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Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Collins, DVM
Direct Answer: Dogs scoot because something is causing discomfort around their rear end. The most common reasons are full or irritated anal glands, intestinal parasites, food sensitivities, and low dietary fiber resulting in soft stools. Most cases are manageable, but persistent scooting, swelling, or blood means your vet should take a look.
⚠ When to call your vet immediately: If your dog’s scooting is persistent (lasting more than a day or two), or if you notice blood, visible swelling, discharge, or a strong odor around the anal area, contact your veterinarian right away. These signs can indicate anal gland impaction or infection requiring professional care.
Scooting is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It tells you your dog is uncomfortable back there — your job is to figure out why. Here are the four causes that account for most cases:
Anal glands (also called anal sacs) are two small scent glands located just inside your dog’s anus. They normally empty a little during each bowel movement when the passing stool applies pressure to them. When stools are consistently soft or loose, that pressure never builds, and the glands fill up. A full anal gland is uncomfortable; an impacted or infected one is painful. This is the single most common cause of scooting.
Tapeworms and other intestinal parasites can cause itching and irritation around the anal area. If you notice small rice-like segments near your dog’s rear end or in their stool, a parasitic infection is likely. Your veterinarian can confirm with a fecal test and prescribe the right treatment.
Certain ingredients — most often proteins or additives that your dog does not tolerate well — can cause low-level inflammation throughout the digestive tract, including the rectal area. This irritation can prompt scooting even when the anal glands appear fine. Identifying and removing the offending ingredient usually resolves it over time.
Fiber is what gives stool its bulk and firmness. Without enough, stools stay soft, fail to apply pressure to the anal glands during elimination, and leave the glands chronically full. A diet that consistently supports firm, well-formed stools is one of the most reliable ways to reduce scooting caused by anal gland issues. See our guide to firming up your dog’s stool for practical steps.
Skin irritation from a recent grooming session, contact with an irritant (cleaning products, rough surfaces), or allergies that cause perianal itching can also trigger scooting. If you have ruled out glands, parasites, and diet, a vet can help investigate further.
Use this table as a quick reference. It is not a substitute for a vet exam, but it can help you decide what to do next.
| Cause | Common Signs | First Step |
|---|---|---|
| Full anal glands | Scooting after bowel movements, licking rear, fishy odor | Groomer or vet manual expression; improve stool firmness |
| Intestinal parasites | Rice-like segments near anus or in stool, weight loss, pot belly | Fecal test at the vet; appropriate deworming treatment |
| Food sensitivity / rectal irritation | Scooting alongside loose stools, gas, or itchy skin | Review ingredient list; trial elimination diet with vet guidance |
| Low fiber / soft stools | Recurrent full glands, chronically soft or mushy stools | Increase dietary fiber; consider a prebiotic-rich gut routine |
| Skin irritation / grooming | Scooting only after a bath or groom; no other signs | Check for clipped fur irritation or product residue; monitor |
| Anal gland infection / impaction | Swelling, redness, pain when sitting, bloody or cloudy discharge | Vet visit required promptly |
The relationship between what your dog eats, how firm their stools are, and how their anal glands function is more direct than most owners realize.
When stool is firm and well-formed, it compresses the anal glands as it passes through. That compression is what naturally empties the glands at every bowel movement. When stools are consistently soft, loose, or small in volume, the glands simply do not get expressed. Over time, the secretion builds up, the glands fill, and your dog starts scooting to try to relieve the pressure themselves.
Dietary fiber is the primary lever. Both soluble fiber (from sources like psyllium husk, chicory root, and cooked legumes) and insoluble fiber (from vegetable matter, oats, and similar sources) contribute to stool bulk. Soluble fiber also feeds beneficial gut bacteria, which supports a healthy microbiome and reduces the low-level intestinal inflammation that can make rectal irritation worse.
This is why gut health and anal gland health are genuinely connected, not just in theory. A dog with a well-supported microbiome and consistent fiber intake tends to have firmer stools, more reliable natural gland expression, and fewer bouts of scooting.
For more on fiber sources and the prebiotic connection, see our guide to prebiotics for dogs and our foundational dog gut health guide.
If your dog is showing other gut-related symptoms alongside scooting — loose stools, gas, or mucus — it may be worth reading about the sensitive stomach and loose stool daily routine or reviewing the 7 symptoms of poor gut health in dogs.
⚠ Vet safety notice: While occasional scooting is usually not an emergency, some situations require prompt veterinary attention. Do not delay if you observe any of the following.
See your veterinarian if your dog is experiencing any of the following:
Anal gland impaction and infection require professional treatment. Attempting to manually express an infected or abscessed anal gland at home can make it significantly worse. When in doubt, call your vet.
Once your vet has addressed any acute issue — full glands expressed, parasites treated, irritant removed — the next goal is reducing recurrence. For many dogs, the most practical approach is building a daily gut routine that supports consistent stool quality and a healthy microbiome.
A daily gut routine worth considering includes:
For a structured approach to daily gut support, see the daily dog gut health routine guide.
Support Your Dog’s Gut From the Inside Out
Plentum Advanced K9 Microbiome Care is formulated with prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to support stool quality, microbiome balance, and digestive wellness — daily.
Learn More About Advanced K9 Microbiome Care →These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog’s individual health needs.
Scooting is almost always a sign of irritation or discomfort around your dog’s rear end. The most frequent causes are full or impacted anal glands, intestinal parasites such as tapeworms, food sensitivities causing rectal inflammation, low dietary fiber leading to soft stools that cannot express the glands naturally, or simple skin irritation from grooming or contact with an irritant.
Scooting is when a dog sits down and drags or slides their hindquarters along the floor, carpet, or grass. You may also notice your dog licking or biting at their rear end, turning in circles trying to reach the area, or showing signs of discomfort when sitting.
Yes. Stool consistency plays a direct role in anal gland health. Soft or loose stools do not apply enough pressure to the anal glands during a bowel movement, so the glands do not empty naturally. A diet with adequate fiber supports firmer stools and more consistent natural gland expression. A healthy gut microbiome also reduces intestinal inflammation that can contribute to rectal irritation.
The right approach depends on the cause. If anal glands are involved, your veterinarian or groomer can express them manually. If diet and fiber are the root issue, supporting firmer stools through dietary changes may reduce recurrence. If parasites are identified, your vet will recommend the appropriate treatment. Persistent scooting, blood, or visible swelling always warrants a vet visit.
See a veterinarian if scooting is persistent (more than a day or two), if you notice blood, swelling, a foul smell, discharge around the anal area, or if your dog seems in pain. These signs can indicate anal gland impaction or infection, which needs professional treatment.
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