Give your dog a fresh, clean carpet, and they're inevitably going to drag their butt across it. Your furry, four-legged friend doesn't understand color theory or Feng Shui. All your dog knows is that the carpet can scratch the one itch their paws can't reach. Butt scooting pretty much always means your dog's rear feels itchy or painful. Sometimes, this is perfectly normal behavior β butts can itch from time to time, after all. Yet sometimes, butt scooting can suggest your dog has a more serious condition, says Sophie Whoriskey , veterinarian and senior writer at Floofy Doodles.
Read on to learn the five main reasons your dog might start scooting their booty and when you should call a vet. The itching may also come from a grooming mishap , like clipper burns or dried dog shampoo under their tail.
What to do next: When you see your dog scooting, check their behind for things that don't belong, such as nicks in the skin, dingleberries, or half-digested sticks. You can clean any dried feces away with a warm, wet towel.
Two grape-sized sacs next to your dog's anus coat their poop in a fishy-smelling liquid. This fluid is a scent-based calling card that lets other dogs know who's in the neighborhood.
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Sometimes, though, these sacs may stop working properly, usually due to infections or clogs. Anal sacs may become painfully swollen, and your dog may scoot their butt in an attempt to squeeze the sacs out. According to a UK study , 4. Your dog is more likely to develop this condition if they're over 3 years old or have a flat face. What to do next: Butt dragging usually won't empty your dog's clogged anal sacs β so your furry friend will need a human to do it for them.
