If your pet has ever performed the sometimes comical, but distressing behavior of dragging their bottom across your carpeting, or worse, your couch, you probably were wondering what on earth made them do that?!
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Why it is not Funny!
Often people post online with a pet booty-scooting highlighting how comical it can appear. Well the truth is, this behavior could be indicating a health condition which is beyond comical. Now, a one-time booty-scoot may be nothing more than your pet reliving a minor irritation, but it could also be a clue to a more serious medical issue going on for your pet like intestinal worms, or a another condition which can be very serious, even becoming life-threatening if left untreated!
Top cause number one?
One of the most common reasons for repetitive booty-scooting in our cats & dogs is if they are infected with an intestinal parasite like hooks worms, or rounds worms, which will require medical intervention form your veterinarian to treat and resolve. Help your pet prevent intestinal worms by keeping your pet's living environment clean, especially where they sleep, and eat/drink. Also avoid interactions with young puppies/kittens who may have not been yet diagnosed and treated for intestinal parastates. Also, prevent your dog or cat from coming into contact with other's animal's feces, and digging/playing in any outdoor soil which may be contaminated. Still-standing water is another potential source, especially areas birds may frequent.
Another Top Cause?
The next most common cause is if your pet is having a medical problem with their anal glands, which are thought to have developed as an additional tool for dogs and cats to mark their territory by adding additional scent from the glands to their stools.
These glands are typically naturally expressed every time your pet has a bowel movement. However, if your pet is having routine loose stool or diarrhea, there may not be enough pressure on the glands to naturally express them with each bowel movement as should be done. This lack of routine expression can lead to your pet experiencing 'anal gland impaction' 'anal gland infection or an 'anal gland abscess.'
Prevention?
The very best way to prevent anal gland issues in your pet is by ensuring the have a healthy gut system resulting in healthy, firm, formed stools to naturally keep these glands in good working order.
If your pet has routine bowel issues due to a diagnosis of IBS or IBD, check out our pet IBS/IBD Support Kit, which will help your pet's body naturally heal and reverse this painful inflammatory condition today.
Remember, all these steps will not only help your pet to prevent anal glad issues, but will be their best protection against a myriad of other health conditions, helping to give them the healthiest, happiest lives possible!
