What this means
The dog sits and pushes itself forward with its front legs, dragging its bottom along the ground. This is an attempt to ease itching or discomfort around the anus. The movement itself does not show the cause, so it matters what else you notice.
Note how often your dog does it, whether it licks or chews at the hindquarters or base of the tail, whether there is a smell, whether the skin is red, whether the stools changed and whether your dog finds it hard to pass them. A photo of whatever you spot helps your vet.
Sometimes this behaviour is not about the anal area itself but about more general itching or a gut problem. So if your dog is also scratching, licking its paws or has changed stools, mention that too.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Full anal glands
Two small glands sit beside the anus. When they are blocked or irritated, your dog feels uncomfortable and scoots. A smell or licking often goes with it.
About the condition: Anal gland problems -
Allergy
An allergic reaction can cause itching around the hindquarters as well. Your dog is often scratching, licking its paws or has red ears at the same time.
About the condition: Allergies (food, skin and environmental) -
A skin infection or inflammation
Irritated or infected skin around the anus itches or hurts, and your dog tries to rub it. The skin may be red, moist or smell.
About the condition: Skin infections -
Intestinal inflammation or upset stools
Diarrhoea, mucus or frequent stools irritate the skin around the anus, so your dog scoots. Changes in the stools are usually noticed alongside.
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Parasites
Some intestinal parasites cause itching around the anus. Small whitish pieces are sometimes seen in the stool or around the bottom, but not seeing them is usually not enough to rule parasites out.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How often your dog scoots
- Whether it licks or chews at the hindquarters or base of the tail
- Whether there is an unusual smell, discharge or blood
- Whether the skin around the anus is red
- Whether the stools changed or passing them is difficult
- Whether your dog is also scratching or licking its paws
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the scooting continues for several days, if there is a smell, redness, discharge or blood, or if your dog licks or chews at the hindquarters. If any of the urgent signs above appear, go straight away rather than waiting for an appointment.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Allergies (food, skin and environmental) Skin and coat An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are essentially harmless, such as pollen, house dust mites, moulds, flea saliva or an ingredient in food. In dogs it shows up mainly in the skin and ears, and constant itching wears a dog down and can open the way to skin infections. More than one trigger can be involved at once, so finding the cause takes patience.
- Skin infections Skin and coat Skin infections are caused by bacteria or yeast that start to multiply when the skin's defences are weakened, for example by an allergy, parasites, moisture trapped in skin folds or constant scratching. An infection can stay on the surface or reach the deeper layers of the skin, causing pain and intense itching. What caused the infection and what keeps it going is for a vet to work out.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Digestion and liver This is a long-term disorder of the digestive tract in which inflammatory cells build up in the wall of the stomach or intestine, so it becomes less able to digest food and absorb nutrients. The exact cause is not fully understood; an interplay between the immune system, gut bacteria and food is thought to play a part. Because many other digestive problems look much the same, a vet works out what is really going on with tests.
- Intestinal worms Parasites Intestinal worms are parasites that live in a dog's gut: roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. Any dog can become infected, and puppies even before birth or through their mother's milk. Some dog worms are dangerous to people too, especially children; which worms a dog has is for a vet to establish from a stool sample.
- Anal gland problems Digestion and liver The anal glands are two small sacs either side of the anus that hold a strong-smelling secretion. When they don't empty, become blocked or get inflamed, the dog feels itchy and sore, and an abscess can form in a gland. Whether the glands or something else are behind a dog's scooting is for a vet to work out.
Body systems: Skin and coat Digestion and liver Parasites