Why is my dog licking his butt and feet? Could it be allergies or anal glands?

Hello, thank you for your question about Jamar. Chewing/licking/itching can be signs of underlying skin disease in addition to fleas. I would recommend having Jamar evaluated by your veterinarian so that they can examine his skin and discuss the need for skin testing such as an impression smear or gentle skin scrape. This will look for signs of infection or allergies. Depending on the results of these tests your veterinarian can discuss treatment options with you. Hope this helps, good luck!

Poor Zyyz! His itching can be caused by impacted anal glands (small structures on either side of the anus that make mucus to lubricate the stool), an obstruction, or a food allergy. In my experience, issues with the anal glands are relatively common, especially in dogs who have softer than normal stool. Your vet will be able to express these glands carefully or determine if there is any other cause. You should definitely have him seen by a vet as soon as you can, as this is pretty uncomfortable. In the meantime, I recommend using an E-colla (or “cone”) to prevent your dog from reaching the area and causing further damage. i hope this helps and that Zyzz feels better soon!

Hello. This is a situation that requires a hands on veterinary examination to sort out what is bothering Jax. He may have an anal gland impaction/infection, or allergies ( yes, allergies can cause his butt to itch ). Shivering can also be an indication of a elevated temperature. The fastest way to see what is bothering Jax is to have your veterinarian evaluate him. Then, once a problem is isolated, the proper treatment can be initiated to get him feeling better again. Thanks 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 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!

Licking and biting on the paws and legs is a classic sign of allergies so he may be suffering from an allergy. It could also be secondary to anxiety or possibly pain. The best thing would be to have your vet examine him to determine the cause and treat the problem. Once diagnosed, your vet can prescribe medications to treat.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect Blu has either skin allergy (for example flea-bite allergy) or impacted anal glands. Please, get him seen by your local vets as he likely needs anti-allergic medication and a good quality flea and tick prevention. Also his anal glands should be emptied. Do not worry - this treatment should not be very expensive. Good luck