Its been a verrrry long time since I had to post a message to ask for help BUT.....

My 5yo GR speyed bitch has for the past few days been "attacking" her rear end - I can't work out if its her tail or back passage that's itching.  (whisper: To put it crudely - she's nibbling the part of her tail which lies against her anus.)  Even when she isn't nibbling there, she's twitching her rear end.  She even looks exhausted now - as though all this nibbling is tiring her out!  (Do dogs get piles?!!)  I've tried to have a feel of the tail but its very hairy and she pulls away when I touch it so I think it must be tender - whether that's with the cause or cos she's been nibbling so much, I don't know. 

She's wormed and Frontlined regularly.  Her poos are normal. In the past when I've taken her to have her glands emptied, last time about 2 years ago, the nurse has told me, "There wasn't much there".  

I'm guessing at this stage that it might be another hot spot.  (She had a hot spot on her front leg a year or two ago and had to be shaved there - no problem and it cleared up with the help of Fuciderm and Hibiscrub.)

I guess what I'm asking is - can I use the same stuff again, without having to shave her rear end and/or tail?  Or is it a visit to the vet?  Or even better - any ideas from the experts will be appreciated!

I'd get her anal glands checked again. A lot can happen in 2 years. :-)

My word - that was quick - thank you!

I've had her glands emptied 3 times so far and each time the nurse says the same thing "not a lot there", so I was reluctant to get it done again.  However, I will make an appontment asap, just in case.

BTW, I phoned the vet last time and was given a price of £22, as they "didn't have a nurse to do it".  So I phoned Pets at Home and had them done by a qualified nurse for £7.

Thanks again

Think I would pay for a vet to take a look in case it isnt anal glands. Actually I think dogs can get piles ?? maybe someone else could conirm

i would get vet to do glands as the nurses arent always that good at it (at my surgery anyway)  but check for fleas, one time i forgot the frontline mine were both nibbling rear ends and when they rolled over fleas were everywhere! the one and only time they had them i might add

I've just spent the last couple of hours (off and on) trying to work out what it could be. 

I trimmed her tail and there does seem to be a redness where she's been itching, on the underside of her tail, but still not sure if that's the cause or effect.  She's obviously uncomfortable with anyone touching the area - starts to pant and walk around - she's usually very laid back, so very unlike her.

I used a hot compress on the area and it seemed to calm her down for a wee while.

I had a go to at emptying her glands, but only by massaging the outside - I couldn't feel anything untoward and didn't get any "results", if you know what I mean!  I don't consider myself expert enough to do an internal job on it. 

Also Frontline'd her - just in case - even though it was only done last month or so.

I will definitely make an appointment for the vet on Monday.

Thanks for your help.

I think thats a good idea

Try giving her a good going over on the back of her neck and back, if you cannot find anything wash her backend in the morning and then take her for a good run. if shes the same during and after then probably a vet but something tells me she may not be glandy, saying that once you start doing them they usually need doing again.
hope shes ok anyway :)

Maybe the anal glands are infected? Best to get them checked out again.

Just to bring you up to date on this:
I took her to the vets on Monday and had her glands emptied, but she was in such distress that the vet said if I wanted a more detailed examination, my dog would need to be sedated.  "See how she is in a few days", the vet said.

As my dog was still panting and nibbling her rear end, I took her back to the vets on Wednesday - and a different (and kinder!) vet sedated her, but it still wasn't enough and she had to be examined under GA.

The second vet shaved the underside of the base of my dog's tail and found an irritation there - like a hotspot but very badly infected.  "Come back on Friday so that I can see if there's any improvement".  She's now on 5mg Prednisolone "as needed", and I'm using Hibiscrub and Fuciderm twice a day.  And the vet wants to see her again on Tuesday...............

My dog is still panting like crazy, and she's so restless that I'm sleeping with her at night to stop her nibbling at the sore spot.  She's not eating much unless I hand feed her, but she is drinking more than usual (she's never been a thirsty dog!). 

I'm convinced it all started when they cut the grass in the park a few days before she started nibbling - any thoughts, please?

Hi, we are also experiencing the same with our GR, been to vets this morning as she has been nibbling at the base of her tail, we thought maybe it was her anal glands, but vet said they were fine. They shaved of the fur around irritated area and found 2 large very sore hot spots, so is on antibiotics  and steroid cream and having to wear buster collar as she won't leave it alone and is very stressed. It is not fleas, wondering if it's change if weather?