Why is My Dog Licking His Butt?
If you spend a lot of time around dogs, you might know about their weird behavioral acts. From licking ears to eating underwear to throwing up after drinking water, dogs are extremely unpredictable and can leave you puzzled.
Today we will examine another peculiar act of dogs; dogs sometimes lick their bums. This act has annoyed and confused many dog owners, but today we will examine the issue, narrow down potential causes, and suggest reliable solutions. If you see your dog licking his bum, don’t dismiss this action as one of their weird habits because it could possibly be a part of a larger problem.
If you didn’t find your dog frequently doing this act before and are noticing that your canine buddy is grooming his rear end relentlessly, in that case, you should immediately schedule a trip to the veterinarian to know the root cause of his peculiar action.
Dogs groom themselves for a couple of reasons, sometimes because they’ve inherited the habit, and sometimes when they are craving their owner’s attention and love. So, stay here and give this article a read to know the reasons behind why dog lick their butts often!
When should I be concerned?
If you’ve been a dog owner for long, you’re probably habitual of seeing their bizarre acts and might even ignore some of them. But it’s your job to observe changes in their regular behavior because those changes might be because of an underlying issue.
You need to know that it’s not uncommon for dogs to groom their butts once in a while. But it is an issue when dogs develop a habit of frequently and aggressively licking their butt. But as a dog mom or dad, you have to watch out for other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and skin inflammation.
Apart from these signs, dogs also tend to chew their bodies and slide across the floor on days when they are excessively grooming their bum. If you find that your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms as mentioned earlier and is licking his butt persistently, get him checked by the veterinarian because he’ll know what will cure your pup’s issue! You could also make your dog wear a cone on his butt until you visit the vet, which will prevent your dog from chewing and licking on infected areas!
I want to know the symptoms!
Your Dog Might be Licking Because of Anal Glands
When his anal glands are inflamed, your dog might be experiencing swelling, pain, and redness in the anal area, which might be making him uncomfortable. The uneasiness causes your dog to lick and groom on areas where he’s feeling discomfort. The problem is further exacerbated when the anal glands are full, and the fluid inside them might start leaking, which causes your dog to excessively groom that area.
In such cases, it is advised to consult a veterinarian on an urgent basis because they will determine where the problem is coming from and prescribe antibiotics and supplements that will solve the issue.
Your Dog Might be Having Skin Allergies Around His Bum
It is a common trait among dogs to lick and scratch itchy areas of their skin. Allergies are caused by things in the environment such as grass, molds, and pollen and can cause itchiness. When dogs are exposed to allergens, their skin might become red and dry because of inflammation.
To comfort themselves and alleviate the pain, dogs tend to lick and groom their butts. When these allergies happen in areas around your dog’s butt, they cause severe pain, which is why the dog aggressively starts licking his body.
A good shampoo with probiotics can help reduce inflammation and itchiness and restore bacteria that is lost from your dog’s skin.
Fleas and Your Dog’s Rear
Fleas (wingless insects) are external parasites of dogs that are found in great numbers near the dog’s rear. These tiny little pests might be the reason your dog is continuously licking his butt. These cause dogs to lick themselves because when fleas bite your dog, the saliva from fleas’ mouths comes in contact with the dog’s skin, resulting in an immense itching and an allergic reaction.
Now you know fleas might be the culprits in some cases, so now if you find a fur of flea, use a flea comb to remove those nasty little things! A flea preventative is also a great alternative to get rid of fleas.
Due to Intestinal Parasites
Lastly, your dog might be licking due to irritation caused by parasites. This doesn’t frequently happen, though, and parasites are checked after infections, allergies, and fleas aren’t the cause of your dog licking his rear end.
Parasites in the intestine can irritate your dog. Your dog may contact parasites through soil or feces, and when these are swallowed, a parasite called tapeworm is transmitted into your body.
Other parasites like hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms are also added to your body via feces, and they can be detected by a fecal sample.
What’s the Cure?
If the vet detects internal parasites in your dog, he will probably ask you to submit your dog’s stool sample. If your dog has been impacted by anal glands or parasites, don’t delay the trip to your vet because these diseases require immediate attention.
The vet will prescribe some medicines like antiparasitics and pain relievers to your dog that will help provide comfort to them while eliminating the diseases. Make your dog have those medicines on fixed timings, religiously every day, and you will see how your dog will be back to a healthy state in no time! In case of an infection, it is recommended that you make the dog wear a cone on infected areas and give them prescribed medicines one or twice a day (as told by the vet).
Moreover, suppose your vet is unable to detect the disease after examining your dog and analyzing his symptoms, or even after scrutinizing his stool sample. In that case, he might prescribe more medical tests to your dog to detect allergies. The vet might also recommend some therapeutic food items to provide nutrition to your dog and alleviate his symptoms while he is sick. Your job is to take immense care of your furry friend because he is your responsibility!
Conclusion
So key takeaway from this article is that butt licking is common among dogs, but you should immediately consult an expert when it gets excessive! If, for some reason, the appointment with the vet is delayed, make your dog wear a cone on his bum to prevent them from licking and chewing themselves!
