Anal Glands

[shells]

I have noticed my dog last night and this morning having a good bum licking session. It isnt constant and she seems fine but google suggests it could be anal glands. She isnt bum scooting and I was wondering when/if I should take her to the vet.

She is nearly 3 and we havent had this issue before

[Dame Aussie]

If it is going on more than normal I would take her to the vet just to check.

Has she been wormed recently?

Anal glands aren't a huge issue, the vet can just squeeze them, beware of the smell though!

[Guest lavendergirl]

My boy needs anal glands done regularly and he has never "scooted". I just keep an eye out for the excessive licking.

[Alkhe]

Ah, good old anal glands, my old familiar friend. I would take her to the vet to check it out - the anal glands of some breeds can be positioned in such a way as to fill up more often than others, and not get naturally expressed or emptied when the dog poos. Poodles are prone to this (lucky me!), so whenever my girl starts scooting I express hers.

As Aussie said, vets can express them for you or teach you how to do it. It smells, but I was so terrified and prepared for the worst that the first time I did it, I was almost pleasantly surprised! It's no worse than stinky dog poo, in my opinion, with a bit of a musky, earthy, metallic-ness chucked in there.

[shells]

Thanks everyone

I wormed them that afternoon as they were due the following week and bum licking has stopped.

Will keep an eye on it though