Why Does My Dog Rub His Bum On the Floor?

If your dog is going around and rubbing its bum on the floor, the term that is often used to describe this is scooting. There could be a variety of reasons why your dog might be doing this, and it could be a sign that something is wrong. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to try and figure out what the problem is and then solve it. Dogs tell us lots of things about what is going on with them through their behaviour, and while they can’t tell us what is wrong, they often show us. If we pay attention to any changes in their behaviour, then we can begin to understand what is happening. 

If you find that your dog is rubbing their bum on the floor, then you might be left wondering why it is happening. In this article, we aim to answer any questions that you might have and tell you exactly why your dog is rubbing their bum on the floor.

Why Does My Dog Rub His Bum On the Floor?

If you find that your dog is rubbing their bum on the ground, it is highly likely that it is a sign that something is irritating or itching them around this area. This could be due to many different things, but the common causes are typically things like inflammation, infections, and parasites. Thankfully, these things can be treated, and you can get your dog back to normal in no time. Monitoring this behaviour will tell you everything that you need to know, and you can tell if the problem is persisting if they do not stop this behaviour after treatment. 

Worms in Dogs

One of the most common reasons why your dog might be rubbing their bum on the ground is because they have worms. To avoid this situation, you should make sure that your dog is up to date on all of their worm treatments. If they haven’t been treated, then they can get worms, which will cause discomfort and itching, hence the scooting. 

You can give them worm treatment to get rid of the worms, and this should solve the problem. However, this is not a one time fix, and you will need to keep giving your dogs worm treatments when they are supposed to have them to avoid it happening again. Your vet can give you all of the information that you need on worm treatments, or you can pop into your local pet store.

If your dog has been dewormed, then it is probably something else that is causing the problem. You should take them to the vet for an evaluation, so that they can find out what the problem is. It could be due to an issue with their anal glands, and the vet will examine the area to find the cause. 

For those who don’t already know, anal glands are the two sacs that can be found on either side of your dogs anus, and these glands will secrete a substance when your dog poops, which works to mark their territory. If the glands are not being emptied often enough, then the build-up can end up causing irritation in the area. This can be really uncomfortable and itchy for your dog to experience, so you should try to get them to a vet as soon as possible.

The treatment for this will involve your vet having to manually express the anal glands themselves using the required method. This might not be the most pleasant of treatment, but it can actually be done at home with the right knowledge and information. However, we do recommend that you take your dog to the vet to make sure that the procedure is being done properly. If your dog cannot express their glands on their own, then they might need a little help to do so.

Sometimes, your dogs impacted anal glands can become infected, which would end up causing even more discomfort. Infected anal glands can be quite painful, and it will require medication in order for it to be treated. Signs of an infection can include discharge around the infected area, and painful-looking red areas. The only way to check this out is to take them to a vet, who will be able to help. When left untreated, this could end up causing serious problems, which is why it is so important to keep an eye out for signs of infection.

If this isn’t the first time that your dog has had problems with their anal glands, then it could be a reccuring issue that is due to their diet, or even a food allergy. Your vet will be able to talk you through some of the changes that you can make at home to improve your dog’s anal gland health and to try and avoid the problem.

Why is my Dog’s Bum Itchy?

As well as rubbing their bums along the floor, there are some other signs that your dog might have an itchy bum. Some of these signs include persistently licking and biting around the bum and underneath the tail, rubbing their bums against other objects for relief, and discomfort while pooping. If you are able to look at the area, you might find red and inflamed skin and missing fur. These are also signs that your dog has been itching the area. You may even find uncomfortable swelling in some areas, or a fishy smell or liquid.

There are lots of different causes of an itch bum, and we have mentioned these above for you to read about. Identifying the problem is the first step to finding the solution, and you might need the help of a vet to do this. As well as the reasons that we have mentioned above, your dog could also have allergies that are causing them discomfort, typically related to food. 

What Are the Signs of Worms in Dogs?

Dogs can become infected with worms from a variety of different sources. Some of these can include by eating worm eggs in contaminated soil or stool, eating infected rodents, or through fleas. These worms will usually hide out in your dog’s gut, which can make it really difficult to identify that they have a problem. These worms will eventually come out of the dog’s anus, and this can be really itchy and uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are a few different signs that you can look out for that may indicate that they have worms. Some of these signs can include:

• Rubbing their bum along the floor
• Visible eggs or worms in their poop
• Visible worms in your dog’s fur or around their bum
• Scratching, rubbing, or licking at their bum
• Visible worms in their vomit
• A bloated stomach
• Weakness and fatigue
• They are hungry more often
• Your dog losing weight
• Diarrhoea, especially if it has blood in it

How Do You Get Rid of Worms in a Dog Without Going to the Vet?

Thankfully, there are lots of different dewormer products that are available for you to purchase, and you can get your hands on these in pet stores, and from online retailers. You should make sure that you are purchasing these treatments from a trusted and reputable source. If the problem persists, then you might need to seek advice from your vet, as it could be a specific type of worm that needs different treatment. 

Can I Get Worms From My Dog Sleeping in My Bed?

There are some types of worms that can be transmitted from animals to people, and you can catch these worms by swallowing the worm eggs from a source like contaminated soil. This is why children are the most at risk for catching worms from your dog, as small children commonly like to put things in their mouths. These worms can become really dangerous, and you should seek medical advice if you think that you might have them. They can move around the body from the gut, and get to places that can cause some serious damage. 

Research also suggests that you can get a variety of different types of worms, like roundworm, tapeworm, and even hookworm, from sharing a bed with your dog. This is why it is advised that you do not share a bed with your dog, and such worms can pose a serious threat to your health. As much as it might be a nice idea, you should not sleep with your dog, just in case. 

Can You Get Worms From Your Dog if They Lick You?

Unfortunately, you can get a variety of parasites from your dog that can be passed on through licking, and you can also pass on illnesses to your dog through this method too. While the same cannot be said for viruses, you can contract worms, especially if you are letting your dog lick your face. 

Can I Use Baby Wipes on My Dog’s Bum?

It is not recommended to use baby wipes on your dog’s bum, but you can get wipes that are specifically designed to be used on dogs. This is due to the fact that your dog will lick their bum, and there are chemicals in baby wipes that are not safe for ingestion.