Puppy Scooting

MY PUPPY IS TRYING TO HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT BUT CAN'T, THEN HE SCOOTS HIS BOTTOM ON THE GROUND.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

THAT COMBINATION OF SYMPTOMS SUGGESTS A FECALITH, WHICH IS ACCUMULATION OF DRIED POOP IN THE HAIR AROUND THE ANUS.  THERE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MUCH POOP PRESENT TO CAUSE DISCOMFORT AND DIFFICULTY IN HAVING A BOWEL MOVEMENT, WHEN THE PUPPY TRIES TO PASS STOOL IT STRETCHES THE HAIRS THAT ARE STUCK IN THE MASS CAUSING QUITE A BIT OF PAIN IN THIS SENSITIVE AREA.

THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE THE LITH IS TO GIVE YOUR PUPPY A BATH.  USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF SHAMPOO OR MILD DISH DETERGENT AND GENTLY MASSAGE THE MASS WITH WARM SUDSY WATER UNTIL IT SOFTENS AND CAN BE REMOVED.  YOU CAN USE A SMALL TRIMMER LIKE A MUSTACHE TRIMMER TO KEEP THE HAIR AROUND THE ANUS SHORT, WHICH USUALLY WILL PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.

SCOOTING CAN ALSO BE ASSOCIATED WITH OVERFILLED ANAL GLANDS, WORMS  (ESPECIALLY TAPEWORMS) AND FOR SOME PUPPIES BRIEF SCOOTING AFTER A BOWEL MOVEMENT IS JUST A HABIT.