Question:

Hi,

I have been noticing that my almost nine-year-old yellow labrador retriever has been scooting/rubbing her behind on our carpet lately. She has never done this before, and she’s been around a long time! I know it’s not that her glands back there are clogged, and it is probably just allergies since she is allergic to meat, grass, pollen, and probably other things. If it is caused by allergies, I would have thought that she would have done this before now, and I am not sure why she suddenly started this. My vet doesn’t seem to think she has anything wrong, but it is annoying and guests get very grossed out and offended when she does this in their view. I haven’t been able to take her on trips to grandma’s house anymore, because she might do this there and they would get angry. What can I do to stop this gross habit? She stops when I say ‘no’, but I would like her to not do it at all. Thanks! Em

ANSWER:

Hi Em,

Yes, I can see how the average homeowner would not appreciate this behavior! I am doggy and I don’t like it when my dog does it in the house either so I can’t imagine the effect it would have on someone who isn’t ‘doggy’.

‘Scooting’ is normally attributed to blocked, infected or impacted anal glands but since your veterinarian says that everything is fine ‘back there’, then I think you are correct in thinking it is general itchiness caused by allergies.

To test this theory, putting your Lab on anti-histamines for a week should stop the itchiness and the scooting. Ask your vet about what anti-histamine they recommend. If that is the case, then talk to your vet about what can be done to help her with her allergies. If her butt is that itchy, chances are other places are equally as uncomfortable. Some dogs spend their lives on anti-histamines but I would prefer to see if there is another course of action available to you both. If this takes care of the problem, however, then you also know to give her a dose before guests visit or visiting the ‘grandparents’. You may find that moving her to a hypoallergenic food may help the problem in the long term.

If this does not help the problem, I would look at a possible yeast infection on the area around the anus. Labs have heavy tails that do not allow for a lot of air movement so a yeast infection could develop in this warm, damp area. This is an easy problem to rectify (pardon the pun) once a diagnosis is made.

For a temporary solution, there are topical sprays and creams that take the ‘itch’ out. These would help her become socially acceptable again and, more importantly, make her more comfortable. Ask your vet what he would suggest.

Does anyone else have any suggestions? Let us how it goes as I know your pooch is not the only one suffering from this problem!

Ann