My GSD Licking Butt - Page 1

My GSD keeps  Licking his  Butt, had stool sample done it was negative. It is red all over Please need some help!!!

Good chance that his anal sacs are, at the very least, full and making him uncomfortable, or possibly even impacted or abscessed. If they are just full, you can try emptying them yourself if you [a] know where they are located and [b] know how to express the contents of the sacs.  If you don't know both of those things, here are some links to instructions on how to do so, if you're up for the challenge:

Star of Texas Vet Hospital Video on Expressing Anal Glands

Dr. Jennifer Coates' "How to Express a Dog's Anal Glands"

Be forewarned: the contents of the sacs, even under normal conditions, is quite foul-smelling and lingering. If you decide to try this yourself, be sure you do so in an area that can be throughly and easily cleaned. 

While having the sacs expressed isn't enjoyable for a dog, it shouldn't be painful for him, either--if the sacs are so full that even touching the area causes him pain, it's best to have them cleared out by your vet, as they are probably impacted and infection has probably set in, which may require the sacs to be flushed out with a disinfecting solution and infused with an antibiotic ointment.  I realize that it may alread be Christmas Eve day where you're located, but the sooner you can have the dog seen by the vet the better, because the last thing you want is to have the gland become abscessed and burst through the wall of the perineal area...that can lead to the development of a draining tract called a fistula, and those can be extremely difficult to get healed up and can even become a chronic problem. Not trying to scare you--just want you to have full info on the scope of what you are most likely dealing with at the moment.

Do let us know how your dog makes out with his problem.

This is how our dog started before she developed perianal fistulas...not saying your dog has them, but wanted you to be aware of it...

If you can get a hold of  some Vetericyn (Tractor Supply stores carry this) or already have some, spray the area under your dog's tail 3-4 times a day. Great stuff for all types of irritations and wounds. That will help give your dog some relief until you can get to your veterinarian. A thin layer of Desitin baby ointment several times a day will also help relieve the irritation and you can go get that at a 24 hour drug store, etc.

 

 

Could be either anal sacs or the beginning of perianal fistulas. First thing would be to run the dog into the vet for a tech appt and have them express the anal glands. Tech appts are cheap and quick to get in. That stuff is toxic waste and you shouldn't do it yourself unless you have a dog that needs regular expressing. Full glands are very uncomfortable for your dog and you should get this done as soon as possible. Any time you see your dog doing a lot of scooting or butt licking, you should get him in for his anal glands.

 

If this isn't anal glands, then he should be checked for perianal fistulas. You really don't want your dog to have these, but most likely this is just full anal glands.

If the OPs vet did stool sample tests, shouldn't they have also looked for,

& explained,  AF  and sacs ?   [SMH @ the medics, once again ...]

HM, the dog doesn't have to go to the clinic for stool check...just grab a handful in a baggy and drop it off at the vet's.
I concur...do not attempt to express the anal glands yourself, especially if there is a possibility of infection. Good way to get dogbit, not to mention the damage that can be done squeezing the mess into the wrong direction.

Do you mean your dog is licking and biting his anus or do you mean he is biting and licking the area around his tail? Does he have fleas? 

Joan - that is just another 'across the Pond' difference I'm afraid.

My vet would no way do a stool sample without also seeing the

actual dog, some time before, during or after collection !  The only

time they might make an exception to that would be with a client who

was very well known to them and had been bringing multiple dogs

to them to treat for years,  e.g. a breeder of long-standing,  and

even that sort of arrangement is less frequent these days.  {IMO the OP

does not sound like that would be relevant.}

Yes, we can say its probably to get the consultancy £$£$£;  but it does

also prevent some real problems.

 

Thanks for all your help, sounds like he has perianal fistulas, theres no fleas and he was at vet they looked at it gave us medicine it did not work . Just wanted to here from other owners. we have had dogs for 35 years first time having this proulbm. Agian Thanks and have a Merry Christmas to all!!!

Unless your vet stuck his finger up your dog's butt, he did not check the anal glands and meds won't help full anal glands either until after they've been expressed. If they have not been specifically checked, make a tech appt and have it done as soon as possible. The tech will tell you if they were full or abcessed. Some vets are just stupid and forget to do the obvious.

PFs are a terrible thing to have and are extremely expensive to treat. Many dogs are put down due to this.

Get those anal glands checked!

HM, vets will almost always check dropped off fecals without the dog and prescribe wormer as needed so long as they have seen the dog within the last year.