Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Dog scooting, itching, and bleeding. Is it anal gland issues?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Bulldog | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 3 months old | 51 lbs

Hello, our dog has seemed to be sitting on his butt and turning and seems to be itching very bad. We have tried a safe dose of benadryl thinking it was his allergies just making him itchy. He has rubbed his anus raw and it is bleeding now. The blood is not seeping out, only when he rubs his butt against something. He is up to date with shots and flea and heart worm prevention pills. Could this be an anal glands issue?? Please help. He is an English bulldog, 3 years old, and healthy.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 26th, 2017

Poor Duke! Yes, this certainly could be an issue with his anal sacs, and that would be very itchy to him. They may be impacted and need to be expressed. It could also be caused by intestinal worms, and he may need a deworming treatment such as Panacur if he isn't up to date on that medication. I would take him into the vet on Monday, as he sounds very uncomfortable. Bring along a sample of his feces for the vet to look for worm eggs in it. The vet can also check his anal sacs and express them as needed. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has blood coming from his butt not a lot like when he sits there will be some. I have taken a paper towel and wiped it and got some. This just started today he seems to be ok and has rubbed his butt on the carpet. He does this from time to ti
Poor Tank! It could be something with his anal sacs, as they could be impacted and/or infected. I would call a vet in the morning to make an appointment for him. The vet can examine his anal sacs and treat as needed. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I’m dog sitting a dog and all of a sudden I noticed drops of blood on the carpet. Concerned I checked all over his body and found no wounds. I noticed he was bleeding from his butt and I’m really scared that he is hurt. This is gross but I attached a
Ouch, poor Dudley! It could be he has growth on his anus or his anal sacs could be impacted and infected. Yes, definitely take him into a vet before his owner comes home. The vet can diagnose what is causing this swelling and bleeding, and can treat him for it. Best of luck, I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My dog had his anal glands expressed 3 days ago and still scooting/licking excessively. The area looks red and irritated. I feel bad for the poor guy!
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! 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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is a male Pitt Boxer mix who just turned 8 months old. Today he has been whining and dragging him bottom accross the floor. What do I do?
Have him seen by your veterinarian. The most common, and easiest to treat, cause is full or impacted anal glands. Normally, the anal glands are emptied during the act of defecation. In some dogs, this doesn't happen and the glands fill up, become impacted and could abscess. This would result in the symptoms described. Your veterinarian can Express the glands manually, flush them and instill medication if necessary. Antibiotics and pain medications are also sometimes dispensed. If Scooby is licking back there, place an e-collar (cone) on him until he sees the doctor.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My 2 yo pit bull had his anal glands released yesterday. When they were released not much came out until I checked a few minutes later and it was flowing out of his rectum. I had to keep wiping it off, there was so much. Afterwards he seemed to have
Duke may have anal gland inflammation and the expression yesterday may have released a partial impaction and allowed them to drain. I wouldn’t be particularly concerned about the symptoms you are seeing but if it continues you may want to have your vet recheck the glands to make sure there are no signs of infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi there Switzerland is 7 yrs old mix of Swiss mountain dog & Rottweiler. He has blood dripping from his anal area but not in his stool (no diarrhea and his urine is not red). He chews at area like as if it itches. I noticed the blood is slowly dripp
Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. I am sorry to hear that Switzerland is having this issue. Please understand it is very difficult to give advice without examining him or at least seeing a photo. Based solely on your description it sounds like he had an impacted anal gland that ruptured. I do think it is best to take him to a vet for an exam. The first thing you need to do though is to get him a cone collar to wear so he stops chewing at the area. If the area is still bothering him the other anal gland (they have two) may be impacted/infected as well, hence, an exam is important. There is nothing you can do to sop the bleeding at home but you can put antibiotic gel/cream on it until you can get him to the vet. Again, without the cone collar though, he will likely lick off anything you apply topically. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-recovery-cone-collar-large-1225-21-3498991 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Snowball has been recently scooting her butt alot . anal sacs do not look abnormal everything looks normal i always clean her poop afterbshes done going to the bathroom i dont see no worms or anything like that ..her butts just red could this be due
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 Boop by Petco to help you care for Snowball.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog (a 16 yr old MinPin) was lying on the couch next to me today and when he got up, I noticed a stain on the couch. It was brownish red. I looked him over and saw that there was a moist area to the left of his anus and it had the same reddish bro
It could be these "butt pimples" you've heard people refer to are the anal sacs. These are two, small sacs located just inside the anus that release a smelly fluid when feces pass to help lubricate it on the way out. They can become impacted and then infected, and given your description, it is possible that Boy's have become infected. I would have him seen today by a vet. If they become too infected, they can rupture. The vet can examine his anal sacs, flush them out if needed, and prescribe antibiotics if there is an infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
I've noticed my dog scooting on the floor occasionally lately and today frequently licking his anal area. I was thinking his anal glands might be bugging him even though he's never had this issue before. I left the house for a bit and came home to a
This does indeed sound like an anal gland problem. Impacted anal glands are very hard to express naturally as he would need to have a very voluminous and hard "sausage" and it would probably hurt as well. Of course there is also a chance that he manage to express some of the content. However, I do suggest you have your veterinarian examine Bugsy's anal sacs and glands and make sure they are not impacted and not infected.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog seems to be scooting his butt on the floor a lot recently and so intensely that he cut himself. Is it something that I should be worried about?
Ouch! Yes, that look like a wound or a mass. I can't tell from the photo but I recommend to have Buddy examined today. That is not only a sensitive area but scooting that intense indicates a problem. The vet will need to check his anal glands. He will also need to wear an elizabethan collar to protect the area from licking and he will need to be kept on sift surfaces and discouraged from dragging his bottom. The vet will like;y give him medication as well to decrease the irritation and treat the wound/mass. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Health & Wellness Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Dog Treats & Chews Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Dog Dewormers & Worm Medicine Prescription Dewormer for Dogs Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Flea & Tick Solutions for Dogs Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Glandex Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief VetriScience Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Glandex Dog Health & Wellness JustFoodForDogs Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Glandex Dog Supplies Earth Animal Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Earthbath Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Glandex Dog First Aid & Recovery Vetnique Labs Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Glandex
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored