Hi, I have a 22 month old Lab who had repeated anal gland infections as a pup, finally she had an op to remove them and the scooting and frantic licking stopped for a good few months.  Gradually she's returned to scooting and licking and now she does it two or three times a day.  She is wormed every three months with Drontal plus and two different vets have checked her and concluded that the op was fine so nothing could be irritating her internally.  The vet did give her an injection to relieve irritation and it worked for a week, but then she was back to her old tricks.  I am at a total loss - can anyone help please!!

Has she had a feacal sample examined?  I would think this would be needed to rule out the possibility of worms all together.  There have been rumours that despite regular worming some dogs are carrying a large worm load, although I have to stress, this is only a rumour at present.  With horses it's normal to alternate worming products.

Hi Digger,
She hasn't had a sample checked for this particular problem.  The rumours that you mention are interesting and also the use of alternate worming products for horses.  It gives me some more things to think about and investigate further which is great as I'm at a loss now, thanks for your reply
Incas mum

this will be of no help at all, but my dog did this for the 8 years I had him and even after having his anal glands removed, did not stop totally. I had to learn to live with it.
Sorry.

If the scooting and licking is just an Inca "thing" as it seemed to be with your dog and I have no choice but to leave her to it then that's fine.  I have wondered whether it's just more of a habit now than actually signifying that something is wrong, but I guess I won't be able to rest on the subject until I at least know that I've investigated all possible avenues for her in case something comes along that does stop the problem.   

Ha she got a sore bottom? Mine does this sometimes and her botty can be a bit red and sore looking, when she does it I put a bit of tea tree cream or Sudocrem (available in s/markets, baby section) on and it stops immediately

Is there a possibility that it may be mites? Sometimes they can breed in the anus and make the dogs scoot and lick as if they have anal gland problems. Because Barney gets ear mites sometimes,I use Thornit Powder and also put it around his anus as he scoots and licks too. Just a thought anyway.

Julia

If it was mites I'm guessing that would be something that could only be diagnosed by a vet?  It's another possibility to add to the list so thanks for that, I'm slowly building up a list of a few more things that I can consider and go back to my vet with  which is great as I was at a total loss a week ago.  Inca in the meantime has abstained from scooting or licking for about the last three days, typical!  I know it's just a temporary lull though.  Thanks for your ideas everyone.
Incas mum  

Her bottom does look really red after she's been licking and because she is a very pale yellow Lab she now has one rosy cheek too!  The vet said this is from where the saliva from licking is staining her fur.  Thanks for the sudocrem tip, but unfortunately I have tried this with not much luck.  When I put it on I straight away take her out for a walk for half an hour or so to distract her, but she just gets back home and licks it off then. 

I used sudocrem for this problem too and found she licked it off but my vet said to try vaseline instead, it doesnt seem to bother her and she leaves it on, does she have her anal glands emptied/how often?

Will try vaseline instead, thanks for that.  She actually had her anal glands removed over a year ago after repeated infections as a pup, hence my puzzlement about what could still be causing the scooting and licking!