So you know how dogs sometimes drag their butts across the floor? Yeah, my pup Frank started doing that last month. Not cute, kinda gross, and honestly worried me sick. Figured I needed to fix this fast before my carpets got ruined or worse – something actually wrong with Frank.
The Gross Beginning
First thing, noticed Frank scooting after he did his business. Realized his little glands near the butt were probably full or irritated. Took him straight to Dr. Reynolds. Vet confirmed – yep, impacted glands. Gave them a good squeeze (messy business, lemme tell ya!), cleaned him up, and sent us home. But said I had to keep it clean back there daily to stop it happening again. Easy for him to say!
Operation Stop Scooting Starts
Made a little routine, morning and evening after walks:
- Wipe Duty: Got those pet-safe butt wipes. Every single time Frank comes inside from potty, corner him with a wipe. Lift tail, quick swipe. He hates it, tries to wiggle away. Takes two seconds if I’m quick.
- Fiber Boost: Vet said more fiber helps make… well, things… firmer, which naturally squeezes those glands. Started mixing a spoonful of canned pumpkin (plain, not pie filling!) right into his dinner kibble. He licks the bowl clean anyway, didn’t even notice.
- Water Watch: Made sure his water bowl is always full and fresh. Keeps everything moving smoothly down there.
- Regular Checks: Once a week, lift tail and just take a peek back there. Look for redness, swelling, or any gunk building up. Caught a little inflammation early once, wiped gently with a damp cloth instead of the usual wipe.
Was it easy sticking to it? Heck no. Forgot wipes once. Frank scooted that night like it was going out of style. Woke up to the awful sound of carpet friction. Lesson learned the hard way – keep a pack in every room now, by the door, near his crate. Obsessed? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
Hitting Our Stride
After two weeks of this drill:
- No butt dragging sounds at 2 AM? Glorious.
- Carpets staying unsullied? Priceless.
- Frank stopped looking uncomfortable sitting down? Best feeling ever.
Took him back for a quick check this week. Dr. Reynolds gave Frank’s backend a thumbs up. Glands felt good, no impaction. Major win!
What Frank Taught Me
The big takeaway? Consistency is everything. Forget fancy fixes. Just do the small stuff every single day:
- Wipe that butt after poop.
- Pumpkin in the dinner.
- Fresh water always.
- Peek under the hood once a week.
It ain’t glamorous work. Feels like a janitorial position sometimes. But seeing Frank comfy, not dragging his butt like he’s sanding the floor? Makes every wipe worthwhile. Stick with the basics, folks. They work.