Does your Dog Rub his bum on the ground? If so, then you are not alone as this is the habit of most canine breeds. It’s called scooting, and you must have seen your dog doing this once or twice in the period. In this article, we are going to look at the common causes of scooting, how to identify the problem causing it, and how you can prevent this from your dog’s behavior.
Why Do Dogs Rub Their Bum on the Ground
You must have noticed your dog dragging or rubbing its bum on the ground. Its known as scooting and it is very common among dogs. The main cause of scooting is irritation on the butt, which leads from inflammation to infection. The following are the most common reasons for anus irritation in dogs:
- Allergies
- Anal Gland Issues
- Excessive fecal matter
- Tapeworms
There is no need to punish your dog on rubbing its bum on the ground. The dog is doing it because he is uncomfortable. It could be tricky to find the cause behind this rubbing, but once your identify and solve the problem, your dog will not scoot anymore.
Anal Gland Issues Causing Irritation and Scooting
Anal glands are the common reason of dogs scooting. There are also known as the anal sacs. Most of the dogs rub their gum on the ground due to irritation in their anal glands.
Anal glands are a pair of sacs found on each side of a dog’s anus. The sacs are lined with sweat & oil. Dogs scooting their bum on the ground is the best symptom of impacted anal sacs.
Most of the dogs are prone to get their anal sacs impacted. This is because the thicker fluid is unable to pass outside. Therefore, the sacs get infected, causing irritation and pain. It is very important to take care of the matter, otherwise, if left unattended, the dog could require surgery soon.
Tapeworms causing Dogs to rub their bum on the ground
Another reason, why dogs rub their bum on the ground is tapeworms. It is the ingestion of the infected hosts. In dogs, fleas are the most common cause of tapeworms.
Dogs rubbing their bum on the ground is a symptom that the dog is suffering from tapeworms. These worms get mature in the dog’s intestine and irritate when they exit through the dog’s anus. These tapeworm segments are very small but can be examined by looking closely at the rear end of your dog. They will be present in white or golden colored with the shape of small pieces of rice.
Tapeworms are passed intermittently, therefore they cannot be diagnosed in routine examinations. If you notice that your dog is suffering from tapeworm infection, consult with your vet. He will prescribe deworming treatment after proper diagnosis.
Excessive Fecal Matter causes the dog to drag its bum on the ground
Excess fecal matter is stuck around in the rear end of your dog which causes your dog to rub its bum on the ground. It is also known as the canine Pseudocoprostasis or dingleberries. The fecal matter gets stuck on the fur of your dog surrounding the anus, which could make your dog rub its bum on the ground to loose it off.
My Puppy Ate Plastic, What Do I Do?
In long-haired dog breeds, It is important to prevent and manage it. The best solution is to trim your dog’s butt hairs, so it will not get stuck in the hairs. If you ignore and don’t manage or treat the excess fecal matter, it could make it hard for your dog to poop, or even obstruction of the anus could also occur.
Allergies causing irritation which leads to scooting
Skin irritation caused by allergies could make your dog rub its bum on the ground. These allergies could be the reaction from the food, environmental substances, or by ingesting fleas. The following are the most common dog allergies in dogs:
- Medications
- Cigarette smoke
- Fleas
- Pollen
- Mold spores
- Food
Some of the allergies like changes in the food menu or ingestion of fleas can be easily identified. Whereas, other allergies like reactions from pollen or dust are not easy to identify. If you notice your dog is suffering from allergies but you are unsure of the cause behind the allergy, then take it to the veterinarian. He would help in identifying the causes behind allergies.
How to reduce & prevent your dog’s scooting
Scooting is the behavior that warrants the owner to invest in the problem behind this irritational behavior. You will notice your dog scooting often because of the discomfort.
If you notice the scooting but are not sure of its reason, then it is better to take your dog to the veterinarian. He will identify & prevent this problem, which will make your dog feel better and more comfortable.
