Category: Dog Health

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When it comes to hair dyes, they are not meant for animals. Many canine owners think it’s so cute to dye their dog’s hair. You may have even seen pictures on the Internet of dogs with their hair dyed and thought, “how cute”. It’s not cute. In fact, it’s downright harmful to a canine’s health because of the dye’s toxic chemicals.

Emma Watson, the actress who played Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, was seen leaving a salon with Darcy, a one-year-old Maltese terrier believed to be her flatmate’s dog friend. The dog’s fur had been dyed pink. The pictures began a vicious discussion among canine lovers with many of them critical of it. Continue reading Why You Should Not Dye Your Dog’s Fur?

The age old dog question is – why does my dog scoot his but across the floor? Well, the answer is it could be caused by several reasons. Yet, either way, scooting occurs when a dog drags its butt across the floor, and in any case – it signifies something is irritating your dog’s behind.

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The cause of this irritation can be a range of things from inflammation to worms. The following are the most common reasons for a dog to scoot his butt across the floor:

Anal Sac Issues

Despite what you would think, dogs communicate with their behinds, so when anal sacs become blocked, inflamed or abscessed dogs will scoot to relieve their discomfort or pain. Other signs that your dog is having an anal sac problem is licking or chewing of the area, difficulties defecating and swelling of the anus.

Fecal Contamination

Diarrhea leaves dogs dehydrated, messy and weak. Additionally constipation can lead to the collection of feces around the anus. Regardless how it gets there, the point is that fecal contamination under the tail will lead to enough discomfort for the dog to begin scooting.

Worms

Another, less common, reason for dog scooting is tapeworm. Tapeworms are transmitted to dogs after they consume an infected flea. To prevent this from ever being an issue for your dog, you need to simply control fleas using one of many flea preventatives on the market.

Rectal Prolapse

Referring to part of the rectum, rectal prolapse occurs when the last portion of the large intestine protrudes through the anus. This condition can happen after severe bouts of diarrhea or after your dog has strained too hard with constipation. If along with the scooting you see a long, cylindrical mass protruding from your dog’s anus you should call the veterinarian immediately.

Other Possible Causes Of Dog Scooting

Discomfort and pain caused by tumors or wounds can cause a dog to scoot its butt across the floor. Swelling is the most noticeable sign to watch for when it comes to a tumor in the anal gland. Any sightings of bruising, discharge or redness can mean that an abscessed anal gland could require immediate medical attention.