Reasons Why Dogs Love to Rub Their Butts: Possible Caus
One possible reason: Feces stuck around the anal area.
If your dog is exhibiting analscratching behavior, it's important to first inspect the area around its anus. Dogs have hair around their anus, and if this hair hasn't been trimmed properly, feces can easily become adhered to it. This can lead to the dog's discomfort and subsequent analscratching. In such cases, you can gently push the hair aside with a comb to expose the anal area.
Another reason: The presence of internal parasites.
For instance, dogs may have tapeworms, which are intestinal parasites that typically reside in a dog's small intestine. They appear as flat, ribbonlike creatures, but upon closer inspection, you'll notice they are composed of individual segments. Some of these segments can break off and, if they stick to the anal area, can cause the dog to feel uncomfortable, leading to analscratching.
How does a dog get tapeworms? Tapeworms are primarily transmitted orally. After tapeworms lay eggs in a dog's intestines, these eggs are excreted in the feces. The eggs are then ingested by fleas or lice, which hatch inside these parasites. When the dog licks these contaminated pests, it becomes infected.
How to treat it? The treatment involves both internal and external deworming.
A third reason: Issues with anal glands.
If we liken the anus to a clock, the anal glands are located at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions. These glands are responsible for secreting a smelly fluid. It's common to see dogs sniffing each other's rears; they are essentially checking out the anal glands, which serve as a sort of identification card among dogs. The glands continuously secrete fluid, which accumulates in the anal sacs. In mild cases, dogs may scratch or bite at their anus. In severe cases, the anus may swell, and when the accumulated secretions reach a certain point, they can rupture, leading to the discharge of pus. What we need to do is regularly express the dog's anal glands.
