How to stop dog from scooting on carpet?

[Fire Dan]

Ugh, my friend brought her dog over to my house and the dog keeps scooting her butt on my carpet. It is so disgusting! I've made her stay outside, but is there a quick remedy?

 

[Kimberly Alt]

Yuck, no fun. Look at this article, I think it'll help you with your dog's scooting problems.

 

[Jeff Butler]

I've found that many dog parents think scooting is related to a behavioral issue. While that can be the case, often it is a sign of a health issue like parasites or allergies. I would tell your friend to get that dog to a vet!

 

[Danielle DeGroot]

the dog keeps scooting her butt on my carpet

@Fire Dan, I understand your concern and being grossed out. Dogs often rub their butts on carpets to relieve an itch. Dog butts get itchy, and they can't exactly reach them, so sometimes scooting is the only way to relieve it. But there are a few other things that can cause it. One thing in particular is anal gland issues. Or anal sac disease. We cover this in more detail here. Other medical issues include parasites or even growths from serious diseases like cancer. So while your friend's dog may just have an itchy butt, it could mean something else. I agree with my colleagues and suggest you take your pup to the vet.

I had a Chichuahua who was a ferocious scooter. She would scoot across the carpet all the time, but always after pooping. I took her to the vet, and it turned out to be an irritation of the glands. So, it's always better to check because dogs cannot tell us when something hurts or is causing them discomfort.