Scooting is a behavior that many dogs perform at various times in their lives. When a dog scoots, it drags its backside across the floor of your home — often repeatedly, perhaps causing you to feel alarmed and correct this behavior over sanitary concerns. It's important to understand that scooting is often a warning sign of a health issue, and while the issue may be minor, it's important to have a veterinarian assess the pet to determine what's going on. Call your clinic, explain this change in your dog's behavior, and set an appointment. Here are some potential reasons that your dog may be scooting.
Anal Sac Disease
A lot of dogs will begin to scoot when they have anal sac disease. This condition occurs when the sacs inside of the animal's anus become full and swollen, causing irritation. The dog will scoot across the floor — often concentrating on textured surfaces such as carpet — in a largely futile effort to alleviate the discomfort. Anal sac disease is a common condition that your veterinarian can quickly resolve by draining the sacs. Some people attempt to drain the sacs themselves, but this is a task that is best in the hands of a professional. This will rapidly reduce the dog's discomfort, bringing an end to its scooting habit.
Parasites
Dogs can sometimes get parasites in their digestive tracts, and the presence of the parasites will often cause multiple symptoms. Scooting is a common behavior for a dog that has parasites in its lower digestive tract. The parasites cause itching and overall discomfort in this region, and the dog scoots in an effort to reduce these feelings. If your veterinarian believes that your dog has parasites, they'll likely run one or more tests. Medication can often be sufficient for clearing up this issue, which will also cause your dog to stop scooting.
Cleanliness Issues
Some dogs are adept at keeping the area around their anus very clean, while this isn't the case with other pets. If your dog has fecal buildup in this area, the presence of the feces can often create feelings of irritation that the dog attempts to reduce through scooting. If you've noticed this behavior, you might see a lack of cleanliness in this part of your dog's body. While you can thoroughly clean the area, it never hurts to see a veterinarian to ensure that something else might not be contributing to the scooting.
Contact a local vet clinic such as Murrells Inlet Veterinary Hospital to learn more.
