Why does my dog have an itchy bum?
An itchy bottom in a dog is most often down to full anal glands, irritation from worms, or a skin problem around the tail base — none of which you can tell apart just by watching the scooting. It is a very common complaint and rarely an emergency on its own, but a dog who is persistently bothered by it, or who has other symptoms alongside it, needs a vet to look and say which of these it actually is.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The most common cause: anal glands
Dogs have two small glands either side of the anus that normally empty a little with each bowel movement. In some dogs, particularly smaller breeds, they do not empty properly on their own and become full or impacted, which is uncomfortable and often the reason behind scooting along the floor, excessive licking, or a sudden sharp smell.
A vet or veterinary nurse can empty these glands quickly and it usually brings immediate relief. Dogs who have this problem repeatedly sometimes benefit from a diet with more fibre, which firms up stools and helps the glands empty naturally, but that is worth discussing with your vet rather than guessing at on your own.
Worms and skin irritation
Tapeworm segments can appear around a dog's bottom looking like small grains of rice, and the irritation this causes is a common trigger for scooting and licking. Regular worming, as advised by your vet, is the straightforward way to rule this out and keep it from recurring.
Skin irritation around the tail base and bottom can come from allergies, a reaction to something in the diet, or general skin sensitivity, and it tends to look like redness, mild hair loss, or a dog who is chewing at the area rather than just scooting once and moving on. This is harder to tell apart from anal gland trouble without a proper look, which is exactly why a vet check matters here.
What to check before you call the vet
Take a look at the area if your dog will let you, in good light. Redness, swelling, a strong or unusual smell, or anything that looks like small moving segments are all useful things to be able to describe. Note how often the scooting or licking is happening, and whether your dog seems otherwise their normal self — eating, drinking, and behaving normally — or whether they seem uncomfortable, lethargic, or off their food.
It is worth checking your worming is up to date before anything else, since this is one of the easiest causes to rule out and treat. If the itching has been going on for more than a day or two, or keeps coming back, that pattern itself is useful information for your vet.
It can also help to note whether the licking is confined to the tail base and bottom or is part of wider itching over the body, since the second pattern points more towards a general skin or allergy problem than an anal gland issue on its own. A quick note of when it started and whether anything changed around the same time — a new food, a new bed, warmer weather — can shorten a vet visit considerably.
When to see a vet
See your vet if the scooting or licking is frequent, if there is any swelling, discharge, bleeding or a strong smell from the area, if your dog seems in pain when the area is touched, or if the problem keeps recurring after worming and glands have been checked. A vet can examine the anal glands directly, express them if needed, and rule out infection or a skin problem that needs its own treatment.
A dog who is otherwise bright, eating well and only occasionally scoots is unlikely to be in an urgent situation, but repeated or worsening symptoms are worth booking in for rather than watching indefinitely — anal gland problems that are left tend to become more uncomfortable and, in some cases, can develop into an abscess that needs more involved treatment.
This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your dog. If you are ever unsure whether something needs looking at, it is always worth the call.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
MPS Medical PetS Boot – Waterproof Paw Protector
A vet-recommended waterproof boot that keeps bandages, dressings, and casts dry during walks and wet weather.
£30.49
Common questions
- Why is my dog scooting their bottom on the floor?
- Scooting is most often a sign of full or impacted anal glands, which cause discomfort your dog tries to relieve by dragging their bottom along the ground. Worms and skin irritation around the area can cause similar behaviour, so it is worth a vet check if it happens more than once or twice.
- Can I express my dog's anal glands myself?
- It is possible but easy to get wrong and can cause injury if done incorrectly, so it is best left to a vet or veterinary nurse the first few times. They can also check for infection or impaction that needs treating, which a home attempt would miss.
- Is an itchy bottom in dogs always caused by worms?
- No. Worms are one common cause, but anal gland problems and skin irritation are just as likely, and they look similar from the outside. Keeping worming up to date rules out one possibility, but a vet check is the only reliable way to know which one it actually is.
- Should I change my dog's food if they keep having anal gland problems?
- A higher-fibre diet can help some dogs by firming up their stools, which encourages the anal glands to empty naturally during a bowel movement. It is worth raising with your vet rather than switching foods on your own, since recurring gland problems sometimes need addressing directly rather than through diet alone.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.