Pet Care Articles
Why Does My Dog Rub his Butt?
June 28th, 2011
This happens from time to time with our cover-dog from the home page, Bomber. Usually, this occurs just after he's been groomed. He'll chase his tail and rub his butt on the ground and act a bit strange. Does this happen with your dog? It's quite normal. All dogs have anal glands (sacs) just inside their anus. Sometimes, these glands get irritated or blocked. Thus, the rubbing. Most groomers express (squeeze) these glands to empty them. As a result, the glands get irritated and for a day or two your dog will rub his butt. For Bomber, this usually occurs just after he's groomed, but after a few days, he's back to normal. If the rubbing persists, contact your groomer and ask if they expressed the anal glands. If they didn't do this, contact your vet or you can do it yourself. Fair warning, the smell from expressing the glands is very pungent! It's probably best to let your groomer or vet do it.