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Q: My dog “scoots” its bottom along the ground. What could be causing this?
A: Scooting is not something that should be ignored; your pet could be trying to tell you that he or she is having some discomfort.
The most common cause of scooting is a problem with one or both of the anal sacs. Anal sacs are similar to the scent glands of a skunk; however they are not quite as developed. They are located to the right and left of the anus and they hold fluid that is generally secreted when the animal defecates.
The expression of these sacs is involuntary. The pressure of passing feces expresses the contents of sacs, onto the feces. The contents provide a unique scent from each dog.
However, things can happen that hinder this process. To find out more, see the Jan. 14 Galva News.
Q: My dog “scoots” its bottom along the ground. What could be causing this?
A: Scooting is not something that should be ignored; your pet could be trying to tell you that he or she is having some discomfort.
The most common cause of scooting is a problem with one or both of the anal sacs. Anal sacs are similar to the scent glands of a skunk; however they are not quite as developed. They are located to the right and left of the anus and they hold fluid that is generally secreted when the animal defecates.
The expression of these sacs is involuntary. The pressure of passing feces expresses the contents of sacs, onto the feces. The contents provide a unique scent from each dog.
However, things can happen that hinder this process. To find out more, see the Jan. 14 Galva News.
