Is my dog the only dog that does the "Charmin" skoot on the carpet?

She has an itchy rectum. She may have fecal matter crusted back there, but the more common reason is that her anal glads are full and uncomfortable and itchy. You need to have her anal glands emptied.

You can do it yourself at home (if you’re the strong-stomached type), but have a professional train you on how to do it safely; an abscessed or ruptured anal gland is no joke. And be aware – the material in there has a powerful stink and it’s often oily and sticky, so don’t do it inside.

It is the nightmare of all veterinary staff to have anal gland material shot onto you, especially in the face (the worst is in the mouth). It happens.

@syz So NOT the answer I was hoping for especially right before dinner!

@Cruiser You and I each have a doggie named Sadie. Henceforth, you are officially my Fluther-mate.

Dogs often “scoot” because their anal glands are full, something that’s very uncomfortable. Please take Sadie to the vet and have her glands drained. She’ll be extremely happy and grateful. My own Sadie was “scooting” just a few days ago, and I took her for an expressing. She’s much better now.

Please don’t try to do this yourself. You’d risk breaking the sacs and injuring Sadie.

Is there any efficacy in getting those things removed?

@Brian1946 There’s a high risk of fecal incontinence. That would be a horrific outcome; the choices are to euthanize the dog or force him/her to live outside, lonely and exposed to all sorts of weather. I wouldn’t have the surgery done on any dog.

The day I saw it would be her last day in my house. I have seen dogs do that and it caused me to gag. It is gross and nasty.

Well @Cruiser, what do you do when your butt itches?

Glad I have cats. Ew.

@syz nailed it. The poor pup needs its anal glands expelled.

@syz It is the nightmare of all veterinary staff to have anal gland material shot onto you, especially in the face (the worst is in the mouth). It happens.
They cannot afford full-face masks or at least the muzzle mask with goggles? I mean, what are they spending all the money from those vet bill on?

@Love_my_doggie Rest ASSured I will NOT be draining Sadie’s A-glands anytime soon! Thanks for the alert and concern! Off to the Vet next week!

@janbb I grab a tree branch…doesn’t everybody??

@tinyfaery

Don’t breath too hard a sigh of relief because Cats can absolutely have the same problem also :)

I had one who did and was pretty surprised when the vet told me thats what it was.

So, she grabbed a wad of paper towels and had me help hold her and did the deed right then and there.

And @syz is absolutely right about it being nasty stuff.

But fortunately it is far less common than in dogs. Cats typically have harder stools and that helps to push out some of that stuff with each bowel movement (which is basically what should be happening all along with dogs, but doesn’t and therefore collects in the anal sacs. )

That’s usually a sign that they have worms.