You may have seen a dog crawl along the ground on its butt, moving only by moving its front legs. This strange position in which the dog crawls sitting down is due to the attempt to relieve the itching that he feels in the anal area. But what is it that causes this itching? There are several reasons that lead a dog to drag its anus on the ground and that, in addition, can trigger other clinical signs, such as difficulties in defecation or insistent licking in the zone.
Blockages, inflammations or diseases of the anal glands are some of the causes that we will examine in this article on our site. To determine which one affects your dog and start the appropriate treatment, it is important to go to the vet.
Anal glands
If you're wondering why my dog drags his anus on the ground, the anal glands may be the explanation you're looking for. Anal glands or sacs are located on both sides of the dog's anus. Specifically, if we think of the anus as the circumference of a clock, they would be at five and seven. They secrete a substance that gives each dog its particular smell, the one that identifies it and distinguishes it from other dogs. That is why they usually greet their peers by sniffing their butts. In addition, this odor marks the feces.
The fluid in the anal glands is emptied by the pressure produced in them by the exit of feces or the contraction of the sphincter, which can happen when the dog feels fear. When emptying is difficult for any reason, it may be necessary to do it manually, either at home or by the veterinarian in the office. If the problems are recurrent, removal of these glands may be considered. The diseases that affect them and can cause a dog to rub its anus against the ground are the following:
- Impaction: it is caused by accumulation of secretions when, for whatever reason, the glands do not empty completely. It is more common in small breeds. The gland must be manually emptied and the cause of the buildup remedied. Some dogs need to have their anal glands emptied from time to time.
- Infection or sacculitis: causes inflammation in one or both glands and yellowish or bloody discharge, as well as pain. You have to empty the glands, but also follow the antibiotic treatment prescribed by the vet.
- Abscess: in this case there is an accumulation of pus. We will see the same signs as in the infection, in addition to fever. An abscess can open and cause a fistula, which is a path that occurs between the skin and the gland. It does not come with emptying the gland. The vet will have to drain the abscess, if it has not burst, clean and medicate.
Anorectal obstructions
An anorectal obstruction occurs when some cause makes it difficult for feces to pass Dogs not only drag their anus along the ground, they also they make obvious efforts to defecate and the stool may come out flattened. Sometimes bleeding occurs. The causes of this type of obstruction are many and it has to be the veterinarian who, through a rectal exam, determines which one affects our dog. We highlight the following:
- Enlarged prostate, which is more common in older males. It is resolved with castration.
- Presence of foreign bodies that will have to be removed by sedating or anesthetizing the dog.
- Fractures in the pelvis that have welded causing a narrowing in the rectal area.
- The curled tail typical of some breeds may present a downward extension that affects the anal canal. It is corrected by surgical intervention.
- Fecal impactions.
- False constipation.
- Rectal strictures which may be due to infections in the perianal area, fistulae or surgery. They are treated by operating.
- Tumors in the perianal glands and polyps and rectal tumors.
- Perineal hernias throughout the anus, more common in elderly males. It will also be necessary to castrate the dog and, in some cases, repair the hernia.
As we can see, on numerous occasions the solution to the obstruction involves surgical intervention. If this, for any reason, is not feasible, it will be essential to favor evacuation. The vet will prescribe laxatives and a diet that softens the stool.
Internal parasites
Dogs can drag their anus along the ground when they have internal parasites. They are mainly nematodes and tapeworms Dogs get nematodes, which are visually very similar to spaghetti, when they are in their mother's womb, through their milk, by ingesting eggs laid on the ground, or by swallowing an intermediate host. Tapeworms can be suspected if rice-like grains are found around the anus. If you are wondering why my dog's anus itches, it could be due to tapeworms, since these fragments cause itching. Dogs can catch the most common tapeworm by ingesting an infested flea.
Internal parasites often harm puppies more and other clinical signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea, which is another cause of anal irritation, but also complications, such as failure to thrive, anemia and even death from intestinal obstruction. For all these reasons, if our dog drags its butt on the ground, it is a puppy and it is not dewormed, we must go to the veterinarian to start treatment with antiparasitics, in addition to implementing hygienic measures at home.
Proctitis
inflammation of the anus and rectum is called proctitis. We will notice that, in addition to rubbing the anus on the ground, the dog has a hard time evacuating normally and licks and nibbles the area. Proctitis can be due to multiple causes, such as the following:
- The false constipation that we will talk about in another section.
- La diarrhea, especially if our dog is a puppy. Always requires veterinary assistance.
- The insect bites.
- The internal parasites, hence the importance of regular internal deworming and whenever their presence is suspected.
- The hard stools or with bone fragments, which are prevented with a quality diet that provides enough fiber, as well as with daily exercise and good hydration.
In addition to the specific treatment that the veterinarian prescribes according to each cause, an ointment may be needed to relieve the irritation of the anal mucosa. Of course, it will have to be prescribed by the vet.
False constipation
False constipation is also known as pseudo-constipation and consists of a caking of stool around the anus that occurs when the hair in the area is compacted with dry feces, forming a kind of plug that prevents normal evacuation. That is why it is a disorder that we will see in long-haired dogs and usually after an episode of diarrhea.
It ends up causing skin irritation, pain and even an infection that leads the dog to defecate as little as possible in an attempt to avoid discomfort. Logically, the dog will be very uncomfortable and, in addition to rubbing his anus on the ground, he will lick and bite the area or try to evacuate by staying upright. In addition, we will detect a very unpleasant smell
At the beginning of the problem it may help to trim the hair around the anus, but if there is already pain, the vet will have to intervene, probably anesthetizing the dog. The treatment is based on the hygiene of the area and the drug that the professional considers depending on each case. It is also necessary to adopt measures that favor easy evacuation, such as good hydration, a diet rich in fiber or regular exercise. As a preventive measure we can trim the hair around the anus as often as necessary.
Practical solutions
Now that you know why your dog drags his anus on the ground, you have been able to verify that you will need the attention of the veterinarian almost always. But first, if we discover our dog rubbing his butt on the ground, we should carefully lift his tail and observe the area to see if there are any parasites, inflammation, secretion, wound, etc. If you discover parasites, show them to your vet for identification.
If something seems to block the exit of the anus, we can try to remove it by carefully trimming the hair around it. If the dog hurts or we appreciate any other clinical sign, we must let the veterinarian perform this hygiene. Sometimes the plug is formed by faeces that have been left halfway out of the anus. We can gently pull them, but if they don't come out, we don't have to keep pulling, since we don't know what's inside or how far it goes.
At home we can also empty the anal glands, if the problem is due to their being full, but do it only if you know how and you are sure they are the problem. In this article about the anal glands of dogs, we explain everything you need to know. In any case, the hygiene of the area is essential. We can wash the dog with water and a specific shampoo for them or use a wipe, also formulated for dogs. Before using disinfectants or ointments, check with your vet, the same as if you think your dog needs a laxative.
