Why does my dog lick his rear, whine, then act normal when playing?

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!

The most common things that could cause this behavior are flea bites around the back or tail, anal sacs that are full and itchy or infected, or a tail injury. You can check for fleas by combing the fur with a fine tooth comb. If you see fleas on the comb then give a bath and apply a flea prevention product. If you see him scooting I recommend your veterinarian express the anal sacs to empty the fluid and see if there is an anal sac infection. You can feel his tail and if there is a tail injury there will be one area that is more sensitive. Usually tail injuries will heal without treatment over a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Savage.

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, 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!

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

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.

Poor Tank! There are a number of problems that could cause this behavior. He may have a skin problem causing him to be itchy, such as [fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-check-your-pet-for-fleas-and-ticks), [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/), a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites ([mange](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-mange-in-pets)). He could also have a problem with his [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs), which are located on either side of the rectum and sometimes become overly full or infected. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian as soon as you are able. He or she can check the anal glands and also do some simple skin tests, if needed, to determine the problem and get him started on the appropriate treatment. In the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking.