Why Do Dogs Drag Their Butts (Six Reasons Why)

There is nothing grosser than seeing a dog drag their butt across the floor. At least for me, there isn’t. Whether you call it carpet-surging, butt-dragging, or tail-scooting, this common occurrence happens for a reason.

Scooting – the process of dragging their butts on either grass, carpet, or on the floor; is very common in pets and especially from your canine friend.

What could be the cause of your dog dragging its bum on the ground? What does this mean? Is there a way to prevent them from doing this? Is it a medical condition?

These are some of the key questions we will be answering today.

Let’s get to it starting with this fundamental query.

Why Do Dogs Drag Their Butts?

Scooting (the act of dragging their bottoms) in dogs could be due to a number of reasons. These could range from allergies, issues with their anal sac, tapeworm infestation, fecal contamination, or the development of some behavioral issues. Preventing your dog from scooting will depending on what could be causing them in the first place.

Let’s now jump into each of these and get a better understanding as to why dogs drag their butts on the floor.

Allergies

Yes, dogs can get skin allergies! It’s actually one of the most common reasons for a bum scoot across the carpet. Aside from fleas and insect bites, seasonal allergies top the list.

You’ll see dogs scoot over the carpet or rub their ears along the ground for a good scratch. Veterinarians will usually treat most allergy symptoms with a medication or even a medicated bath.

High doses of omega-3 fatty acids can also be added to your dog’s food as a supplement.

Issues With the Anal Sac

This one takes the cake as the most common reason veterinarians see when a dog is scooting. Both cats and dogs both have anal sacs, which are two glands located at the bottom sides of the anus. These glands secrete your dog’s unique scent, which is the reason dogs sniff each other butts instead of shaking hands (or paws).

If your dog’s anal sacs get too full, it can be pretty uncomfortable for them.

In an effort to relieve this pressure, your dog may rub his butt along the ground. Full anal sacs can be easy to spot as your dog may leave a discolored trail behind him, or there may be an extra fishy smell hovering around their behinds.

While most cases of butt dragging can usually be attributed to full anal sacs, it can also be indicative of a more serious issue. An infection or a tumor can also cause this problem.

You can gently lift your dog’s tail to check for any bruising or swelling, or blood. If anything looks out of place, make an appointment with your vet because anal sac infections are not only painful but they can worsen in only a few hours.

If caught early, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment can work wonders. A tumor on our dog’s anal sacs can be serious, too, and may require surgery.

Introducing foods with high fiber to your dog’s diet could also help with preventing any anal sac problems in the future.

Wounds & Tumors

Wounds and tumors around the tail area of your canine friend could another reason why your pet friend could be scooting all over the place.

You may also notice your doggo scratching or licking the affected area in an aim to try and reduce the inflammation caused by the wound.

The wound could also be a result of fights your dog might have gotten himself into. This could be from other dogs or even a scratch from the family cat if you have one.

Check under your dog’s tail and if you notice any sort of wounds or tumors; quickly book a visit to your local vet to get him checked.

Parasites

One of the more repugnant reasons for butt dragging is a tapeworm infection. These disgusting worms can cause immense itching around the anus and are easy to spot. You can see the tiny eggs that look like grains of rice present in your dog’s poop.

Tapeworms in dogs are mostly transmitted when they swallow worm-infested fleas. Tapeworms are easy to treat through an oral dose or by injecting some medication.

The best way to treat tapeworms is by controlling fleas. Talk to your vet on how to best treat this and prevent them from scooting on your carpet or floor once and for all.

Other parasites aren’t so easy to spot, though. Some are microscopic, and while they can’t be seen, they can cause discomfort and should be treated by a veterinarian.

Behavioral Issues

It’s not uncommon for dogs to develop behavior issues that can lead to excessive anything, like rubbing, scooting, licking, tail chasing, etc. Neurological problems in dogs can also cause tingling or numbness in the area.

Some dogs may excessively scoot their behinds without a clear reason why. If your dog has had any recent surgeries, nerve damage may be the reason they are paying more attention to their behinds.

Fecal contamination

Diarrhea could leave your dog weak, dehydrated, and with a messy bottom. Fecal contamination under the dog’s tail could lead to some sort of discomfort to your pet friend; leading him to scoot all over the place as a means to try and sort the discomfort.

Treating contamination could be as simple as giving your canine friend a simple bath around the affected area with warm water. Trimming the dirty hairs around the affected area could also help to prevent this in the future.

Conclusion

The sight of a dog dragging its bottom on your carpet or on the floor can be quite disgusting.

To prevent this requires taking the right action depending on the reasons why this could be happening. Some of the reasons could be behavioral, medical, or allergies. It’s therefore important to keep a close eye on them.

Let your local vet have a look at your dog and prescribe the right medication depending on what the cause could be.