The dogs who butt rubs too much

Butt rubbing by canines has long puzzled and disgusted the human race. Where did this behavior come from? Why are brown streaks left on my new white carpet? For some dogs, this is a chronic problem; others suffer only rarely. There are three main causes: debris, overfull anal glands, and worms.

Dogs who have never rubbed yet suddenly exhibit this habit may simply have something stuck in or near that orifice. Lift the tail and inspect the cavity for protrusions like leaves or grass – materials that aren’t easy for a dog to digest and expel. If your dog is leaving brown streaks, he may have a bit of residual fecal matter stuck in his tail pipe.

A simple swab with a tissue may remove the offending article and stop the rubbing. Don’t, however, delve below the surface. Your dog won’t appreciate it and you may do serious harm. If nothing is visibly evident, it’s time to give the vet a ring.

Let’s talk about anal glands. These pesky little puffs sit down and slightly to the left and right of the anus. When your dog excretes a poop, the anal glands are squeezed, causing a terribly stinky fluid to coat the droppings as they exit. This is how your dog “marks” his pile as his own. Isn’t that sweet?

Yet anal glands are not all fun and games; occasionally, under stress, the dog may release his glandular fluids all at once. This happened to a friend of mine once (in the car no less, and Febreeze is no match for that stuff), and groomers experience it all the time (let’s face it – the grooming salon is pretty scary for a pup). Such epic smells are recollected for years to come.

Fortunately, releasing the glands doesn’t cause butt rubbing; it’s usually the opposite problem. Clogged anal glands are the primary cause of dogs who rub on the floor. Some poor mutts have this as a chronic problem, while others may experience it only once or never in their lives.

Unclogging the glands is a task best left to your vet, who has the lucky job of reaching inside and squeezing them clean. Don’t try this at home; you can damage the glands and your dog will be most unhappy. You may, however, have to get the fluid expelled every few weeks in the most extreme cases. Your vet will best know how to proceed for these constant butt rubbers.

A final cause of rubbing in dogs is intestinal worms. There are many different types of worms, from round- to hook-, and it’s vital that your dog is on a deworming program as recommended by your veterinarian. Some worms will show up in the fecal matter. Look for tiny white grains, especially at night. Others are more sneaky; tapeworms seldom have such obvious symptoms.

You must take your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect worms, especially if the butt rubbing is accompanied by other symptoms like a dull coat, weight loss, or lethargy. Worms are painful and can be deadly, so don’t take any chances. Also be extremely careful handling fecal matter with a worm infestation. You, your family, or other pets can easily acquire them. Pick up all dog poop and dispose of it properly, and wash your hands with a good disinfectant afterward.

When these matters have been evaluated by your veterinarian, the butt rubbing should stop. Now if only the streaks came out of the carpet as easily…

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 12th, 2008 at 6:29pm and is filed under Dog Poop Calendar, Dog Poop Info, Dog Poop Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.