My dog drags their bottom along the ground, what does it mean?

'Scooting' often points to irritated anal glands, but not always: fleas , an allergy, a worm or a urinary problem can cause the same signs. Rather than drawing your own conclusion, have your dog examined: the vet rules out the other causes before blaming the glands.

How can I prevent anal gland blockages?

The best way is regular digestion with nice firm stools, which naturally press on the glands each time they pass. A healthy weight , good hydration, physical activity and a suitable diet (fibre on your vet's advice) all help a lot. If the discomfort comes back anyway, talk it over with the vet.

Anal glands: spotting the discomfort (and why not to do it yourself)

Health & preventionPart of · Health & prevention

Anal glands: spotting the discomfort (and why not to do it yourself)

Q: How do I know if my dog's anal glands are full?

You can spot discomfort without handling anything: the dog drags their bottom along the ground (the 'scooting'), licks or nibbles at their rear end, struggles to sit, or gives off a lingering fishy smell. These are signs to watch and to flag to the vet, not to confirm yourself by pressing on the area.

Q: Why empty a dog's anal glands?

You don't empty them as a matter of course: in most dogs, they empty on their own as well-formed stools pass through. You only step in when they're genuinely blocked and uncomfortable . Emptying a dog 'as routine' with no symptoms at all can even keep the problem going; it's the vet who decides whether it's needed.

Q: Who can empty a dog's anal glands?

The vet, or a trained groomer, never you by force. Manual emptying is a skilled procedure: done badly, it risks injuring the area or causing an abscess. At the first sign of swelling, pain or a discharge of blood or pus, it's the vet, not the groomer.

Q: How often should a dog's anal glands be emptied?

There's no universal schedule: a dog whose glands empty well on their own has no reason to be emptied regularly. The frequency depends on the individual dog and is decided with the vet, based on symptoms, never 'just in case'.

5 min read

Your dog drags his bottom along the floor, licks his rear end or smells of fish? His anal glands may be full. Normally, they empty on their own. Your job: spot the signs and hand him over to the right professional.

What anal glands are for

A dog has two small sacs sitting either side of the anus. They hold a secretion with a very distinctive smell, a sort of scent identity card he leaves behind to mark his passage. In most dogs, these sacs empty by themselves with every well-formed stool: nothing to do, the body takes care of it.

Spotting the signs day to day

He drags his bottom along the floor, rear down, like a sledge across the carpet.
He licks or nibbles insistently at his rear end, often in the same spot.
He struggles to sit down, squirms or gets straight back up, as if sitting bothered him.
A strong fishy smell that lingers, around him or on his bed.

The vet, the safe reflex

He empties the sac safely, and the pain settles.
He looks for why it keeps happening (stools, weight, allergy, infection).
He treats an abscess, an infection or pain.

A trained groomer, for upkeep

They can do a comfort expression on a dog whose glands empty poorly.
They only act when there is no swelling, no pain and no blood.
At the slightest abnormal sign, it is back to the vet.

Helping his glands empty on their own

Well-formed stools naturally press on the glands each time they pass. Here is what really helps.

0 / 5

Some signs can wait a little, others mean the vet straight away.

Worth a check-up

He keeps dragging his bottom or licking his rear end after several days.
The blockages keep coming back.

Without delay

A red, hot, painful swelling near the anus.
A discharge of blood or pus, possibly an abscess of the gland.

Anal Sac Disease in Dogs, Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual
Corbee R. J. et coll. — A Cross-Sectional Study on Canine and Feline Anal Sac Disease, Animals (2022)

Going further

guideFleas on dogs: spot, treat and prevent themAnother common cause of licking and itching near the tail: enough to tell fleas from glands.Read the guide guideMy dog keeps scratching: skin, itching, when to see the vetTo tell a skin problem from anal gland discomfort, and know when to get help.Read the guide guideWorms & worming: protecting your dogA dog dragging his bottom sometimes has worms, not gland trouble: worming him regularly avoids a lot of confusion.Read the guide guideFeeding your adult dog wellSuitable food helps the anal glands empty naturally with every stool.Read the guide guideGrass Seeds in Dogs: How to Spot, Remove and Prevent ThemA grass seed lodged near the rear end can also cause licking and discomfort, worth checking after a walk.Read the guide guideTreating a minor wound on your dogIf the abscess has burst, off to the vet without delay: this guide then helps you clean the wound properly and follow the healing.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my dog's anal glands are full?

You can tell his glands are full without handling anything: the dog drags his bottom along the floor, licks or nibbles his rear end, struggles to sit down, or gives off a lingering fishy smell. These are signs to observe and report to the vet, not to confirm yourself by pressing the area.

Why empty a dog's anal glands?

In most dogs, the glands empty on their own as well-formed stools pass: there is no routine expression to do. The vet only steps in when they are genuinely full and it is bothering him. Emptying a dog with no symptoms out of habit can even keep the problem going; it is the vet who judges whether it is needed.

Who can empty a dog's anal glands?

The vet, or a trained groomer, never you by force. Manual expression is a technical procedure: done badly, it risks injuring the area or causing an abscess. At the slightest swelling, pain or discharge of blood or pus, it is the vet, not the groomer.

My dog drags his bottom along the floor, what does it mean?

It is often a sign of anal glands bothering him, but not always: other problems (fleas, a skin allergy, worms) can cause the same behaviour. Rather than concluding yourself or pressing the area, watch how often it happens and have your dog examined. The vet traces it back to the real cause before treating.

How often should a dog's anal glands be emptied?

There is no universal schedule: a dog whose glands empty perfectly well on their own has no reason to be expressed regularly. The frequency depends on each dog and is decided with the vet, based on symptoms, never "just in case".

How do I prevent anal glands from becoming blocked?

The best way is regular transit with nice firm stools, which naturally press on the glands each time they pass. An ideal weight, good hydration, physical activity and suitable food (fibre on the vet's advice) help a lot. If the problem comes back anyway, talk to your vet.

Updated on July 11, 2026Sources

Loading your progress…