Is Your Dog A “Scooter”?

By Bill Mutter

Does your dog “scoot” across the floor, that is, does he drag his butt with his hind feet in the air over your rug or floor?

Some people believe that this is a sign that your dog has worms. Not true. What it does indicate is that your dog has “impacted anal glands”.

In all dogs there are two scent glands the size of two peas located just inside your dog’s anus. These glands secrete a liquid, unique to each individual dog, each time a dog empties its bowels. Dogs smelling other dogs’ dropping can tell the dog’s general health, stress level, gender and relative age, among other indicators. These glands are also the reason that dogs smell each other’s butts when they meet. It’s not all roses.

However, occasionally these glands become clogged, or impacted, and enlarged. This causes the dog great discomfort. If the pressure on these glands are not relieved or “expressed”, these glands can rupture and/or become infected.

So, this is why your dog is “scooting” across your floor. Your dog is trying to express these glands. Occasionally, your dog will be successful, but usually not. To relieve your dog’s discomfort, you can take your dog to your veterinarian and have your vet express them. If your dog repeatedly has impacted glands, you may wish to learn how to “express” these glands yourself. It is a simple procedure; ask your veterinarian to show you how.

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