My dog is chewing his butt. Could it be food, allergies, or anal glands?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know without an exam. However, this is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Anal glad issues and chewing the skin around the anus can be signs of allergies. Since you commented that she allergic to everything then I would assume her anal gland issues are linked. I would not give her beef bones if she is allergic to beef and bones pose a risk to fracturing teeth. I would discuss a prescription hydrolzyed diet with your Vet and get her on apoquel or cytopoint to try and control skin allergies as a cause of her anal gland issues. Also consider starting Omega 3 fish oils and an antihistamine. Adding fiber may help. The anal gland can also be surgically removed if they are a huge problem. I wish Sasha the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. This could be either environmental or food related. Unfortunately, it is not specific to any of those possibilities. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hello. Itching, especially in the back end, is generally due to allergies, especially to flea bites, but there could also be some inflammation in the rectum itself. This can result from inflamed/infected anal glands or even the presence of intestinal parasites. It would be best to have Buster evaluated by your veterinarian so that a proper diagnosis can be made & this will allow for the correct treatment/medication to start. Once this is done, Buster should be much more comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Usually chewing at the back end or bum is caused by the following: 1. Full anal glands- these can rupture if not emptied 2. Flea allergy dermatitis (an over-reaction to fleas, so one bite from a flea makes them very very itchy all over, so you don't see fleas on them but they are reacting) 3. Flea infestation 4. Intestinal worms (lead to diarrhea and itchy bum) 5. Other possible causes exist as well. I recommend that you have him assessed by a vet to check his anal glands and check him for fleas. Also, if he is dewormed then a fecal test might be recommended, and if he isn't then a broad spectrum dewormer might be recommended. Best of luck with Jagger! I hope he feels better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It looks like you have done everything you can to help with this at home. However, this may be due to impacted or infected anal glands that may need veterinary evaluation and treatment. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to diagnose the issue and treat it accordingly. Best of luck!