Content
- anal glands are full
- What are anal glands? What are worth for?
- Internal parasites and diarrhea
- Some tips to help your dog
I'm sure you've seen your dog or other pets on the street more than once dragging your butt across the floor in a slightly awkward position. But you should know that your dog it's not dragging the anus through the ground, he's rubbing his anal glands or trying to get rid of some discomfort, and for him it's a very uncomfortable and unpleasant exercise that happens for a reason, itching.
The real question is: why is it itchy? Puppies can get itchy anus for a variety of reasons, and since they don't have hands to ease the sensation, the best solution they've found is to drag it across the ground. The anal sacs of puppies can sometimes be blocked, abscessed or inflamed, which makes them itchy.
If your dog drags his anus along the ground, it's important to know what the real cause of the problem is and how to solve it. Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article where we will address the causes and give you some solutions in the case of your dog rub his butt on the floor.
anal glands are full
As mentioned earlier, your puppy rubs his butt on the floor because he feels itchy. One of the most likely causes for this to happen is because your anal glands are full.
What are anal glands? What are worth for?
Some mammals such as dogs and cats have glands around the anus that secrete a substance when they defecate. This physiological act has a specific purpose: to let your personal smell in every place where they do their needs, it's like a personal mark that indicates that a particular dog has been there. The liquid from the anal glands of each dog has a unique scent, it is its fingerprint, very effective to differentiate itself from others of its own species. Also serve to lubricate the anus and allow the feces not to cause them discomfort.
Dogs usually empty this substance when they defecate. However, sometimes these glands don't empty as they should and your puppy suffers from a very uncomfortable itching, which causes him to drag his anus to relieve the sensation. This is a natural process that takes place from time to time.
If these glands do not drain from time to time, the substance becomes thicker to the point of covering the gland orifice and this can result not only in discomfort but also in more serious problems that require medical attention such as the anal glands inflamed or abscesses.
Internal parasites and diarrhea
Another reason your dog may be dragging your anus is because it has internal parasites. Most puppies do not have a filter when they are smell, lick and eat things, whether it is urine from other dogs, living and dead animals, garbage, spoiled food, etc. It is very common for a dog to suffer from intestinal parasites at some point in its life.
This causes them a severe itch on their butt. Remember that this doesn't mean we shouldn't allow it to sniff it, we should simply deworm it regularly and vaccinate him according to your vaccination schedule. To find out if your dog has a parasitic infection, just look at his feces, the parasites are usually quite visible (thin, long and whitish).
On the other hand, diarrhea can also be one of the causes why your puppy drags its anus across the floor, carpet or grass in the park. Some puppies that are healthy and have emptied their glands could drag their anus in an attempt to eliminate any residue. If he can't do it after crawling desperately, help him. Try wiping off the remains with a warm damp cloth (not too hot) or a damp baby washcloth.
Some tips to help your dog
The first thing you should do the next time your puppy drags his anus, and before reaching a conclusion, is check that there is not something attached, like a piece of grass for example. Dogs love to eat grass, plants and branches. Sometimes when they defecate, a piece gets stuck in their anus. This is not pleasant at all, so he will try to get it out anyway. If you see anything strange, help him remove the piece of organic material before dragging his anus too far.
The most practical solution for parasites is a antiparasitic pill once every three months, along with food. This way, you won't have them and you won't suffer from the itching that this type of infection causes.
More fiber in your dog's diet. For those animals that often suffer from not being able to empty their anal glands, a high fiber diet to increase the volume of stool and make the pressure on the anal sacs greater when defecating. This will favor the expulsion of your personal substance. You can also add pumpkin to your diet to relieve pain and itchiness that occurs with an irritated gland.
Other tips you can follow:
- Apply hot compresses to relieve itchy sensation.
- Some experts recommend feeding the dog twice a day with dry food as this can keep the anal glands from chafing.
Lastly and sometimes the most practical is manually empty the glands of your dog. This may not be to your liking or his and, in some cases, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. You should always wear latex gloves and, with the help of toilet paper that is not too hard or wet baby wipes, hold the dog's anus tightly and pull it out slightly, so that the glands deflate, as if squeezed, in the paper.
Whatever the cause that is causing discomfort in your dog, it is essential to consult the specialist whenever necessary. The veterinarian will make a proper diagnosis and advise you on the treatment you should follow.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.