Why Dogs Rub Their Butts on the Carpet
I was watching T.V on the couch one day and in the corner of my eye, I saw my dog scooting comically across the carpet as if she had wheels on her hind legs. I thought it was the cutest thing and took out my cell phone to record this hilarious moment for my husband. Minutes later, she came up for a cuddle, it was then, when I smelled something fishy, no pun intended.
I am a long-time dog owner, so I would say that I am fairly familiar with day-to-day dog behaviors. However, this was the first time I’ve witnessed the scooting behavior. As cute as it was, I decided to send a text to my veterinarian as a precaution, and five minutes later, my vet replied “google anal gland expression.”
First, let’s discuss what anal glands are. An Anal gland is a sac situated inside a dog’s anus, and this gland is full of oily, smelly liquid. Prior to the domestication of dogs, anal glands were used for markings and self-defense in the wild. However, after domestication, dogs no longer have use of these smelly glands.
While most dogs are able to automatically express the contents inside the gland during defecation and walks, dogs with softer stools, as a result of the modern diet, might have difficulties expelling the smelly contents. Without the removal of the contents, your dog’s behind will itch and before you know it, the scooting follows.
Why do I need to express the anal gland?
In cases where your dog is unable to expel the content itself, it could lead to anal gland impaction. Anal gland impaction can then cause inflammation, swelling, foul smell, excessive butt licking, infections, and in severe cases, anal gland rupture.
The good news is as long as you keep your dog’s anal glands empty, your dog will stay happy. For dog owners, I would advise leaving this task to a professional because at-home anal gland expressions could lead to unnecessary injuries. On a side note, it is important to check with your vet for a proper cause of the scooting behavior. Some scooting behavior is a result of other serious underlying conditions.