Why is My Dog Scooting?

Other Things That May Accompany Scooting

• Frequent excessive licking at the anal area
• Quickly circling (like chasing his tail) trying to lick the area
• Foul odor from the anal area
• Discharge or swellings in the anal area

Causes of Constant Dog Scooting

• Anal Gland Diseases (e.g. impacted anal glands, infected or abscessed anal glands, anal gland tumors)
  Perhaps the most common cause of scooting is impacted anal glands. Dogs that have this problem usually are on a low-fiber diet resulting in stools not hard enough to empty out the anal sacs while defecating. If your dog has soft stools and is scooting frequently, consider switching to a high-fiber diet. A high-fiber diet can also prevent constipation, which is another possible cause of impacted anal glands.
  Read this page for more information on how to manually express (empty out) the anal sacs.
• Flea Infestation
  Fleas are attracted to your dog's tail area because they are safely out of reach of your dog's mouth! As the fleas bite, your dog may scoot in an attempt to scratch his itchy bottom caused by the flea bites. Read our page on Natural Flea Control to see how to get rid of fleas naturally.
• Worm Infestation
  If your dog has tapeworms, the worm segments can cause itching and irritation as they exit the anus and collect on the skin and surrounding hair. If your dog scoots every so often, be sure to check your dog's stools and his anal area for signs of worms.
• Ringworm and Yeast Infection
  Ringworm and yeast can infect the skin around the tail and cause intense itching without leaving outward signs such as patchy hair loss.
• Food Allergies
  Food allergies cause intense itching (especially at the rear end) and excessive licking. The saying used to describe food allergy symptoms is: "Food allergies hit the ear and the rear"! The result? Constant scooting! If you suspect that your dog is allergic to his food, you need to identify the food that is causing the allergic reactions. Read more on food allergies and elimination diets here.
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Causes of Occasional Scooting

If your dog scoots occasionally, it may be because of the following reasons:
• Diarrhea
  Diarrhea can cause irritation to the anus, and it may also cause fecal matter to be stuck to the hair around the anal area. As a result, a dog suffering from diarrhea may scoot on the floor in an attempt to scratch the anal area and to clean it.
• Skin Irritation from Grooming
  Frequently groomed dogs, such as poodles, may suffer from clipper burns or skin irritation after grooming. If your dog scoots and licks its rear end obsessively after being groomed, check for clipper burns or skin irritation caused by shampoo, sprays, or other grooming products.