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Why is my dog scooting his butt after recent anal gland expression?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 12 lbs

My dog has gotten his anal glands squeezed out 2 weeks ago and yesterday he has started rubbing his butt on the carpet.What does that mean? And how can I fix it?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 13th, 2018

Hi there. It sounds like Lucky's anal glands are probably full again. This can be a recurring issue in some dogs, unfortunately. I would recommend taking him back to the vet tomorrow to have them checked and expressed again, if needed. You can ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this at home if you want to, to help avoid frequent vet visits for this problem in the future.

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    Answered By Claudia Fioravanti

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 23rd, 2021

    Hi, yes it is very unlikely that the anal glands have become full again .It normally takes about 3-4 weeks at the earliest. It is more likely that perhaps she felt a little uncomfortable after passing feaces. I would keep an eye on her behaviour and if occurring regularly over the next 3days, have her re checked. Hope this helps !

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on August 17th, 2018

    Yes, this is normal. There may be some slight irritation associated with expression (emptying) of the anal glands. It should resolve within the next 12-24 hours. If not, have Benji checked out by your veterinarian.

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on November 12th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If possible, I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian for further assessment. This is possibly an anal gland issue. Sometimes these can get impacted or infected and cause those signs. Good luck and have a great day!

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 24th, 2017

    Most pets run their bum after going potty, mostly to wipe off any residual feces, sort of like us wiping ourselves with toilet tissue. If her anal glands have been removed, then there is a possibility that she may have intestinal parasites that are causing her irritation back there. I would have your vet check her stool for parasites and treat her accordingly. Another possibility is that she may have allergies. I would discuss with your vet about some allergy treatments for her. I would assume that she won't run her bum on concrete if this is going to hurt her. Pets typically will continue to do things if they provide relief. So if she has a softer surface on which to rub her bum to provide relief, then I would assume she would select the softer surface like grass over a rough one like concrete. Best of luck with your pet Minkus and her butt rubbing. Take care.

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Related Questions

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My dog is still scooting after anal gland expression. Is this normal?
They are likely not full again but may be a bit irritated due to the expression. If your dog keeps scooting for more than a day or two then I suggest you take him back to your veterinarian for a recheck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Why is my dog still licking his butt after anal glands were expressed?
Hello, sorry to hear about Sam. Anal gland infections can develop secondarily to impacted anal glands. Also if he is re-filling his anal glands quickly or if they weren't completely emptied out, he can still be having discomfort. I would have your veterinarian assess his anal glands for a potential infection and express them fully to ensure they are empty. If he continues to itch and scoot, then sometimes parasites such as tape worms can cause dogs to have an itchy rear. Look for rice-like worms moving around in his stool or around his anus and tell your veterinarian if you see any. Ultimately, you can bring a stool sample to your veterinarians office and have it tested for worms. Hope this helps and best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Why is my dog expressing her anal glands? What does it mean?
It may be that her [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs/) are full and she is only able to express a little bit at a time. When too full, [anal glands](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-impacted-dog-anal-glands/) can cause intense itching. Dogs will scoot (dragging her butt) on the floor or lick excessively for relief. This can cause injury. If she is unable to express her glands, an abscess can develop. This may require sedation or anesthesia to lance and drain. The best thing to do is to take her to your veterinarian or an experienced groomer to her glands expressed. Some dogs never need their glands expressed, some need to go every month and some just need a one time visit. The terrible smell is normal. If the smell lingers, consider using an [enzymatic cleaner](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/brand/natures-miracle) to thoroughly cleanse soiled areas.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dog keeps scooting after anal gland expression. Is this normal?
Residual inflammation is normal, especially if the glands were already inflamed. You may call your vet and ask about a course of anti-inflammatory medication. Omega 3 fatty acids can also help. Lastly, a cool (not cold) compress may be a better option to relieve the burning. Sometimes supplements like Glandex can help. If Adam continues to have itchy anal glands, you may want to discuss ruling out food allergies with your vet. I always use a hydrolyzed protein for this. I hope this helps.
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I squeezed my dog's anal glands. Is that expressing? Is it recurring?
Yes, that is considered expressing the anal sacs. I would only do them as needed. If you notice that Lolli is sniffing around her anus or scooting her bottom, then they may need to be expressed again. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Why is my dog still scooting and swollen after anal gland expression?
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Continued scooting following anal sac expression may not be related to the need to be expressed further. Occasionally the anal sac may still be inflamed/irritated following the expression which may still result in some discomfort and the urge to itch. Scooting of the hind end can also be due to a superficial itch that may be related to an underlying environmental or parasite (i.e flea) allergy. It is difficult to tell from the picture without being able to palpate the rectum, but I do not see any evidence of overt swelling in the region (the anal sacs sit at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock position at the anus). If Emma continues to appear irritated you can have her evaluated by her veterinarian to palpate the anal sacs and make sure everything palpates normally.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dog scoots bum after external anal gland expression. Why?
She may need the glands expressed internally as this is the only way to completely empty them. You can feed canned pumpkin or greens beans to help thin the material to help her empty them. Some groomers can do this for you also. I would also check around her vulva. Sometimes there can be an infection around the skin fold or a urinary track infection and it causes pain and itching. They can scoot the bottom to try to relieve an itch there and the glands are not involved. A vet can check a urine sample to be sure also.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Why is my puppy scooting and leaking clear fluid from anal glands?
I don’t think expressing the glands are related to his visit two weeks ago. Some dogs will have leakage and what you may be seeing is over flow. Some pets have a lot of problems with the anal glands. If he’s continuing to have leakage, you may take him back to the veterinarian to have the glands expressed again to stop the leakage temporarily. Things that can help at home are to feed a normal pet food (not grain free). I recommend Royal Canin or Purina Pro Plan. There is also a supplement called Glandex that can help these guys. The key is to get the glands to express when he is having a bowel movement so he needs a good source of quality fiber. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Why is my dog still licking his butt after anal gland expression?
Every pet is different and some pets may need their glands expressed every few weeks. Most however will be less frequent. This can be a problem in any dog but it is more common in small dogs. There is a supplement called Glandex which many pets respond well to. You may also try feeding Toby a higher fiber diet. Lastly, sometimes frequent anal gland issues can be a sign of allergies. You may talk with your veterinarian about ways to diagnose an allergy and if this seems to be indicated. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Dog scooting and red after anal gland expression? Is it serious?
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
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