Pet parents wanting to know the answer to the question for one of the worst behavior of their furry friend, why do dogs lick their butt? According to pet experts and vets, there are several reasons for dogs liking their butt.
In the article, we discuss all the possible reasons for this behavior in your puppy. Keep reading.
Why do dogs lick their butt?
As a pet owner, you may notice that you’re dog licking his rare part frequently. This behavior may seem worst and insignificant but also its a sign of a larger health issue.
If you notice that your pup is grooming this area continuously a trip to the vet may be needed. In this article we’ll cover a few possible reasons why your dog might be preoccupied with his rear, and when it’s time to intervene.
Before going into the comprehensive details, the main reason for puppies licks their butt is an itch in their rectum.
The rectum is a very sensitive area and have many blood glands, in humans when they feel itches in there rare part they scratch it, but dogs can’t scratch their butts, they lick it.
Reasons of Why do dogs lick their butt?
1. Anal Gland Problems
Impacted or infected anal glands lead your pup to anal irritation in. Dogs have two glands near the anus which hold fluid.
According to vets the sacs of anal glands, continually fill up, that gets expelled every time your dog poops.
But some times these sacs get clogged and cause a bacterial infection or abscesses. Unfortunately, these glands can become impacted or infected, causing the uncomfortable situation, cause severe itching in your dog’s anal glands.
To relieve the itching and discomfort, they start licking his anal area or dragging his butt along the ground.
Some dogs may suffer from chronic anal gland conditions, so if your dog has experienced any anal glands issue, the best idea is to express them at home.
Note that: licking to clean a wound or remove faecal matter makes the wound worse and can lead to severe skin infections.
2.Presence of parasites
The cause of licking butt behavior in dogs might be the presence of internal or external parasites.
The internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whip-worms can lead your pup to the behavior.
The presence of internal parasite may also lead your dog to health issues, including vomiting, diarrhea, anemia and nutritional deficiencies etc.
The presence of Some External parasites in the rare parts of the dogies like mites, fleas and ticks can make the anal region of your pooch itchy.
3. Skin Allergies
A dog suffering from allergies likely licks itchy parts of his body, including the rare area.
Your dog may suffer from food allergies, or other skin allergies or puppy has developed a fungal or bacterial skin infection in his anal area if they have a behavior of butt licking.
4. Cleaning or grooming Purpose
Dogs are pretty clan among the pets and like cleanliness Dogs groom themselves with their tongues.
Usually, pets having longer fur often try to remove dust or other stuck particles with their tongue.
Because dogs have incredible smell power and can smell even the tiniest and weakest smells that flow in the air so that they may be smelling poop or other dirty things creeping around their butt.
So the occasional licking of their butt is just part of the grooming or cleaning process.
What to do if your dog licks their butt?
If you own a pet, then It’s important to be an observant pet owner so that you can judge your dog’s behaviors.
Because Certain behavior of the dogs is an alarming sign of some health issues.
If you notice some worse or strange behavior of your furry friend contact your vet to find out if they are suffering from some health issues.
If your dog is licking his butt frequently plus additional symptoms like:
- Licking the rear part or other body parts
- Scooting – dragging his bum along the ground
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Itching, irritation or inflammation
- If you notice any of the above symptoms
If you notice that your dog is experiencing some or any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian to get your pup some relief.
When to Consult Your Vet?
If your dog’s butt is red and inflamed and he won’t stop licking it excessively, you should consult your veterinarian.
It’s never a good idea to “self-diagnose” a potential health problem with your pup.
Conclusion:
Why do dogs lick their butt? It is perfectly reasonable for dogs to lick their backside when grooming themselves. However, if you notice that the licking has become persistent or excessive, then it requires a diagnosis by your vet.
You may even require getting an Elizabethan dog collar to help minimize further damage to the area your dog is licking to give it enough space and time to heal.
In other cases, butt licking can also indicate anxiety issues, where no medical causes are identified.