As a child we travelled every month and always took the dogs with us to the farm. Every so often our Schnauzer would give off the MOST vile smell ever and often leave a dirty, smelly stain where she was sitting. As kids we were grossed out and joked about it because normally she would be sitting on my mom's lap when she dropped an "eeky leaky" as we called it.

Only recently have I become aware of what it is. I have often heard about dogs getting their anal glands infected but have never put the 2 together.

I found this article online which is very interesting:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=510

What I would like to know is if anyone has experience this with their dogs? Apparently it is a common thing in small breed dogs but my 2 have never had anything like this.

I have also read that these days it is commonly caused by dogs eating a more vegetable based diet and not the raw bones and meat they used to in the years gone by. Perhaps mine do not have this problem because they get a well balanced mix of food.

It's a gross topic I know but from what I read it can be a huge problem.

I always thought Scooting (or Moon Walking as I call it!) was only a sign of worms...makes me wonder.

That is interesting Kristin!!! I always also thought when they dragged their behinds on the floor it was due to worms? I mainly noticed them doig it my dogs were pups? Although in this year our parlour asked if they could clean the yorkies the anal glands for us?? They offer it as a service. I was really not aware of it at all.

Thanks for the info!!!

My one pup was scooting which i never understood because they have been dewormed twice already. So we clipped the hair i could see he was tender. I took him straight to the vet who said it wasnt bad at all and he did the dirty deed and gave him a shot of something to clear it up and he was fine the next day, the infection hasnt come back at all. But he said it can be from the change in diet from milk to solids, fleas, worms, faeces trapped internally or externally or even a stool which is too loose.

Apparently a dog naturally expels the glands when going to the loo, but if their stool is too soft it doesn't happen properly. They use these galnds to mark territory as well.

The vet showed me how to do it but said always remember to keep your mouth closed! ha ha! i said in that case i will bring them in if need ever be!

Like i mentioned, Taylor and Trigger never experienced this before so i never really knew the signs. The vet said it stings and is tender if not seen to properly and if it is left untreated and reaches an advanced stage or the abscess bursts it can cause infection and sometimes anti biotics or worse yet operating is needed.

So we learn! Gross but good to know i think!

Thanks for the info......I will also leave that to the professionals!!!!

I occasionally doggy sit a mini Yorkie. He had worms which was quickly taken care of. But even after having the worms taken care of, he kept licking his bottom but very seldom dragged his bum on the floor.

His parents refused to believe that there was anything wrong until I finally took him to the vet. His anal glands had become infected. This was easily rectified by the vet draining the anal glands and giving him some antibiotics (the bum was very inflamed and infected by this time).

So excessive bum licking can also be a sign of anal gland infection.