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My dog keeps biting her butt and scooting. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 22 lbs

Hi, my dog keep biting near her backside. On rare occasions if ive stopped her from biting, she would try to scoot her butt on d floor. Ive checked for flea/ticks and there aren't any. Pics are where she bites, right beside her butthole.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 2nd, 2020

It may be that Nara has a problem with her anal sacs causing her to bite the area and scoot on her bottom. They may be impacted and need to be expressed. I'd have her seen by a vet for this behavior so she can get treated.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on September 5th, 2017
HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Ziggy!

The most common reason for scooting and trying to bite the anal area is infected/impacted anal glands. Another possibility is allergies.

I recommend having your Vet evaluate him. They can check his anal glands and express them if needed. Or treat him for allergies.

I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 18th, 2017
He could be having a problem with his anal glands and may need them expressed. It could also be a flea allergy as it only takes one flea bite to cause an allergic dog to itch. Have him examined by a vet to check his anal glands as they may need to be expressed. Make sure to use a monthly flea prevention.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog is scooting and biting her bottom. What can I put on the sore?

You can apply some Neosporin to it topically but honestly, most of the times this means that the gland is impacted or infected. I suggest you take her to your vet or groomer to have the glands checked/expressed. You can try the Neosporin for a couple days but if she continues to scoot or that sore looks worse at any time you should get her to your vet for an exam.

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Why is my dog biting her butt and struggling to poop? Anal glands?

Hello. She may be having some irritation from her anal sacs/glands. These can become impacted or infected and are itchy or painful. A veterinarian or even some groomers can express these for you. Try calling a grooming center to see if they offer just that service alone to keep your costs low. There may even be instructional videos online to teach you how to do it yourself, but it can be unpleasant and most dogs do not like it. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

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Dog licking, biting, and scooting: Is it allergies or something else?

this is likely due to an allergy whether it be fleas or environmental. A good bath will help. When you take her to your vet that can check her skin. They may also check her stool sample for parasites and her anal glands to make sure they are not impacted to cause the scooting on the floor.

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Training & Behavior

My dog keeps biting his bottom. Could it be anal gland problems?

If you are noticing him bite near his anus, then it is possible that this is due to an impacted or infected anal sac. It could also be due to other anal/rectal issues causing irritation like pinworms, or allergies. If your dog is biting you or other people/animals, then this may indicate that he/she is painful, but definitely would not be a specific problem with anal glands. I hope that helps to answer your question. If it didn't, then please post again and try asking the question a different way, or with some more detail in order for us to best help you.

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Why is my dog scooting and still getting ticks after treatment?

Running her bum across the ground can be a sign of intestinal worms, but it can also be a sign of impacted anal sacs. Dogs whose bum is itchy or painful will scoot, but if Pocket has only done it once, her anus may have simply be itchy at that time. Should she continue to do it, however, I would take her into the vet to see if her anal sacs need to be expressed. I'm not sure what brands of flea and tick repellent you used, so I can't advise if they are considered a good brand or not, but if the tick is dead, then you know the medication is working. Should you see more ticks and/or fleas, you may not have a good brand of repellent, and I would consider using another brand once this current treatment needs to be reapplied.

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My dog is scooting his butt. Can I give him dewormer with Nexgard?

Hi, usually when dogs do that butt dragging behavior which is called scooting, it means they have a problem with their anal glands. Anal glands are glands on either side of the rectum that fill with a substance that is excreted when they defecate. Sometimes they do not empty and can fill up or become infected, both of which are uncomfortable. I would inspect him for swelling or redness next to his rectum and take him to a vet if you see any. It may be they just need to be emptied by a veterinary professional or sometimes groomers can do this. If he is already on nexguard, it is unlikely he has tapeworms, but may have other worms too. Safeguard can be use in dogs at the appropriate dose. If this does not help, take hm to a vet to have his anal glands checked. Good luck I hope this helps!

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My dog is scooting and whining. What's wrong and what should I do?

Have him seen by your veterinarian. The most common, and easiest to treat, cause is full or impacted anal glands. Normally, the anal glands are emptied during the act of defecation. In some dogs, this doesn't happen and the glands fill up, become impacted and could abscess. This would result in the symptoms described. Your veterinarian can Express the glands manually, flush them and instill medication if necessary. Antibiotics and pain medications are also sometimes dispensed. If Scooby is licking back there, place an e-collar (cone) on him until he sees the doctor.

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