It’s a moment we all know too well… your dog waits until you have friends round. Then they look you dead in the eye and drag their bum the full length of your carpet. There’s a bit of laughter (for about two seconds), a rapid reach for the carpet cleaner, and then you ask WHY?
Here’s what could be behind your dog scooting, and when it’s time to ring your vet.
Scooting is the word used to describe when your pooch sits down and drags their bum along the floor. It’s how dogs deal with itching, irritation or discomfort around their bottom (anus), and they have absolutely no shame about doing it in front of your friends, family or even the plumber servicing your boiler.
One scoot often isn’t a concern. It might just signal a particularly messy poo. But repeated scooting, especially if it comes with licking, straining or a change in how your dog normally behaves, is worth investigating further.
Worms are often one of the first things that spring to mind when your dog scoots, and they can be the culprit, especially tapeworm.
The flea tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, is made up of lots of little segments, called proglottids, each packed with tapeworm eggs. These segments break off from the main worm and pass out in your dog’s poo, making the area around their bum itchy and irritated.
These segments look like small grains of rice. You might spot them stuck to the fur around your dog’s bum, on their bedding or in a poo. When freshly passed, they might even be wriggling (it’s enough to put you off your dinner!).
How your dog becomes infected is equally gross… by swallowing a flea infected with tapeworm while grooming, which happens more easily than you might think.
It is also worth getting on top of your dog’s flea control, as a worm treatment only kills the worms that are there on the day of treatment. It doesn’t prevent reinfection. Find out how flea and worming products differ.
Yep, anal gland issues are commonly associated with scooting.
Your dog has two small anal glands, which are little sacs either side of the anus that produce a smelly fluid to mark territory. Normally, these sacs empty a bit of fluid every time your dog does a poo.
When they don’t empty properly, often due to soft poos, small sac openings or obesity, the fluid builds up and becomes uncomfortable. If this happens, you might notice your dog scooting, licking or nibbling at the area, straining or showing pain when pooing.
Your dog won’t tell you which it is, but there are a few clues to look for:
Some signs (such as scooting) overlap, so if you’re unsure, or there’s any sign of pain, swelling or discharge, always speak to your vet.
A fair few other things can make your dog’s bum itchy:
Repeated scooting or any signs of pain need acting on.
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