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My dog is scooting and has a rash under her tail. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

my poor mini daschound has been scooting fiercely on the gravel and has caused a bad rash around her anus and under her tail i took her to the vet a tech looked at her i explained the vet had first said it was pancreatitus we treated that. then ear rashes and scooting started they said allergy to gi food and put her on kangaroo food . Her scooting is now more severe and the rash under her tail the tech should be fired for not seeing the rash!. please help me

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Elizabeth

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on September 18th, 2019

It sounds like your pup needs to go back to the veterinarian. If you don't trust the clinic, I recommend to get a second opinion. I'm not sure I understand if the tech addressed the rash or not. The tech cannot prescribe any medication or treatment. If they did see the rash, they can't do anything about it. They can only express anal glands and can give limited advice. Only the veterinarian is licensed to actually treat the rash. If your pet did not get examined by the veterinarian, she would not receive medical treatment for the rash.

Every pet is different and some pets may need their glands expressed every few weeks. Most however will be less frequent. This can be a problem in any dog but it is more common in small dogs. There is a supplement called glandex which many pets respond well to. This however may interfere with your food trial and I don't recommend starting it without first discussing it with your veterinarian.

Lastly, your vet is correct that sometimes frequent anal gland issues can be a sign of allergies. It sounds like you are on a food trial already. Keep in mind you must be very strict on this food trial and that it will take 12 weeks to see results. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 28th, 2018

    This rash could be from allergies or it could be a skin infection. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain, so I would take him into the vet this week. The vet can diagnose what is causing it, and can treat it. Best of luck.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 9th, 2020

    It looks like he has a dermatitis/skin infection. You could bathe him with an antimicrobial dog shampoo and spray the area with Vetricyn spray and see if that helps. Otherwise, he should be examined by a vet for treatment. He may need an antibiotic and anti-Inflammatory to treat.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My dog is scooting and has a red butt. Is it allergies or anal glands?
This sounds like her anal sacs are fully and causing the scooting and itching. Even if they look normal on the outside they can be full inside. I recommend your veterinarian express the fluid in the anal sacs and they can see if they are over full or infected. The scooting can cause skin irritation. You can apply a thin coat of Vaseline to soothe the red skin. Yes allergies can cause itching but I would check the anal glands to make sure they are not the problem. Also make sure you are using warm water or something mild to clean the area after pooping. Some chemicals, soaps, and fragrances could cause a skin irritation and itching. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Snowball.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
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Why is my dog constantly scooting, rubbing ears, and crying at night?
Every pet is different and some pets may need their glands expressed every few weeks. Most however will be less frequent. This can be a problem in any dog but it is more common in small dogs. There is a supplement called glandex which many pets respond well to. You may also try feeding her a higher fiber diet. Lastly, sometimes frequent anal gland issues can be a sign of allergies. You may talk with your veterinarian about ways to diagnose an allergy and if this seems to be indicated. The itchy ear could also support an allergy diagnosis but it could be unrelated. I recommend to look into diagnosing allergies, Please feel free to post any additional questions.
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Vet Q & A
My dog keeps scooting and is red. Is it anal glands or allergies?
It appears from the pictures that hollys rectum is very red! It is possible she is having a recurring anal gland infection and needs oral antibiotics. Also she could be having allergies from the environment or fleas making her itchy. I recommend applying flea prevention and taking her back to a veterinarian. It might be time for a second opinion from a different veterinarian to be a little more aggressive with treatment plan.
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Why is my dog scooting after grooming? Did groomer damage anal glands?
yes, I am afraid it is possible that a groomer damages anal glands. Most groomers offer emptying anal glands as a service, however, do not do this correctly and also do it even when it is not necessary. Emptying anal glands/sacs should be done by a veterinarian and only after the vet examines them and determines that they actually are impacted and need emptying. So, when you take your dog to the groomer adamantly request that they leave the anal sacs alone. As for the scooting and furiously licking, dogs with food allergies often can get irritated anal glands. It may be worth trying some hypoallergenic food for 8 to 12 weeks to see whether this subsides. If so, then your dog is suffering from food allergies and you want to discuss an elimination diet with your veterinarian.
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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.
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Why does my dog have a raw, greasy rash with yellow crust on her tail?
This could be beginning of flea allergy or problems with anal glands. The best way to approach it in this case, will be to get a good flea product, (ideally spot-on form) and apply on Daisy's neck . Please, keep the cone on as it is important that Daisy is not licking the sore area. You should bath the wound with disinfectant (ideally, containing chlorexidine) for 4-5 days. Anal glands can be emptied by an veterinary technician or experienced dog groomer - may be worth to get her anal glands checked too. If this doesn't help you will need to take Daisy to your local vet to get treatment.
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My dog is scooting and has raw spots on his tail. What should I do?
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Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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