Dog scooting – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way. Scooting can happen when something is irritating, itchy or painful, including something stuck around the bottom, anal gland problems, worms or itchy skin.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Scooting describes a dog sitting down and dragging their bottom along the ground. ^[1] It can indicate that something around the bottom is irritating, itchy or painful.^[1] Possible causes include something stuck around the bottom, blocked anal glands, an anal gland abscess, worms or itchy skin.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Irritation around the bottom
Itchiness
Pain

Possible causes

Something stuck around the bottom
Blocked anal glands
Anal gland abscess
Worms
Itchy skin
Anal furunculosis
A lump

What the experts say

“Something stuck around the bottom (mud, poo or perhaps a twig) ; Blocked anal glands ; An anal gland abscess ; Worms ; Itchy skin ; Other conditions such as anal furunculosis or a lump”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What is scooting?

Scooting is when a dog sits down and drags their bottom along the ground.^[1]

What can scooting mean?

It can mean something is irritating, itchy or painful around your dog’s bottom.^[1]

What can cause a dog to scoot?

Possible causes include something stuck around the bottom, blocked anal glands, an anal gland abscess, worms or itchy skin.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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