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Why is my dog scooting his butt after recent anal gland expression?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 12 lbs

My dog has gotten his anal glands squeezed out 2 weeks ago and yesterday he has started rubbing his butt on the carpet.What does that mean? And how can I fix it?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 13th, 2018

Hi there. It sounds like Lucky's anal glands are probably full again. This can be a recurring issue in some dogs, unfortunately. I would recommend taking him back to the vet tomorrow to have them checked and expressed again, if needed. You can ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this at home if you want to, to help avoid frequent vet visits for this problem in the future.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Claudia Fioravanti
Veterinarian
Published on January 23rd, 2021
Hi, yes it is very unlikely that the anal glands have become full again .It normally takes about 3-4 weeks at the earliest. It is more likely that perhaps she felt a little uncomfortable after passing feaces. I would keep an eye on her behaviour and if occurring regularly over the next 3days, have her re checked. Hope this helps !
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on August 17th, 2018
Yes, this is normal. There may be some slight irritation associated with expression (emptying) of the anal glands. It should resolve within the next 12-24 hours. If not, have Benji checked out by your veterinarian.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on November 12th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If possible, I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian for further assessment. This is possibly an anal gland issue. Sometimes these can get impacted or infected and cause those signs. Good luck and have a great day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 24th, 2017
Most pets run their bum after going potty, mostly to wipe off any residual feces, sort of like us wiping ourselves with toilet tissue. If her anal glands have been removed, then there is a possibility that she may have intestinal parasites that are causing her irritation back there. I would have your vet check her stool for parasites and treat her accordingly.
Another possibility is that she may have allergies. I would discuss with your vet about some allergy treatments for her.
I would assume that she won't run her bum on concrete if this is going to hurt her. Pets typically will continue to do things if they provide relief. So if she has a softer surface on which to rub her bum to provide relief, then I would assume she would select the softer surface like grass over a rough one like concrete. Best of luck with your pet Minkus and her butt rubbing. Take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog is still scooting after anal gland expression. Is this normal?

They are likely not full again but may be a bit irritated due to the expression. If your dog keeps scooting for more than a day or two then I suggest you take him back to your veterinarian for a recheck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog keeps scooting after anal gland expression. Is this normal?

Residual inflammation is normal, especially if the glands were already inflamed. You may call your vet and ask about a course of anti-inflammatory medication. Omega 3 fatty acids can also help. Lastly, a cool (not cold) compress may be a better option to relieve the burning. Sometimes supplements like Glandex can help. If Adam continues to have itchy anal glands, you may want to discuss ruling out food allergies with your vet. I always use a hydrolyzed protein for this. I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

I squeezed my dog's anal glands. Is that expressing? Is it recurring?

Yes, that is considered expressing the anal sacs. I would only do them as needed. If you notice that Lolli is sniffing around her anus or scooting her bottom, then they may need to be expressed again. Best of luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my dog still scooting and swollen after anal gland expression?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Continued scooting following anal sac expression may not be related to the need to be expressed further. Occasionally the anal sac may still be inflamed/irritated following the expression which may still result in some discomfort and the urge to itch. Scooting of the hind end can also be due to a superficial itch that may be related to an underlying environmental or parasite (i.e flea) allergy. It is difficult to tell from the picture without being able to palpate the rectum, but I do not see any evidence of overt swelling in the region (the anal sacs sit at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock position at the anus). If Emma continues to appear irritated you can have her evaluated by her veterinarian to palpate the anal sacs and make sure everything palpates normally.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Dog scooting and red after anal gland expression? Is it serious?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an infection of the anal sac or possibly allergies for example. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog's anal glands were just expressed. Why is she scooting again?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Aspen. I'm sorry she is potentially having issues again with her anal sacs. Unfortunately, some dogs have continual issues. I'd try giving her a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) with each meal. This will put more fiber into her diet, solidifying her feces more, and hopefully encouraging the sacs to express when the feces is pushed passed them. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why do my dog's anal glands leak constantly, smell awful, and stain?

These are two little glands inside the dog's rectum. They naturally fill with a material that ranges from thin, light colored liquid to a thick paste. When a dog defecated, this material is released -- most of the time not all of the liquid is release but over the course of each defecation, enough is released that the glands do not overfill. With some dogs though, this process does not occur as easily. This can be due to the material being too thick to be expressed, the stool being too soft or diarrhea which does not apply enough force to the gland to express the fluids or due to an underlying disease process. The most common cause of recurrently full anal glands is an underlying allergy problem. Dogs with skin sensitivity or allergies often have anal glands that need to be emptied on a routine basis. If the glands become too full, the material can become infected or the gland can rupture. In this case, the area will heal but antibiotics are typically needed. After the anal glands are expressed, the area can continue to feel irritating for a few days. In some cases though, the glands may not have been completely emptied. This is often the case if the glands are emptied at a groomers as they empty them from the outside and are not trained to empty them rectally as a vet would. Most dogs do not need their glands emptied for any medical purpose but if the glands were randomly checked, they could be moderately full. This does not indicate a need to express the material though. The reason I bring this up is because I have found that if we begin emptying the glands for the dog, it creates a cyclic effect where we continue to have to empty them. If the dog is scooting, this is an indication to have them checked.

Updated on March 19th, 2026

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