Hi
My 12 week old bichon bitch pups have started to shuffle on their bums occassionally after pooing. They were wormed 10 days ago. I have read comment about impacted anal glands. Could this be their problem? They do have problems with poo sticking to their bums being hairy beasts despite a thorough trim in the area. Obviously if I spot a dirty bum I will help them out with a top and tail wet wipe but you can't always see immediately. What do people think might be up with them?

It's normal my pups still do it at times after going to the loo dont worry.

Thanks. My lab has never done this and it was a bit concerning with the post about worms.

i would say take it to the vet and get its anal glands checked, bum rubbing is a sign of anal glands being full and causing discomfort. if you leave them they could become impacted and infected, it is not normal.
kelly

cant imagine them having impacted anal glands at 12 wks. sounds like just an itchy bum!.:).

i said COULD become impacted, if it is full anal glands and they are not treated.

my new puppy [8.5 weeks] does this - sometimes - after doing her business. i see it as wiping herself clean [on my patio!] thats all....

my pup does this sometimes - got the vet to check it out this morning & anal glands all fine, also recently been wormed anyway. (She's 10 weeks old now.)

i reckon she does it (a) to clean herself after a poo (even though she never looks dirty), she's a fastidious little thing and also (b) before she wants to go for a poo ~ its one of the signs that make me think she's brewing.

She's not in distress or upset so i think its fine. someone else said it could be a habit she picked up from her mum! ALso - my vet mentioned that if she's persistent with this they can consider giving her an injection to correct her. Me, at this stage, am NO WAY up for that ~ if its just natural pup behaviour then i don't know that i feel right using injections to manipulate behaviour. But if its a real big problem (maybe it could irritate dogs in itself?), maybe worth seeking adivce, from vet or other experienced people here?

Oh dear my little darling Molly (shih tzu) does it now and again - very rarely and not enough to count up but it means she has a dirty bum - eek :p

Gina

I am pretty sure that this what its all about with my two little sweethearts. Maybe we should instal a doggy bidet?:)

Sasha used to do this a lot when she had diarrhoea because of the irritation. Nowadays she does it occasionally, but nowhere near as often as she used to.

its quite endearing in a way isn't it - i like hte fact that she doesn't like being dirty! mind you - its far less sweet if its on the carpets than if its on her x-pen floor.....!

Hi Gee
Molly is doing it as well, I am going to the vets tomorrow for monthly worming so I will ask him his advice & let you know. regards Pauline

Great. Let me know if you get any insight. Thanks.

hi

after my pup has had a poo she dashes round the garden as fast as she can ,don't know why,maybe they get a slight irritation when they've been especially after a big poo!!

shaunie

I've always thought this is more common in coated breeds - a puppies muscles are still developing, and cant "expel" quite as well as an older dog, with the result that the fluffy coat under the bottom sometimes gets dirty and the puppy seems to think this is always the case, hence the rubbing.

Probably the "lighter than air" feeling after losing the weight!!! :D

Hi Gee
Had a chat with the nurse at the vets, she checked Mollys anal glands & said they were full, she expelled quite a bit of stuff, she seems to have been ok today, she said it is quite common so we will see if it has done the trick. regards Pauline

look here

OK so it is possible that we have a problem. I am visiting the vet today on another errand so I shall ask them to check out the pups glands. De fluffing one of my pup's ears is traumatic enough for us both without trying anal glands:D

It is not normal for any dog of any age to drag their bums, and there is normally a reason they do. I would worm your dogs again to start with, but make sure you use a quality wormer I find Drontal plus the best.If that does not work take them to your vet as it could be their anal glands.If you are a sensitive person you may wish to wait outside while they are emptied (not pleasant).

Have been to vets today. Both pups needed their anal glands emptying and just to be sure we have been given another dose of the appropriate wormer for each. Hopefully this should put paid to it.

Hi.
My 13 week old cocker spaniel Cassie was doing this as well, I mentioned it to the vet and he gave me some drontal for her and it seems to have stopped her.

Hextons I take from your post that you don't get drontal from your vet. Can you get it elsewhere and if so is it any cheaper than at the vets? I note that you can get Frontline and Drontal in the US without going to the vets but don't know if its any cheaper there. I ask this as we get one dose at a time from the vet who wants to see the dogs every time.This is not very convenient especially with three dogs although I understand the need to weigh the two pups. My adult dog's weight is static and has been for all her adult life.

At the moment I buy Drontal from my vets who lets me have them over the counter because i refused to keep taking my dogs to see him everytime i needed a wormer tablet.The down side is i feal i get ripped off, lets hope someone will come up with the answer for both of us. It is important to give correct dosage per weight of dog.

Drontal can be bought online or over the phone from Vet-Medic.

Hi, Mrs Genie thanks for the info