Many think of their Chihuahuas as their babies — me included — until they do something very doggie-like to remind us that they are, after all, dogs.
Someone asked me recently why their dog licks his butt and privates. I thought “that’s a good question!”. Could it be a medical issue? Something to be concerned about, or just a natural doggie thing?
When you are out in public and they decide to do it, it can be quite embarrassing or at least annoying. There is no delicate or genteel way to say it; a male Chihuahua will lick his penis and a female Chihuahua will lick her vulva and both will lick their butts or anal area.
Is It Normal?
As I said, our “babies” are, after all, dogs. In the canine world licking after they urinate, is a normal grooming behavior. If their poop is firm and normal, it’s not necessary to lick their butts afterward, however, if it is loose or sticky, they may feel the need for a little “spit bath”.
Is There Ever a Need For Concern About This Behavior?
Yes, sometimes there is need for concern if it becomes more than a quick swipe to “tidy up”. Some things to look for are:
- Swollen or red penis, vulva, or anus
- Presence of pustules (pimples) or red bumps on the skin
- Discoloration of the skin (black or rust colored)
- Straining to urinate
- Increased frequency of urination
- Scooting or rubbing the rectal area on the ground
- Presence of a foul odor between eliminations
- Discharge from penis or vulva
Why Are These Signs Concerning?
There can be several medical reasons for this behavior if it occurs often and/or consistently some of these are:
- Possible Urinary Tract Infection
- Allergies
- Skin Infection
- Anal Gland Issues
Possible Urinary Tract Infection
A Chihuahua may lick their private parts because of a bladder infection. It can be painful and thus the licking. If they begin licking frequently after urinating or if you notice that they strain while urinating, or that they are urinating more often it may be a sign of an infection. A bladder infection is caused by bacteria and pretty common. It does however require antibiotics and they need to see a veterinarian. If your Chihuahua experiences frequent urinary tract infections, dietary changes or supplements may help to prevent repeated infections.
Allergies
There are many causes of allergies but the most common are environmental and food allergies. Food allergies occur when the dog is sensitized to proteins in the food. Dietary changes may need to be made. A hypo-allergenic diet with natural proteins like lamb, salmon, rabbit. While environmental allergies are usually caused by pollen.
If you walk your Chihuahua daily, do it as early in the morning as possible while the dew on the ground reduces pollens in the air. When your Chi has been outdoors, wipe his paws, belly, and any other part of the body that touches the ground as soon as they come back inside. Indoors use an air filter in each room that your Chi may be in. Skin allergies can be difficult to deal with however, dietary changes can help, and sometimes are all that is needed.
Skin Infection
A skin infection involves the presence of bacteria and yeast on the skin, some are normal, however, if either is in excess or if your Chihuahua is immune-compromised it can cause an infection. A skin infection usually shows up with pustules or red bumps and requires antibiotic treatment prescribed by your veterinarian. They usually respond better to topical treatments, medicated shampoos, wipes as well as antibiotic therapy.
Dogs have two anal glands located near the rectum. These glands fill up with smelly fluid and when pressure is applied they empty themselves
Normally you would never know that they are there, however, when they become over-filled they can become impacted.
Anal Gland Issues
Dogs have two anal glands located near the rectum. These glands fill up with smelly fluid and when pressure is applied they empty themselves. Normally you would never know that they are there, however, when they become over-filled they can become impacted. They become swollen and very uncomfortable, even painful for your Chihuahua. When that happens they will lick or scoot their butt on the ground (or your carpet, ewwwww!).
When this happens, make an appointment with your veterinarian to have them manually extracted. If untreated it can become infected and will require topical and oral antibiotics. Pain medication and soaking in warm water will help the discomfort. In cases of frequently impacted anal glands, surgery may be required to remove the anal glands.
Anal Gland Impaction
Dogs have two anal glands, remnants of scent glands, located near the rectum. These glands fill with smelly fluid and empty themselves when pressure is applied by the rectal muscles during a bowel movement. When working normally, pets and their owners don’t even realize that anal glands are there; however, when anal glands become over-filled, they become readily apparent. Impacted glands emit a noxious odor and the anal area may become swollen and irritated.
In response to the irritation, the dog may lick the rectal region or scoot and rub the anus on the ground. Manually evacuating the distended anal glands usually resolves the problem, so call your veterinarian for an appointment.
If left untended, an impaction may occur as the fluid becomes so thick that it doesn’t flow through the narrow opening to the rectum. Impaction often leads to infection. Severe infections may lead to the formation of an abscess that ruptures through the skin to the outside area around the anus. These infections require treatment with both topical and oral antibiotics. Pain medication and warm water soaks may alleviate the discomfort. Repeated infections may require surgical removal of the glands.
