dog

[Connemmara]

Anybody tell me what the problem is with my little dog - he keeps reaching round to his bottom constantly as if it is irritating him. I have washed and eased him with warm water.

[gelda]

Probably his anal glands need emptying, get him to the vet asp before they get infected.

[justmetoo]

he may have thread worm, get him some worming pills

[zzxxee]

does he have fleas they are attracted to the warm parts of the body

[Connemmara]

when should I give him the worming pills - first thing in the morning? Will it give him diarrhoea

[stellamaris]

Really, the most likely answer is anal glands. If you go to the vet to get them emptied (it's very painful for the dog if you don't) and that is not the cause, the vet will prescribe the correct wormer anyway.

[lankeela]

Sounds very much like anal glands. Threadworms are very rare in dogs, and they are a different type to those that infect humans. If it is worms, it is more likely to be tapeworm and these are rarely irritating, but you may notice bits of white tapeworm that look like grains of rice stuck to the back end of the dog. Roundworms look more like spaghetti, and your dog should be wormed twice a year anyway.

[Connemmara]

thanks for all your answers - he was agitated this morning around 5.00 am and I gave him the worming pill - but he still wants to reach round his bottom - I have an MOT today so cant get him to a vet until Monday.

[gelda]

An MOT only takes just under an hour!

[amonty1144]

Take him to the vets but in the meantime, kincrease the fibre in his diet, give him your carrot, raw broccoli and a nice marrowbone, this makes the stools stiffer and may ease his bum.

[Connemmara]

my dog was groomed and now I have found a redness around his tail ie rawness - he keeps licking it not giving the time to heal. However I am trying to cream him - I think he is getting better every day. he must have trailed himself through a fence or something - anyway bye for now

[lankeela]

This could be a reaction to a flea bite - I have one dog who will bite himself raw if he gets a flea on him.