September 24, 2024, 8:43 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Sometimes dogs – and cats, for that matter – slide across the floor on their bottoms. There can be various medical reasons for this behavior. PETBOOK explains what is behind the phenomenon and how you can help the animals.
It looks a bit like dogs riding a sled. The four-legged friends push their bottoms down and pull them across the floor with their front paws. Even though this may look funny, something serious is usually behind it. When the four-legged friend “sleds,” it is often suffering from severe itching or has pain in the anal area. PETBOOK explains the causes behind this behavior and how to find a solution or the right treatment for the problem.
Why dogs and cats slide their bottoms across the floor
When dogs and cats drag their bottoms across the carpet, they are not doing it for fun. There is often an itch behind it. If the dog or cat cannot reach the itchy or painful areas in the anal region with their mouth, tongue or teeth, they will slide their rear end across the floor to get some relief. This is always an indication of a problem in the anal region. The animals then often also show other symptoms.
What symptoms do dogs and cats show when they have problems in the anal region?
Cats often run around as if stung by a tarantula and then lick themselves in the anal region. Dogs often bite their tails. Some animals rub themselves against furniture or suddenly stop defecating in the litter tray because they associate this place with pain. Symptoms and causes can vary, and usually, only a vet can provide an explanation with complete certainty. Below are the most common symptoms and behaviors.
- The animals “sleigh” – sliding their bottoms across the ground
- Frequent licking and nibbling in the anus area
- Redness and swelling next to the anus
- Bite their tail
- Spinning in circles
- Pressing their bottom against upholstered furniture
- Have difficulty and pain when passing stool
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Terrible smell when the anal gland bursts
- White dots in the anal area or in the feces (suggests a worm infestation)
- Dogs and cats eat poorly
- Fever
What causes itchy bottoms in dogs and cats?
The most common causes in dogs include blocked or inflamed anal glands and worm infestation. In contrast to dogs, cats rarely suffer from blocked anal glands. They also often slip across the floor when they have done their big business and are suffering from diarrhea or constipation.
Possible causes:
- worms
- allergies
- injuries and fistulas
- tumors
- inflamed or blocked anal glands
We describe the possible causes in more detail below.
Worms
Both cats and dogs can suffer from worm infestations. If, for example, cucumber tapeworms migrate from the intestine to the anal area and dry there, this can lead to severe itching. If white spots appear there, you should get a worm test. You should perform a deworming treatment if this is positive. But only in this case! Giving worming treatments prophylactically and too often can damage the animal’s healthy intestinal flora.
Allergies
Our four-legged friends can also spontaneously develop allergies. These can be food intolerances or allergies to certain substances and chemicals, e.g., in dog shampoo or detergent. If the animal is suddenly allergic to a food, you should closely examine the ingredients and follow an exclusion diet. This is very time-consuming, but if you are lucky, the intestinal problems will disappear.
Fistulas or swallowed objects
Another possibility is that the dog or cat has swallowed something that cannot be digested. If excretion does not occur naturally, only surgical removal will help. Anal fistulas that form from an anal abscess can also cause itching and pain. These must be treated with antibiotics and ointment.
Tumors
An anal sac carcinoma can be a rare cause in dogs and cats. Breeds such as English Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, and Dachshunds are particularly susceptible. The tumor usually has to be surgically removed. This is often followed by chemotherapy to prevent metastasis.
Most common cause: blocked or inflamed anal glands
The anal glands can also become inflamed, which occurs relatively frequently in dogs and is very painful. The anal glands are located in the anal sac to the left and right of the anus. They produce a strong-smelling secretion that dogs and cats use to mark their territory. If the glands are blocked, e.g. because they are no longer emptied due to excessively soft feces, the glandular secretion cannot drain away. Fur stuck together with feces can also hinder the emptying of the anal glands.
Small dogs, in particular, often suffer from constipation of the anal glands due to their small excretory ducts. The problem can be exacerbated if bacteria come into play and the anal glands become inflamed. If the animal is not treated, this can lead to further complications, such as an anal gland abscess. This leads to an accumulation of pus, which can cause the anal gland to burst. An antibiotic is usually administered to prevent further infection of the open wound,.
As emptying the anal glands is very painful for cats, a vet will usually sedate them. You should not empty the cat’s anal glands yourself. Because there are cases in dogs where the anal glands have to be emptied every two weeks, it is advisable for owners to have a vet or groomer show them the procedure. Otherwise, regular visits to the vet could become quite expensive in the long run.
Instructions for the treatment of blocked anal glands
Disposable gloves can be used to squeeze out a dog’s anal glands. You should also have paper towels or a kitchen roll at hand. Moist cloths and Vaseline for post-treatment are also useful. Treatment on the carpet is not recommended, as the secretion can spray out a long way. It is best to go to a place that is easy to clean. A tiled surface is the easiest to clean or you can go outside straight away.
Special care should be taken if the anal sac is already ulcerated or if blood is visible in the secretion. In such cases, you should definitely consult a vet. Fever can also indicate advanced inflammation.
Caution: If the anal sac is already ulcerated or if there is blood in the secretions, you should definitely consult a vet. Fever can also indicate advanced inflammation.
Conclusion: When dogs and cats slide their bottoms across the floor, there is usually a physical ailment behind it. In addition to the most common causes, such as blocked anal glands and worm infestation, the animal should also be checked for grass mites, fleas, and tick infestation.
Triggers of diarrhea Giardia in dogs — symptoms, causes, and treatment
Zoonoses Feline zoonoses: Cats can transmit these diseases to humans
Inflammation of the gastric mucosa Causes and treatment for dogs vomiting on an empty stomach
Sources
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- Haustierratgeber.de, “Hund rutscht mit seinem Po über den Boden: Was tun?“ (accessed on 02.02.2023)
- Petdoctors.at, “Wenn die Katze Schlitten fährt: 10 Symptome und 3 Ursachen einer Analdrüsenentzündung“ (accessed on 02.02.2023)
- Tiermedizinportal.de, “Analdrüsenentzündung bei der Katze – Was tun?“ (accessed on 02.02.2023)
- Immune-therapy.vet, “Analdrüsentumor beim Hund“ (accessed on 02.02.2023)