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Dogs can do some pretty strange things at times, such as dragging their bottoms across the yard or floor. Ouch! Why do male dogs drag their bottoms in this way?
There are a few reasons that may cause a male dog to act like this, and they’re good reasons. So, if your dog has been dragging his tail end, be sure to read to the end. In some cases, you may need to take your fur baby to the vet for a checkup.
Why Do Male Dogs Drag Their Bottoms?
You may have noticed your dog dragging his bum across the floor with a desperate look on his face. Or maybe you’ve seen other dogs act this way. But what causes this behavior? Turns out there are some good reasons a male dog acts like this.
- Perianal irritation: in other words, this term means your dog has an itch under his tail. This may be caused by flea bites, an allergic reaction to flea bites, a skin allergy, or even a skin infection.
- Anal sac issues: another common cause of a dog dragging their bottom can occur due to anal sac issues. The anal sacs are located on either side of the anus. When the dog poops, the anal sacs release a unique secretion that adds scent to the poop. This is how the dogs learn about other dogs. Sometimes the anal sacs can develop problems such as impaction (secretions build up in the glands), infections, and more. The irritation and pain caused by these issues may cause a male (or female) dog to drag his bottom.
- Diarrhea: this is another common reason that a male dog may drag his bottom. Diarrhea is uncomfortable, but it can also cause a mess under a dog’s tail. And if your dog has a lot of fur in that area, diarrhea can make a huge mess. The dog may try to get rid of the mess by using the floor, carpet, or the ground as they would toilet paper and drag their bottoms.
- Parasites: dogs are prone to a number of parasites, such as tapeworms. When a dog is infected with tapeworms, he may have irritation under his tail caused by worm segments that are coming out of his anus. This is gross, yes, but imagine the discomfort this causes.
How to Help Your Dog
If your dog is having problems with dragging his bottom, it may be a good idea to check under his tail. Look to see if there are signs of worm segments, skin irritation, sores, or other problems. If the anal sacs are the problem, you may notice a fishy scent coming from your dog’s undertail area.
These are all symptoms that need to be evaluated by the vet. So, be sure to make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible. Your fur baby needs to have relief, so he can stop dragging his bottom.
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Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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