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I recently watched my tiny, yorkie girl scooting along my carpet in a very unladylike way and wondered what is this about? It turns out – dog scooting behavior on a rough surface like carpet or the grass can be related to several issues. The first reason that a dog may scoot is for hygiene. If they sense a bit of fecal matter still attached to the rear, you may find “skid marks” on your carpet. If this is the problem, your carpet may quickly tell the story. Obviously, dogs don’t have the benefit of a handy roll of toilet paper so it makes sense that occasionally they feel the need to use your carpet as a cleaning too. This is especially true for dogs with long coats where fecal material may tend to stick on the dense fur. Having the groomer address this area when the animal is groomed can help this problem.

The second reason that dogs may scoot is due to tape worms. This is probably the least common reason that a dog may exhibit scooting behavior but if the problem persists, talking with your vet about the possibility of a tape worm is a good idea.

The third, and most common reason that a dog may scoot is due to anal sac problems. Anal sacs are scent sacs found on either side of a dog’s anus. When full, they are like single, hard grapes under the skin. If these sacs become plugged or severely infected, the sac swells and may burst through the skin causing a painful, draining abscess on the animal. Anal sac irritation is common and may well be the most likely reason your dog is exhibiting the scooting behavior on the grass or your carpet. During normal grooming, your dog groomer will likely “express” or squeeze  out some fluid from these sacs to make sure they are flowing well and are not blocked or irritated. If your dog seems to have continual problems in this area that are clearly not related to hygiene, be sure to talk to your vet and have him check this area. Infections in this area may well require antibiotics to help alleviate the problem for your tiny canine.