A Pug butt scooting is an experience that all dog owners have witnessed, and while it might appear comical, it’s not something we like to see. This scooting action is mainly because the poor dog is suffering from something back there, and scooting is the only way to relieve himself.
Dragging his butt along the ground, your living room carpet, or out in the garden will not help him much and could make things worse. Of course, he doesn’t know that; your Pug only wants to get some form of relief. The same way we do when we give ourselves a good scratching, nothing good comes from it, but it does make us feel better.
So, why do Pugs drag their bottoms along the ground, and what can you do to help them stop?
Why Pugs Scoot Their Bottoms: Common Causes And Treatments
Scooting is when a Pug drags his anus along the floor. A sure sign that he’s having a problem, and there’s some irritation in or around his butt. What’s causing this can be infection, inflammation, or parasites (worms). We have listed some of the common causes of Pug scooting.
1. Anal Gland/Sac Issue With Pugs
Pugs and all dogs communicate via their rear ends. Their anal glands secrete a thick nasty smelling liquid that dogs use to mark their territory and identify one another, which is why you see them smelling each other’s butts.
At times the sacs can get blocked and inflamed; this is more prevalent in smaller breeds like the Pug. Because this is painful to the dog and incredibly itchy, he wants to scratch at the area; he can’t naturally reach there, so he scoots his little Pug butt along the ground.
If this happens to a dog a bit more flexible than a Pug, you might see him lick and or nip around his bottom as well as scooting. It might even cause pain when the dog needs to poo. There are some treatments to help your Pug get over this issue:
- To express the Pug’s anal sacs.
- If there’s an infection, then a course of antibiotics.
- This advice is not an immediate treatment as such but for ongoing information.
- Apply a warm compress to soothe the inflammation.
- If it’s severe, then the sacs may need treatment under anesthetic.
- Anti-inflammatory medications.
2. How Are A Pug’s Anal Glands Expressed?
A vet needs to squeeze the anal glands for them to empty physically. If this is something you have never done before then, it’s best left to the professionals. It generally requires two people, one to hold your Pug. Needless to say, your Pug will not enjoy the experience. The unpleasant feeling is why he’ll need holding.
If the problem keeps coming back, you might need your vet to express them regularly. Hopefully, the glands won’t become infected because this means a course of antibiotics. After a couple of times, if you feel comfortable with the procedure, you might try it yourself, if your Pug will keep still long enough.
The constitution of your Pug’s poo has something to do with this also. If his poo is too soft, it won’t put any pressure on the walls of his anus, and that stops the glands from expressing. Your Pug’s poo needs to be firm enough, not hard, to cause the gland to express.
Think about his diet; is there anything you can change to firm up his poo? The food you feed might not wholly agree with him. Sometimes you can provide a Pug the same food for years, and then for some reason, it doesn’t suit him anymore. If changing his food concerns you, then your vet can give you advice about trying different food.
3. Fecal Contamination
Incessant diarrhea can leave your Pug with a filthy bottom. If the area is left dirty, it can lead to discomfort for your Pug. Your dog might try to scoot to relieve the feeling. Providing this has not created any infection; it just needs cleaning. And if the hair is exceptionally matted, then trimming off with scissors.
4. Worms
Although this is not all that common, it can also be a reason for your Pug scooting. To be precise, the worms in question are tapeworms, and the dog catches them by eating worm-infested fleas. You might at first notice your Pug scoot, and if you investigate his anal area, if its worms, there will be some small worm segments; they look a little like rice grains around his bottom.
The treatment for tapeworms is simple; he needs to take oral or injectable medication. However, you must eradicate the fleas that caused the infection, or the problem can reoccur.
5. Rectal Prolapse
A rectal prolapse can happen if the Pug has had severe diarrhea or from forcing himself to poo when he’s constipated. The last part of the large intestine protrudes through and outside of the anus of the Pug. If you see something like this sticking out of your Pug’s butt, then take him to your vet straight away. There are several ways the vet can deal with rectal prolapse.
6. Anal Gland Sacculectomy
If the problem is persistent and doesn’t respond to any of the usual treatments, then your vet may suggest an anal gland sacculectomy. In this procedure, removes one or both of the anal glands. This surgery is quite a radical answer, as most surgery is, and not something to think about lightly. As with any surgery, there are risks. Many nerves are running through the Pug’s butt area. Whether you opt for this kind of treatment is for you and your vet to discuss.
Complications can occur after surgery, but according to vets, this is rare. However, something to consider is the fact there have been cases of fecal incontinence after this surgery.
In Conclusion
What’s your reaction to your Pug when he scoots? Do you get angry and shout at him or laugh it off? In either case, you might be making things worse.
Paying attention and reacting to a Pug’s behavior is kind of like rewarding the action. Once your Pug sees that scooting is getting your attention, he might repeat the action, even getting angry attention.
So if you see Pug butt scooting, try not to react, but make a mental note to talk to your vet, or when he’s not scooting, check his bottom.
