Why is my dog licking his rear, losing hair, and acting depressed?

Poor guy. I would be concerned about his anal glands being full, or him having a superficial bacterial or yeast infection at the base of his tail. For either issue, a quick vet visit should give him a lot of relief. Even if it started as a an anal gland issue, he may have caused a superficial infection with constant licking and now need a medicated bath or even oral antibiotics. I hope that helps and that he's back to normal soon!

Poor pup! It sounds like he may have some irritation in this area. This can sometimes happen due to skin irritation from the clippers (if his rear end was shaved), a local allergic reaction to the shampoo or other grooming products, or possibly even an anal gland problem since this often causes dogs to act this way. I would recommend getting a topical hydrocortisone spray or ointment labeled for dogs (you can get this at Walmart or most pet stores) and apply to the area to help soothe it. You can also get him a plastic e-collar if needed to keep him from continuing to lick the area and make it more irritated. If he's still acting uncomfortable after 24 hours, I would recommend having him seen by a vet to determine the problem and get him prescription medication to relieve the discomfort.

Hello. The rusty colored skin is an indication that Bowie is spending a great deal of time licking his bum. Pigments in saliva will discolor hair once it is exposed to air & light. It is likely Bowie has allergies & this is causing his uncomfortable itchiness. He may also have an issue with his anal glands, which are located just inside the rectum, or he may have a parasitic problem, either internal or external like fleas. Your veterinarian can sort this out rather quickly & recommend any number of medications, supplements or therapies to make Bowie much more comfortable. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Poor Buddy! This is a common behavior when they have full anal glands. Anal glands are 2 glands, one on each side of the anus, that holds a foul smelling material. They are there to help naturally lubricate a dog's bowel movements, but not all dogs properly express them. I would take him to your vet clinic and see if they can express his anal glands. Also, he could also act this way and lick everything if he is really itchy, anxious or just uncomfortable. If he doesn't improve after his anal glands are expressed, then I would have your vet take a look at him to ensure he doesn't have an infection or something else going on causing these behaviors. I hope this helps!

Poor Zippy. He may be scooting because of intestinal parasites (i.e. Tapeworms) or full anal glands (sacks inside the rectum that can fill and cause irritation). Have his stool (feces) checked by your vet for microscopic parasites (invisible to the naked eye) and also the anal glands checked to make sure they aren't full. Both of these should be able to be resolved fairly easy with a vet visit.

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!