My dog's anus is swollen with poop stuck. Is flesh coming off? When to see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are a few things that can cause this such as parasites and in uncommon instances cancer such as lymphoma, among other possibilities. Your veterinarian would be able to examine her more closely and see what seems likely so that therapy can be started. Hopefully it is just a case of parasites as it is most of the time. Best of luck!

Hello. There can be a couple of things that might be bothering Sonny. Impacted, inflamed anal glands are a primary problem. Allergies can affect the delicate mucous membranes of the rectum, & more seriously, cancer. You can try sitting his bottom in a warm bath containing Epsom salts & a good shot of povidone-iodine for 5-10 minutes. Repeat twice daily for a few days. In an older pet, it is best to have this looked at if things do not improve on their own. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is certainly concerning. This warrants a veterinary evaluation to determine what seems to be extent of this as well as the possible cause. It is possible that Mickey has lost his anal tone which may be causing him to continue to defecate as you described. Treatment would be highly dependent on the cause of this. Good luck and have a great day!

I cant see the vulva/vaginal area in this photo so I can't tell you whether or not it looks like there is a prolapse. Most often "scooting" can sometimes be a sign of anal gland irritation. Take her to your vet for an exam. An exam will be able to let you know for certain whether or not there is a prolapse of any kind. A rectal exam will allow your vet to determine if the anal glands might be bothering her, and they can express the anal glands if needed which may provide relief. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Either is possible - diarrhea can cause irritation and 'itchiness' of the anus and perianal area. Baxter's anal glands could also be full since they are normally emptied during defecation and his stool probably hasn't been bulky enough to express them. If his anal area looks irritated you could apply a thin layer of Vitamin A+D ointment or Petroleum jelly to the area, but if he keeps scooting I'd recommend taking him in to have his glands checked.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be experiencing pain or discomfort while defecating and this can occur for a variety of reasons. Swelling around the anal region could be an indication of an impacted or infected anal gland. The constipation you describe could be due to lack of fiber in the diet, eating something out of the ordinary, or perhaps an infectious cause such as an intestinal worm infection. If Mila has not seen her veterinarian for this yet, I would recommend this happen soon. Her veterinarian may recommend an exam, anal gland expression, and fecal test to help determine a cause so she can be treated appropriately. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes this goes away on its own after a few hours. However, if this does not improve, have Peanut evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment as anal sac expression may be indicated as this may be due to anal sac impaction or infection. Good luck and have a great day!