Why do my dogs lick another dog's rear? Is it normal or an illness?

Dogs can definitely do this as part of normal grooming behavior, or maybe a bit excessively sometimes. It's also possible that something is irritating him down there. This could be something like an infection, allergies, or impacted anal sacs. It's a good idea to have a vet check him for any medical problems leading to the excessive licking. It's definitely possible that there is a reason for this, which can be corrected. I hope that helps.

There can be lots of reasons to lick back there. Allergies are the most common cause, and it could be a reaction to flea bites, foods, or the environment. Intestinal parasites and anal gland issues can also cause irritation. Licking can also be seen during the heat cycle of intact females.

Yes, it's okay for dogs to lick each other's ears. If the licking seems excessive, this may indicate an ear infection or other problem - in that case, it would be best to have your dog's ear examined by a vet to see if something is wrong.

It's possible that Lulu may have urinary tract infection or some other medical condition that is changing the odor of her urine and making it more interesting to your other dogs. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to - he/she can do a urinalysis to check for any problems and get her started on antibiotics or other medication if needed.

I would approach this two ways. One, get the dog who is getting licked checked by your vet, to see if there is something going on in that area that needs medical attention. Dogs are very sensitive to changes in scent and have been known to detect signs of illness in other animals and people long before any other symptoms emerge. Secondly, to keep the dog from licking to other, you can apply a product called Bitter Apple to the dog getting licked. This product is extremely bitter (wash your hands well after application or you may inadvertently touch them to your face or mouth and find out exactly why it works well in deterring licking, yuck!) and is meant to help protect bandages and furniture from chewing, but I have used it for a similar purpose as yours.

One possibility would be that Ozzy is expressing fluid from his anal glands. Anal gland fluid often has a fishy smell to it that attracts other dogs. I am attaching a handout below with more information on anal glands. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=625 If that sounds like what might be going on with Ozzy, then I would recommend scheduling an appointment at your veterinary office to have them check Ozzy's anal glands. Hopefully they will be able to express the fluid and resolve the problem. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

This could be a sign of affection, or that the older dog rolled in something gross and the younger dog likes the taste and wants to lick it off. The younger one could be grooming your older dog, or doing it as a sign of social status.