While dogs are allowed to lick their butts during the course of their regular grooming routine, overdoing it is not a recommended behavior. Not only is it ugly to witness, but it might also be a sign of a health issue with your dog. Dogs that lick their butt may actually be indicating a more serious issue, such as an underactive anal gland or dietary or skin allergies. We've covered four common causes of dog butt licking below, along with potential solutions for each problem.
For what reason would your dog continue to lick his behind?
For what reason would your dog continue to lick his behind?
An inflammatory or irritated butt will cause a dog to lick their butt excessively. Even though there are many possible causes of this inflammation and irritation, your dog needs to see a veterinarian in order to identify the issue and develop a plan of care that will soothe it.
1 - Issues with the Anal Gland
Dogs may experience soreness around their buttocks, primarily due to infections or other negative effects on their anal glands. In addition to licking the afflicted area, a dog may drag himself down the floor to itch his way out of discomfort. Every time a dog defecates, its healthy anal glands usually release foul-smelling secretions. Failure to do so causes these glands to expand and become impacted, which can result in an abscess and bacterial infection. Usually, the veterinarian will manually drain these fluids before recommending a course of action to treat any associated infections.
2 - Inside Parasites
Internal parasites that reside in your dog's intestines can cause a variety of health problems, such as anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, and anal discomfort. These parasites include roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms. Segments from these parasitic worms may also be found in the dog's stool and in the area surrounding its anus. Read This: My dog is licking my ears; why? How to stop your dogs ear-licking behavior
3 - Outer parasites or allergies
Ticks, fleas, and mites are the three main culprits behind your dog's itch. Thankfully, you may eliminate these external parasites with topical treatments for parasites. If parasites aren't the cause of your itching butts, you might think about contact and food allergies. Your buttitch can be relieved with regular bathing, a hypoallergenic diet, or anti-inflammatory lotions or medications.
4 - Infection of the Skin
In the vicinity of the dog's anal region, a fungal and bacterial skin infection can occur, especially if the skin is penetrated. When your dog poops, there are feces present, which makes the anal area especially susceptible to infection. Unfortunately, licking the anal area excessively in an attempt to reduce pain and itching causes the skin to become more inflamed and exacerbates skin infections. Read This: What Makes Dogs Lick You? How to Say No to Licking You
In summary
It makes complete sense for dogs to groom themselves by licking their behinds. But if you see that the habit of licking has increased in frequency or persistence, your veterinarian has to make a diagnosis. To help prevent more harm to the region your dog is licking and to give it enough time and space to heal, you might even need to acquire an Elizabethan dog collar. Butt licking may also be a sign of anxiety problems in other situations when there are no apparent medical explanations.
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