Why is my dog lethargic, scratching ears, and licking butt after heat?

The most common dogs scoot on the floor or grass is because there anal glands , small lubricating glands next to the rectum, are full. You should take your dog to a veterinarian. He or she will check the glands and possibly express them. You vet may also recommend a stool exam to look for parasites, tapeworm in particular. Consider having you dog spayed, it has great benefits even at her age. The Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She may be coming into heat which could be causing her to feel irritated down there, making her scratch which damages tge skin barrier and can cause skin infection. Or alternatively she has simply got a skin infection. The skin does look inflamed and the dark pigment could just be natural colour change or it could caused by yeast. She looks sore so I would have the vet examine her and determine exactly what microbes ate present in the area and then decide how best to treat. She may just need an antinflammatory or antihistamine but I suspect she will also require an antimicrobial.

Sometimes dogs will feel uncomfortable during their first cycle. They may be lethargic, have a decreased appetite, and crave attention more than normal. All of this is completely normal. The itchy paws does not really fit with being in heat, and could be caused by fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. You can try a medicated shampoo, like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo along with a good flea preventative. If it continues after her heat cycle is over, you should see a vet for diagnosis.

Hello. It is very difficult to say what might be going on with Willow without an exam, but one thing it could be is demodectic mange. The reason I would consider this is because a young dog who has this often will outgrow the problem as their immune system matures. However, when a female goes into heat, the hormones can reactivate the mites. So, you have to decide if you want to confirm this with a visit to your veterinarian. If it is demodex, you can treat her with medications, but we really encourage owners to spay their pets with this. Otherwise, she can pass the mites on to her puppies & spaying will help in treating the mites, too. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she is dripping urine or straining to urinate then I would worry about a urinary tract infection or crystals in the urine. I would try to collect a urine sample and bring it with you for an appointment with your Vet. If she has an infection they can provide her with antibiotics. When dogs are in heat they sometimes act lethargic. She is a bit young to have an infected uterus as they do drink and urinate more. It is best to have her examined. I wish you the best!

Biting at the paws or legs is more of an indication of something such as an allergy or irritation and may or may not be related to her heat cycle. If she is also licking or chewing at her vaginal area a lot or you are seeing strange discharge not related to her heat cycle from the vaginal area, then it could indicate irritation, inflammation or a possible infection that should be checked out by your vet. Some inflammation and discharge is normal during the heat cycle, however you are seeing any additional signs of illness or strange symptoms, a vet check is always best to rule out more serious conditions. If she is biting and chewing a lot, an Elizabethan (cone) collar may be useful to stop her from licking and chewing and worsening any irritation until you can get into your vet.

It could be that Lucy's anal sacs were impacted and the vet expressed them. This can cause some discomfort for a bit of time afterward. She should return to normal in time. I'm glad the medication is working for her ears!