If your dog has just dragged their bottom across the lounge room rug, you are not alone, and it is usually not an emergency. Dog scooting is a sign that something around the bottom is itchy, full or sore. The most common cause is a problem with the anal glands (more correctly called anal sacs), but worms, skin allergies, diarrhoea and a few less common problems can all be behind it. A one-off scoot after a messy poo is rarely a worry. Scooting that keeps happening, or comes with licking, swelling, a bad smell or pain, deserves a vet check.
What is scooting?
Scooting is when a dog sits and pulls themselves along the ground with their front legs, rubbing their bottom on the floor, grass or carpet. They cannot reach that area with their paws, so the ground becomes the scratching post. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
How anal glands work
Every dog, male or female, has two small pouches just inside the bottom, sitting at roughly the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions around the anus. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, the walls of these sacs are lined with glands that make a strong-smelling fluid, which drains through a tiny duct opening just inside the anus. That fluid is a scent “calling card”, and it is the reason dogs are so interested in sniffing each other’s rear ends and poo.
Normally the sacs empty a little every time your dog passes a firm stool, because the poo presses on them on the way out. Problems start when that natural emptying does not happen properly. The fluid thickens, the sacs swell and become uncomfortable, and your dog tries to relieve the pressure by scooting.
The most common causes of scooting
1. Anal gland (anal sac) problems
Anal sac disease is the classic cause of scooting. VCA describes three main stages:
- Impaction: the ducts become blocked, usually because of inflammation, and the secretion thickens. The sacs become swollen and passing poo can hurt.
- Infection: bacteria from the bowel travel up into sacs that are not emptying, and the fluid can become bloody or pus-filled.
- Abscess: a painful, red, hot swelling beside the anus. If it bursts, you may see bloody or yellow-green discharge from a hole in the skin next to the bottom.
The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that small breeds are predisposed to anal sac disease and that large or giant breeds are rarely affected. Signs include scooting, licking or biting at the area, and straining or pain when passing poo. VCA adds that some dogs lick or chew at the base of the tail rather than the bottom itself, and that even gentle dogs may growl or snap if you touch a sore tail area.
VCA lists several things that make recurring anal sac trouble more likely:
- Being overweight, because the sacs do not empty well. If your dog is carrying extra kilos, our guide to safe weight loss for pets is a good place to start.
- Changes in stool consistency, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
- Skin allergies, which have been suggested as a contributing factor.
2. Worms, especially tapeworm
Tapeworm segments look like small grains of rice or cucumber seeds. VCA’s tapeworm guide explains that these segments can sometimes be seen moving on the hair around the anus, or on fresh poo, and that dogs occasionally scoot to calm the irritation they cause. The common flea tapeworm is caught when a dog swallows an infected flea, so flea control is part of tapeworm control. If your dog is overdue for their wormer, see our guide to worming dogs and cats and our year-round flea and worm guide.
3. Allergies and itchy skin
Dogs with environmental or food allergies often itch in predictable places: paws, ears, armpits, belly and the area around the bottom. A dog with allergies may scoot even when the anal glands themselves are fine, and inflamed skin may also play a part in anal sac problems. Spring in Australia is peak season for pollen-related itch, so if your dog is also licking their paws or scratching their ears, read our guide to spring itch in dogs.
4. Diarrhoea, soft poo and a dirty bottom
Loose stools do not press on the anal sacs the way firm stools do, so the sacs may not empty properly. Diarrhoea also leaves the skin around the anus wet, dirty and irritated. Common causes of diarrhoea listed by VCA include worms and other infections, a change of diet, scavenging, and stress after travel or boarding. Long-haired dogs can also get poo stuck in the fur around the bottom, which is uncomfortable enough to prompt a scoot.
5. Less common causes
- Perianal fistulas: chronic, painful, smelly wounds around the anus. Merck notes they are most common in German Shepherds, and also seen in setters and retrievers.
- Tumours: VCA notes that older dogs can develop a cancer within the anal sac (anal sac adenocarcinoma) with signs that look a lot like an infection, including swelling beside the anus, scooting and licking. Merck also describes other tumours around the anus.
- Something stuck: a grass seed, burr or matted fur near the bottom can irritate the skin. Grass seeds are a big spring problem in Australia; our grass seed guide explains what to look for.
Quick guide: what the clues might mean
| What you notice | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One scoot after a soft or messy poo, then back to normal | Dirty or irritated bottom | Gently clean the area and keep an eye on it |
| Rice-like segments on the bottom, bedding or poo | Tapeworm | Check worming and flea treatment are up to date; talk to your vet |
| Fishy smell, scooting for several days, licking the tail base | Full or impacted anal sacs | Book a vet appointment |
| Red, hot swelling beside the anus, or blood or pus | Anal sac infection or abscess | See a vet promptly, the same day if possible |
| Scooting plus itchy paws, ears or belly | Allergies | Vet check to manage the itch and rule out anal sac problems |
| Older dog with a lump or swelling near the bottom | Tumour or abscess | Vet check soon, do not wait and watch |
What you can safely check at home
You can do a gentle look-and-sniff check without any special skills. Do it in good light, ideally with a second person giving treats at the front end.
- Lift the tail and look. Is the skin clean? Is there poo matted into the fur, redness, swelling on one or both sides, or any open wound?
- Look for worm segments. Check the fur around the bottom, your dog’s bedding and their most recent poo for small, flat, rice-like pieces.
- Notice the smell. A strong fishy or metallic odour, especially on bedding or where your dog sits, is typical of leaking anal sac fluid. VCA notes that some dogs release a little fluid when frightened, which is normal on its own.
- Check the poo. Are stools soft, runny or very small and hard? Make a note, as your vet will ask.
- Watch for pain. Is your dog straining, crying when they poo, or reluctant to sit?
- Check parasite treatment dates. When was the last wormer and flea treatment given?
If the fur is dirty, clean it gently with a damp cloth and dry it well. Keeping long fur around the bottom trimmed (or asking your groomer) helps prevent build-up.
Should you express your dog’s anal glands at home?
This is best left to your vet unless your vet has specifically shown you how and agreed it is appropriate for your dog. There are good reasons for caution:
- It can hurt. VCA notes that treating impacted sacs can be painful enough to need sedation, and anal sac disease itself is very painful.
- Infection and abscesses need more than squeezing. Your vet may need to flush the sacs, put medication into them, prescribe antibiotics and pain relief, or lance an abscess.
- Squeezing healthy glands is not a prevention plan. If your dog’s sacs empty normally, there is no need to express them. Routine expression is for dogs with a vet-diagnosed recurring problem, and VCA describes this being done by veterinary professionals.
- You could miss something serious. A swelling you assume is a “full gland” could be an abscess or a tumour that needs a proper examination.
Some groomers offer external anal gland expression as part of a groom. If your dog has never had a problem, it is worth asking your vet whether it is needed at all. For dogs with ongoing trouble, your vet can talk through options, which in persistent cases can include surgical removal of the sacs. VCA notes this is a delicate surgery that carries some risk of temporary, and rarely permanent, problems with bowel control.
When to call the vet
Book a vet appointment if your dog:
- Scoots repeatedly for more than a day or two, even after you have cleaned the area
- Licks or chews constantly at the bottom or base of the tail
- Has a strong fishy smell that keeps coming back
- Has diarrhoea lasting more than a day or so, or diarrhoea with other signs of illness
- Has visible worm segments
Seek veterinary care promptly, the same day if you can, if you see:
- Swelling, heat or redness on one or both sides of the anus
- Blood or pus around the bottom, or an open wound
- Pain, crying or straining when passing poo
- Lethargy, fever, vomiting or loss of appetite along with bottom problems
Helping to prevent scooting
- Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Overweight dogs are more likely to have chronic anal sac problems.
- Aim for firm, well-formed poo. Ask your vet about diet or fibre if stools are often soft.
- Stay on top of parasites. Keep worming and flea treatment up to date all year.
- Manage allergies and keep the area clean and trimmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is dog scooting an emergency?
Usually not. It becomes urgent if there is swelling, bleeding, pus, an open wound or obvious pain, which can mean an anal sac abscess.
Why does my dog smell fishy?
Anal sac fluid has a strong fishy smell. A whiff when your dog is frightened can be normal, but a smell that keeps returning, especially with scooting, suggests the sacs are not emptying properly and should be checked.
Do small dogs get anal gland problems more often?
Yes. Merck notes small breeds are predisposed, while large and giant breeds are rarely affected.
Can worms make my dog scoot?
They can. Tapeworm segments around the bottom may cause irritation and scooting. Because dogs catch the common flea tapeworm by swallowing fleas, good flea control helps prevent reinfection.
Can I express my dog’s anal glands myself?
It is best to let your vet do it, or only do it if your vet has shown you how and recommends it for your dog. Infected or impacted sacs need proper treatment, and squeezing healthy glands is not necessary.
Key takeaways
- Scooting means your dog’s bottom is itchy, full or sore. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
- Anal sac problems are the most common cause, especially in small breeds and overweight dogs.
- Tapeworm, allergies, diarrhoea and a dirty or matted bottom can also cause scooting.
- You can safely check, clean and trim the area at home, and check parasite treatment dates.
- Leave anal gland expression to your vet unless they have shown you how and advised it.
- Swelling, blood, pus or pain around the bottom needs a prompt vet visit.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Anal Sac Disease in Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders of the Rectum and Anus in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Tapeworm Infection in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Diarrhea in Dogs
This article is general information for pet owners and is not a substitute for advice from a registered veterinarian. If your dog is scooting often, seems in pain, or has swelling, blood or discharge around the bottom, please contact your local vet.
