My dog keeps scooting and is red. Is it anal glands or allergies?

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.

Honestly, it could be either from these photographs. If she's not scratching or dragging her bottom and the puffiness is the only symptom at this time, I would keep an eye on it. If it doesn't improve or resolve in a couple of days, I recommend getting her seen by your vet for an exam.

Red’s anus does look irritated and I can see some redness on the underside of his tail as well. He might be licking due to irritation from full anal glands, parasites or allergies. I would recommend having your vet examine him and check his anal glands. They may want to check a stool sample as well. Oral or topical medications might help. I would recommend putting an e-collar on to prevent licking until you can get to the vet.

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.

Hello. The next step here is to rule out allergies, which would definitely explain all of Bella's behaviors. It is not unusual for dogs to experience peri-rectal irritation & inflammation during an allergic flare-up. Talk to your veterinarian about a trial of one of the terrific antiallergy medications ( Apoquel or Cytopoint ). Food allergies can also manifest as skin issues, so this might be something to consider, too. Hope Bella is doing well soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you are describing can be related to your dog's anal glands - these are structures that create lubrication for the feces and can become impacted or infected. You may be seeing redness around the anus because your dog has been scooting or licking/chewing the area. Another cause can be a bacterial or fungal infection. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible, they can perform a rectal exam to determine if there are any anal gland issues. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!