Dog Scooting: Why Dogs Drag Their Butt and What to Do

What it usually means

Every dog has two small anal sacs, one on each side of the anus, filled with a strong-smelling fluid that is normally squeezed out when firm stool passes. If the sacs do not empty properly, they become full, itchy, and sore, and dragging the bottom along the ground is the dog's way of trying to empty them. A fishy smell often goes with it.

Allergies are the other big cause. Dogs with environmental, food, or flea allergies often itch around the rear end as well as on the paws and ears, and that itch alone can cause scooting. Allergies also inflame the anal sac openings, so the two causes often go together, especially in small breeds.

Other causes of scooting

Tapeworms cause itching around the anus, and you may see small, flat, white segments like grains of rice on the fur or in stool, although dogs can have tapeworms without visible segments. Dogs get tapeworms by swallowing fleas while grooming, so fleas and scooting often travel together. Soft stools or diarrhea, and constipation, can also irritate the area.

A recent haircut can cause clipper irritation, and some shampoos, wipes, and sprays irritate the skin. Matted or dirty fur around the rear, a recessed vulva in some female dogs, or a urinary infection can all lead to scooting. In older dogs, a lump on an anal sac can occasionally be a tumor, which is one reason vets check the area carefully.

When to call your vet today

Book a vet visit if your dog scoots more than once or twice, keeps licking or biting under the tail, smells fishy, or seems uncomfortable when sitting or passing stool. Full anal sacs are quick and simple for a vet to empty, and doing it early can prevent an infection or abscess.

Also call if you see worm segments, blood, or discharge, or if scooting comes with soft stools, itching elsewhere, or ear problems. These suggest a cause, such as parasites or allergies, that needs treating on its own to stop the scooting.

When it's an emergency

Seek care the same day if you see a red, hot, swollen lump beside the anus, an open wound or hole near it, or blood or pus, or if your dog cries out, will not sit, or strains to pass stool. These are signs of an anal sac abscess, which is very painful and can rupture.

Also go promptly if your dog has a fever, is lethargic, or stops eating alongside rear-end pain. A sore dog may snap if the area is touched, so do not try to squeeze it or examine it closely yourself.

What you can safely do at home

Gently lift the tail and look for swelling, redness, discharge, worm segments, matted fur, or stool stuck to the coat. Clean the area with a soft cloth and lukewarm water, and keep long fur around the rear trimmed, ideally by a groomer. Keep your dog and all other pets on year-round flea prevention.

Do not try to express the anal glands yourself unless your vet has shown you how and agrees it suits your dog, because it is easy to bruise or damage the sacs. Avoid human creams, wipes with fragrance, and home remedies on the area, and do not deworm with products that your vet has not recommended.

Keeping the fur around the rear trimmed and clean with a dog grooming kit makes it easier to spot problems early.

What the vet will likely check

Your vet will examine the area and feel the anal sacs, usually with a gloved finger, and empty them if they are full. If they are infected or abscessed, the vet may flush them and prescribe medicine for infection and pain, along with warm compresses and a cone at home.

They may also look at a stool sample for worms, check the skin for allergies or infection, and look at the shape of the vulva in female dogs. For dogs whose anal sacs fill again and again, your vet can talk through options, from diet changes to regular emptying or, rarely, surgery to remove the sacs.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.