Why Do Dogs Drag Their Butts

As humans, we love to hang out with our animals, watching them, playing with them, and enjoy the happiness they bring to our lives. Sometimes, our dogs tend to act in ways that seem a bit bizarre, that almost seem wrong or just plain odd. One of those peculiar actions that dogs may do is dragging their butts across the floor. Many of our dogs seem to do this, and sometimes, they do it quite frequently. Once we understand why our dogs act in certain ways, we can better understand them and help them be confident and healthy in all that they do. 

It can be common for dogs to drag their butts across the floor and there may be a wide range of reasons as to why they do that. To begin with, dogs drag their butts across the floor due to some sort of irritation. Just as we itch ourselves or find some avenue of relief when we are in pain or have an irritation, so do our dogs. The irritation can be anything from a simple infection to something more serious such as inflammation, or even worms. The main reasons that dogs drag their butts across the floor are due to anal sac problems, fecal contamination, worms, rectal prolapse, as well as other wounds or issues that may cause discomfort. If there are issues such as anal sac problems, it usually indicates that their sac has some sort of irritation through inflammation or blockage. This can be extremely irritating for dogs and when this occurs, the smell along with the irritation will lead them to search for some ease. Fecal contamination can also be a big cause of irritation, and simple relief can occur through dragging their butt across the floor. This irritation can be a simple fix through cleaning up the area, if there is no infection. Worms can be another cause, and if your animal has these, it may be important to get your dog checked out by the veterinarian, as medication may be needed, depending on the severity. Rectal prolapse may be the most serious issue, as a part of the large intestine may be exposed after major constipation and diarrhea. All of these issues are valid reasons for your dog dragging his butt, and finding the right one for healing is important. Although not every issue is an emergency, it may be important to figure it out, so your dog is back to being healthy and happy. 

Sometimes, your dog may act in ways that seem odd and disturbing, but they are only for relief and coincide with the health of your pet. Allowing your animal to express their pain and show you that healing is needed can help you and your pet figure out what is wrong, how to heal the irritation and develop a stronger relationship between each other.