Puppies are known for their strange behaviors and tendencies. While most of these things are natural behaviors that are completely normal, sometimes they signal that something is wrong with your puppy. In today’s article, we are going to discuss why puppies drag their bottoms on the floor, and explain how this could be the sign of an illness or health complication. 

Why do puppies drag their bottoms on the floor

Most of the time, puppies drag their bottoms on the floor because something is causing their anus to be irritated. Dragging their bottoms on the floor allows them to scratch their anus and give it some relief. The main reasons puppies drag their bottoms on the floor is because of anal sacs, diarrhea, worms, and constipation.

Anal sacs

One of the main reasons a puppy will have an irritated anus is because their anal sacs have become irritated. In some of the worst cases, your puppy can actually develop a rash on their anal sacs. This will be very itchy and painful for a puppy, and they will try to itch their butts on the ground to scratch at the inflamed anal sacs.

Diarrhea

Another common reason puppies have itchy bottoms is because they have just experienced diarrhea. Diarrhea is especially common in puppies because they are adjusting to new diets and environments. When a puppy has diarrhea, some of the waste can get stuck on their bottoms. As you would expect, this causes their bottom to become very itchy if their butts are not cleaned afterwards. 

Worms

Unfortunately, puppies are very susceptible to contracting worms. Puppies can even get worms while they are still in their mother’s womb. Most internal worms exit a puppy’s body through poop. Therefore, if a puppy is infected with worms, there is a good chance the worms will reach their anus. Worms can cause unimaginable itchiness and irritation, which can cause a puppy to drag their bottoms on the floor to get the worms off. 

Constipation

Another reason your puppy could be rubbing their bottom against the floor is because they are constipated. The two main reasons a puppy gets constipated is because of their diet and dehydration. It is very important that you feed a puppy a diet that is high in fiber, and also make sure they are drinking enough water.

What to do if your puppy is dragging their bottom on the floor?

If your puppy is dragging their bottom on the floor, you should inspect their anus to see if there is any inflammation or rashes. You should also look for any sign of worms in their anus and in their stool. It is very important that you always make sure your puppy has a cleaned anus.