We have all seen this from time to time…but do you really know what this funny little gesture our dogs do, mean? Well, let me tell you exactly what this means. You might not think this is so funny after you read this article. The germs and bacteria that your little friend just wiped on your families flooring can be really disgusting. Especially when you do not see it. Think of your children rolling around on the carpet where the incident happened. We need to keep our floors and carpets sanitized and clean from harmful contaminants.

Our beloved pooches and felines have anal glands that secrete smelly foul odor. As the dog or cat is viewed from behind, anal glands (also called anal sacs) are located on each side of and slightly below the anal opening, at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions. These glands are a form of defense, while dogs use it primarily for territorial marking or as a form of communication. Whenever your dog urinates or defecates, these glands receive a small amount of pressure that releases a tiny bit of the fluid along with your dog’s custom-blended scent. This is how dogs identify with each other and why they sniff each others bottoms. Every dog has their own specific scent that is very unique. If the anal glands don’t empty properly, they can become impacted, making bowel movements difficult and painful, and potentially leading to infections or abscesses. Many dogs never have a problem because they relieve some of the fluid on a daily basis. But occasionally there might be an issue and here are some signs to look for.

Your dog begins scooting or dragging his rear across the floor.

Your dog keeps licking or chewing near his rectum.

Your dog’s stools have become soft and mushy.

You’ll likely notice a foul or “fishy” odor coming from your dog’s rear.

Impacted anal glands can often be relieved by manually expressing, or squeezing out the fluid. This is a very stinky process, but you can have your vet or groomer do it instead. Most people whose dogs need their anal glands expressed periodically they prefer to pay to have it done. It is definitely worth the extra money. If your pets are having this problem frequently you might need to change their diet also. Dogs that are obese are prone to having issues more than physically fit dogs. So watch your dogs health and do not feed them too much human food. Human food is more fattening and their bowels can become irritable.

Being pet owners is a privileged. It is so important to watch out for our furry loved ones who cannot speak. We are their nurturers and caretakers in life. If we do not see than no one else will. As funny as it may be to see our pooches dragging their bottoms across the floor, they might need a little hand next time.