Why do dogs lick their ass? 3 reasons why dogs lick their ass
As a daily behavior of dogs combing their hair normally, dogs can lick their butts, but excessive combing of their butts is not normal behavior. Not only does this look uncivilized, it may also indicate that the dog has health problems.
Why do dogs lick their butts?
Dogs start to over-lick their butts due to inflammation and irritation around the area. While this inflammation and irritation can be caused by a variety of reasons, they all require a veterinary examination to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan to reassure your dog.
1, Anal glands
Most dog owners know that the anal glands of dogs (sometimes called scent glands) are located on both sides of the dog's rectum. Once filled, these glands usually express themselves when your dog defecates. But sometimes, they don't express it the way they should. This may be due to loose stools, anatomy of the glands and catheter itself, allergies, or any combination of the three. As the glands fill up fluid, the pressure begins to increase. Worse, when the fluid is in the gland, it becomes thicker, resulting in greater stress. Dogs can feel this accumulated stress and will try to express their anal glands themselves. They can do this by sliding across the butt on the floor or chewing and licking the rectal area.
2. Intestinal parasites
Dogs are prone to infection with various intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. These can cause diarrhea and diarrhea, which can irritate the rectal area. Remember that diarrhea can also prevent normal expression of the anal glands, which can also lead to irritation. Sometimes the eggs of certain intestinal parasites enter the dog's rectal area, which can also cause irritation, which can lead to ass licking.
3. Allergies and skin infections
In dogs, allergies manifest as itchy and inflammation of the skin. This may include the skin around the rectal area of your dog and sometimes the anal glands. It is not uncommon for dogs with skin allergies to have secondary skin infections. This can aggravate the inflammation and irritation that already exists. If your dog suffers from skin allergies, this is definitely a factor that causes your dog to lick the butt.
Dealing with potential problems
If you feel your dog is overly licking your ass, the first thing is to schedule a veterinary appointment. Whatever causes rectal irritation in your dog, medication is needed to stop inflammation. Your dog also needs to check their anal glands to make sure their glands are not filled and that they are normal fluids.
If your dog's main problem is ultimately related to the anal glands, the veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic to help treat any infection that may exist. Fluids that are usually filled with anal glands have a unique color and consistency, and expressing them in a veterinary office, while uncomfortable, should not be too painful. If the contents of the anal glands become thicker, discolored, or contain pus, or if your dog experiences a painful reaction, this may be the result of an anal gland infection. You can add something to their diet, such as canned pumpkin to increase their poop. There are also supplements made on the counter specifically for this problem with dogs.
Intestinal parasites can be easily diagnosed through fecal examination. Most parasites deposit tiny eggs in dog feces, which can be found at your veterinarian. Other intestinal parasites, such as tapeworms, deposit egg packs that are visible to the naked eye. These look like millet grains in the stool or in the fur around the rectum. If your dog does have gut parasites, your veterinarian can easily treat them with an antiperspirant. Keeping your dog up to date on the monthly prevention of heartworms can also help, as these products can also prevent more common gut parasites. It is also prudent to check your dog's feces regularly once a year or twice a year to help prevent any problems that gut parasites may cause.
Skin allergies can be a little tricky. Dogs may have environmental allergies, food allergies, or both. Environmental allergies tend to have seasonal attacks, while food allergies tend to occur throughout the year. If your dog has active attacks, accompanied by skin irritation, inflammation, and infection, your veterinarian prescribes some medications to relieve itching and treat the infection. If your dog suspects environmental allergies, your veterinarian can send blood tests to an external lab for analysis. Once the environmental allergen is determined, the veterinarian can begin treatment to desensitize your dog's immune system to the allergen.
Food allergens also have blood tests, but the results are not always as reliable as blood tests. The gold standard for food allergies remains a strict dietary trial of prescription diets.
If you notice your dog licking or chewing its ass obsessedly, call the veterinarian you trust. While not usually serious, a veterinarian can help you understand your dog.
