4 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Scooting

Seeing your dog scooting their bottom across the floor can leave you wondering what's going on with them. Generally, dogs scoot to alleviate something wrong back there. It could be an itch, pain, or something that requires medical attention. Some common causes of scooting in dogs are:

Clogged Anal Sacs

A dog's anal sacs contain a foul-smelling liquid that is emptied whenever they have a bowel movement. If something is wrong and the sacs are not emptied properly, the fluid can build up, causing inflammation, pain, and sometimes infection.

Skin Irritation From Grooming

If you groom your dog frequently, there's a chance they may experience irritations from the grooming products. In this case, ask the groomer to use a different product.

Food Allergies

Sometimes, food allergies can mess with dogs' anal sacs. This happens when soft or watery bowel movements do not provide the pressure to empty the sacs properly. In this situation, you should talk to your vet so they can come up with dietary changes.

Intestinal Parasites

Tapeworms and other intestinal parasites can cause itching and irritation around dogs' anus when they exit after maturing in their stomach. Signs to look out for, aside from scooting, are itchy bottom and tiny worms around the dog's anus, in their feces, or bed. Your vet will treat your dog with a dewormer.