Why Dogs Scoot on Their Butt—and When to Call a Vet

Dogs scoot—sit down and drag their bottom along the ground—because something around their rear end is itchy, irritated or painful. Anal gland problems are a common explanation, but stuck poop, itchy skin and worms can also cause it. Scooting alone cannot tell you which problem your dog has. PDSA’s veterinary guidance recommends a vet appointment unless the cause is obvious and simple to fix at home.

Watch, book or seek urgent care

Watch after gentle cleaning: If you find a little poop or mud stuck to the fur, it comes away easily with bathing, and your dog stops scooting and remains comfortable, monitor for recurrence. Their skin should look normal, and they should be eating, behaving and passing stool as usual.

Book a veterinary appointment: Contact your vet if there is no obvious removable cause, scooting continues or returns, or your dog repeatedly licks or bites the area. A fishy smell alongside scooting can point toward anal sac trouble, but it does not establish the diagnosis. Cornell describes these signs of anal sac disease.

Seek urgent veterinary advice today: Pain, swelling beside the anus, a wound, blood or pus, painful straining to poop, reduced appetite or low energy warrant prompt assessment. A painful anal gland abscess can burst; do not wait for it to drain on its own. If your dog is in severe pain, seek immediate veterinary care. PDSA advises contacting a vet ASAP for a suspected abscess.

What might be causing it?

Anal sacs that are blocked or inflamed

Dogs have two small anal sacs, often called anal glands, on either side of the anus. They normally release strong-smelling fluid when the dog poops. If they do not empty properly, the contents can thicken and the sacs become uncomfortable. Infection or an abscess may follow.

Other clues include licking, a fishy odor, keeping the tail down, reluctance to poop, or redness and swelling beside the anus. Problems can affect any breed, although smaller dogs are affected more often. Cornell’s anal sac guide explains these changes. For odor-specific guidance, see when anal gland smell is normal or concerning.

Something stuck to the fur, itchy skin or worms

Poop, mud or other debris around the bottom can irritate the area. Itchy skin and worms are other possibilities. A lump or another local condition may also be responsible. Do not assume scooting means worms—or that every scooting dog needs their glands emptied. These causes require different care. PDSA lists the main alternatives.

What you can safely do at home

If your dog allows it, gently lift the tail and look without pressing on the area. Stop if they seem painful or resist; anal sac disease can make even a normally gentle dog snap when touched.

For loose surface dirt or poop, try gentle bathing with warm water. If it does not come away easily, or you see swelling or a wound, leave it alone and call your vet. PDSA supports gentle bathing for removable debris; VCA explains the pain-related handling risk.

Do not squeeze the anal glands yourself unless your vet has specifically instructed and trained you. Routine expression at the groomer is not necessary unless your vet recommends it. For recurring episodes, ask about underlying skin problems, stool changes and an appropriate diet rather than starting fiber supplements on your own. PDSA’s blocked-gland guidance covers these precautions.

Note how often scooting happens, whether it follows pooping, any stool changes, and accompanying licking or odor. Those observations help your vet decide what to examine; they do not replace the examination.