Dog question

[sweet angel]

Anyone have any idea why my girl dog might be licking/chewing the base of her tail...where it meets her butt...the underside? I'm paranoid because this is the first month EVER that I didn't put flea/tick stuff on them because it's been cold.

She's never done it before, and I think the slurp slurp noise is going to drive me insane.

Oh, and of course she won't let me look at it.

She's up to date on all shots, and has an appointment for her checkup next month. And she's 5-1/2 if that makes a difference...and spayed.

 

[brasswillow]

I have a one year old boxer and I house sit for a seven and three year old female dogs. They all lick the base of their tales, the two I house sit for especially. It can drive you crazy, but I don't think it's an indication of anything wrong.

 

[sweet angel]

Okay...I guess I could be paranoid! It's just that she's never done it before.

 

[Disney Doll]

Dogs have anal sacs on either side of their rectum...perhaps they are bothering her?

 

[mousehouselover]

She may be having a problem with her anal glands. Dogs have 2 little glands on each side of their rectum and sometimes they get filled up and the fluid in them doesn't get released. If that happens it gets thick and smelly and sometimes the glands rupture. It's uncomfortable for the dog and generally needs antibiotics to help clear it up. I recommend calling your vet in the am and take her in for an exam. If it is her glands, they can express them and relieve the pressure. It willl make her feel a ton better.

 

[sweet angel]

That was another thought, but if that was the case, would she whimper or have trouble sitting up? She's not doing anything like that. She's also not scooting.

Usually when she goes to the vet she "expresses her anals" on the oh-so-cute vet tech. It's a bit embarrassing.

 

[mousehouselover]

Scooting is a sign of anal gland problems but not all dogs scoot. Some do exactly what your dog is doing and lick or chew at their backides.

 

[KC518vette@yahoo.com]

you are hilarious! but sorry i dont know why they would chew on their tail! OMG! this is such a funny subject! ROFL! LMAO!

 

[Pop Daddy]

Anyone have any idea why my girl dog might be licking/chewing the base of her tail...where it meets her butt...the underside?

her butt, it itches

 

[sweet angel]

Scooting is a sign of anal gland problems but not all dogs scoot. Some do exactly what your dog is doing and lick or chew at their backides.

Would she show signs of discomfort though?

 

[Tinks_gang]

As others have said dogs often groom themselves around their tails. However, if your dog seems to be licking excessively it could be a sign of a medical problem.

One of the most common reasons for their licking, as the above poster mentioned, is due to the anal sacs - located on each side of the anal opening - being impacted. Dogs will lick the area and even scoot on the rug to relieve the pressure. If this is the cause, the vet can express the glands for you.

 

[PlutoPony]

That was another thought, but if that was the case, would she whimper or have trouble sitting up?

Not necessarily, I suspect dogs respond to this in different ways and it may depend on how full the sacs are, if they're infected, etc. Our lab had his expressed 7 times last year (his are related to inhaled allergies and it was a very bad year for that) and the symptoms were somewhat different each time. Think he scooted only 2x, but each time he started licking around that area and it really escalated from there. You might try to give her more roughage in her diet as well as more excercise (walks) to see if that helps but if she's really uncomfortable you may want to get her into the vet sooner....

 

[sweet angel]

her butt, it itches

Is that your final answer?

 

[sweet angel]

You might try to give her more roughage in her diet as well as more excercise (walks) to see if that helps but if she's really uncomfortable you may want to get her into the vet sooner....

She never goes for walks...she's got free run of the backyard and loves to hang out and watch/chase the squirrels.

She doesn't appear uncomfortable. I'll keep an eye on her. She usually slurps/licks herself incessantly...just not that area that I've ever noticed.

 

[SillyMe]

You're gonna have to pop 'em.

 

[sweet angel]

I just heard her doing it again and looked closer. She's not licking her butt. She's actually licking the underside of her tail. Is that where the anal glands are?

 

[Tinks_gang]

Yes, they are located on each side of the anal opening. If you know where to feel, you should be able to tell if they are full. If you press the glands against each other by pinching the rectal area together they will usually express; however, don't push too hard for that could rupture the anal sac and cause serious problems.

 

[Tinks_gang]

I also wanted to add that if you don't know what you are doing, you can take your dog to the vet and they can show you how to do it for the next time. If you decide to do it yourself, however, know that if you are able to express the glands you will see a substance ranging from liquid to a dark paste. Should you see blood, however, this could be a sign of a problem.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Are you still letting her wear your thongs?

 

[phamton]

My black lab starting doing this a year ago and we found out he has allergies. He even pulls the hair out around his tail. His anal glands are fine, thank-you.