This doctor may be dragging bottom

Have you seen that commercial where the dog is scooting (or dragging his rear end) across the floor?

The kid says something like, "Mommy, check out Scooter's new trick!" The mother, who was talking to a friend on the couch, screams because she had just gotten new carpet installed.

My kids love that commercial! The homeowner in me cringes. The veterinarian in me says, "I could fix that." (The dog ... not the carpet.)

As I look at our worn carpet and think about replacement, the practical side of me knows to wait. Sure, it would be nice to have new carpet for our 17-month-old son to toddle around on. But his two older brothers know a thing or two about dragging dirt in.

The dogs also like to carry in remnants of whatever it was that they rolled in outdoors. Therefore, no rush on the new carpet.

Anything under the tail that itches could cause a dog to drag his rear end in order to relieve the itch. This could include any number of things that might cause a dermatitis of the anal area, the scrotal area in a male dog, or the vulvar area in a female dog (although we all know that females are much too classy to scratch themselves in public!).

Generally speaking, the top three causes of scooting would be anal gland sacculitis, allergies or worms. Allergies and worms are incredibly interesting and two of my favorite subjects. However, in order to condense my thoughts into the confines of this article, I will post an article on our Web site (www.bakerah.com) on allergies and worms.

Therefore: Good morning and welcome to the Family section of the Sunday edition of The Lima News. Today we will discuss "anal sacs."

If you can imagine your dog's anus as having a clock face over it, the anal sacs are just inside the anal sphincter at roughly the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. They vary in size from a pea to a small grape. The tiny opening to these sacs can usually be seen on the edge of the anus. The passage of feces through the anal canal usually expresses these sacs and no problems occur.

Just for clarity, the anal sacs are the scent glands in skunks. In domesticated dogs and cats, they really serve no purpose other than being a nuisance.

In approximately 10 percent of dogs, usually of the toy or small breeds, infection or obstruction of the ducts can cause irritation of the sacs. The inflammation can further cause the glands of the anal sacs to over-produce their normal secretions. This leads to swelling of the sacs, followed by impaction and possible rupture.

Distention of the anal sacs causes pain. The irritation can be mild, causing scooting or licking/biting of the tail or anus area. More severe pain may cause the pet to avoid defecating, which may lead to constipation and straining. Blood may occasionally be seen in or on the stool. This level will require gentle expression of the anal sacs and possibly some pain management or antibiotics.

If the sac ruptures, a bloody or pustular discharge may be seen off to the side and a little below the anus. At this point, the pet is usually not feeling very well. He may not be interested in eating, playing and may have a fever. This level will usually require antibiotic therapy and possibly draining and flushing of the abscessed sac while under anesthesia.

If your pet displays any or all of these signs, contact your veterinarian. She or he will be pretty quick to put a finger on (or in) the problem!

Dr. Adam Ferguson is a partner at Baker Animal Hospital in Cridersville. Between the months of June and September he often feels like he is a specialist in dog's butts. His sister just thinks he is a dog's butt. His mother and biology teacher (you know who you are, Mrs. Vega) are so proud!