one on each side). When a dog poops the poo will press the glands and they will release a small portion of the liquid that smells a lot. However, anal glands have very fine ducts that allow this. If the duct is clogged or affected in some other way, the liquid inside will increase the level and cause massive discomfort. Why do dogs drag their butts on the ground? His anal glands are in pain and he is looking for a way to remove that discomfort.
The anal glands can develop an infection as well or even cancer that all make discomfort and you will see a dog scooting on the floor all the time. Keep in mind that if your dog has bloody discharge from the anus, looks like he is in pain and he rubs or licks his anus all the time, the issue can be severe. Take him to a vet as soon as possible.
Parasites
If you have a dog who has parasites such as tapeworms, he may end up dragging his butt on the floor. This happens due to perianal irritation. The eggs of the parasites will move inside the colon and anus. They will cause a massive level of irritation and a dog will be in massive discomfort. He will try to eliminate that discomfort and scooting is the only way they can do it.
There is no need to add that you need to take your pet to a vet and he needs deworming therapy. It is a simple process and an effective one. Your dog can get tapeworms all the time. From fleas or from eating vermin are two most common causes and sadly, not something you can easily prevent 100%.
Your Dogs Has Diarrhea
This is an easy reason to deduce and find the solution. What this means is that your pet will have diarrhea for a long time. His anal glands will be filled and he won’t be able to express them properly. As you can imagine anal glands will soon start causing pain and you will see a dog rubbing his butt on the floor.
Most dogs will try to lick or scratch their butt but they obviously cannot do that. That’s why they will scoot. Diet and personal hygiene issues are the most common reasons for diarrhea. Some medications and many diseases can cause it as well. The best and safest thing you should do is to take him to a vet and find the cause and therefore solution.
General Irritation
These can happen all the time and they are a big problem. You will need to check the private areas. Fur, poop, knots of the fur and so much more can cause irritation. Your dog will rub his butt on the floor in order to try and remove the discomfort.
You should examine the private areas of the dog and make sure there are no issues there. If you worry even more or can’t find the obvious cause, take your dog to a vet. It is not likely that this will cause an even more severe problem but your dog will be in discomfort so you need to react.
Allergies
A dog who is rubbing his butt on the floor all the time may have an allergy. Food and medications can cause these allergies and they are more common than you may believe. Of course, if this is the case anal glands will be perfectly fine. Some medications that can cause these allergies are corticosteroids, atopica, apoquel, and more.
The first thing you should do is to change his diet. If the food is the cause, it will affect the mucous membrane and the soft tissue around the anus. If the medications are responsible, change them. Of course, talk to your vet first and try to find better ones.
Behavioral Issues
Try to notice when a dog does this. If he does only when you yell or when you laugh it is possible that behavior issue is the cause. What this means is that your pet has fear of you and he needs something to do in order to deal with it. Maybe you have been rewarding his behavior and he likes that. He believes that dragging his butt on the floor is fun and something you like hence he will do it more often. Always remember that if you like something your dog does you will reward it. He will do this more often because of that. Sadly, you can even like the things that are not good or that are actually bad. He doesn’t know that so he will do those things more as well.
If this is the explanation of why your dog drags his butt on the ground, you may want to change your behavior and try to explain to him that this is not something he should do.
Dingleberries
Dingleberries have been a huge issue for dogs with long fur. This happens when poop sticks to the fur and hangs. It can be a massive problem and in rare cases, a dog won’t be able to poop properly. They can irritate the skin or prevent pooping and a dog will be in discomfort. He will rub his butt on the floor in order to try and remove dingleberries. It may work sometimes.
Still, you need to provide your pet with a proper solution. What this means is that you should trim his coat and pay more attention to his personal hygiene. This is not a big problem and most of the time you can sort it out all by yourself but remember that it is annoying and your dog does need help. In addition, if your pet has diarrhea, make sure to remove all the traces from the fur as soon as you can. They can become solid in a matter of minutes which will cause the problem we are discussing here.
Inspect, Deduce And Take Him To A Vet If There Is A Need For That
Dog scooting is not a big problem most of the time. Usually, it will go away or you can deal with it at home. No, this is not a medical emergency and you don’t have to take him to a vet as soon as possible. But, the first thing you must do is to examine and try to deduce why your pet does this.
Look at the area around the anus. If you can see poop stuck to the fur, remove it. Examine his private areas as well and if you see knots of fur, poop, or something similar, remove it. If nothing obvious is present, you may want to try and express his glands. This is not something all dog owners can and are willing to do but you can take him to a vet or you can ask his groomer to do this. If your pet feels better after it, you will know what the cause is.
At any given moment, if you cannot find the obvious issue or the dog has been dragging his butt on the floor for days, take him to a vet. Most of the time there won’t be a need for a vet’s attention or therapy. But, in rare cases, there might be a need for that. If that happens, you will need to help your pet immediately. Keep in mind that cancer of the anal glands can be present and it is a big problem. Of course, this is a bit extreme and most dogs don’t have cancer nor will get one.
Wrapping Up
Why do dogs drag their butts on the ground? These are 7 common reasons. Believe it or not, there are no additional ones you have to worry about. Your dog is probably in discomfort and he needs your attention. Taking him to a vet is a wise idea if your dog has been doing this for a long time or he looks like he is in pain. If you don’t like the idea and you believe something serious is happening, take him to a vet as soon as you can. It is always better to check and be certain that everything is fine than to worry.