Most people who have a dog think that one of the grossest things an animal can do is lick its own genitalia and anus. However, dog owners change their tune about that the minute they see their dogs intentionally skidding their backsides across the carpet, leaving "skidmarks" of dog feces behind. Unfortunately for you, this means that your dog has one of three health issues going on, and you will have to take him or her to the vet. Here is how good veterinary services determine what your dog's serious anal problem is.

Constant Dragging, Whining and Discomfort, Plus Egg Sacs

Dogs will drag their behinds on the carpet for several reasons, the most notable of which is the presence of tapeworms. This nasty intestinal parasite does not care which host it occupies, man or beast, so you absolutely want to eliminate this as a possibility for your dog's behavior. If your dog is dragging his or her backside on the floor every time you turn around, whines a lot and seems to be in constant discomfort (wants to scratch or bite anal area), your dog might have a tapeworm.

Tapeworms will make regular exits out of your dog's anus to deposit egg sacs on the fur around the anus before retracting back into your dog's rectum and intestines. A professional vet, like those at Covington Veterinary Hospital PC, can confirm tapeworms as the problem either through a fecal smear or by the presence of what looks like grains of white rice stuck to your dog's butt. In the meantime, wear rubber gloves when you clean the fecal streaks off your floor to avoid getting tapeworms yourself.

Dragging Accompanied by Swelling and Straining to Defecate

Another exam by your vet will reveal that your dog is having potty problems and dragging tail because he or she has issues with his or her anal glands. Anal glands are used by a dog to:

• Produce pheremones that mark their territory when they defecate
• Secrete a mucous-like substance that aids in the passing of feces

When the glands are blocked, your dog's behind will begin to swell up slightly on one or both sides of the anal opening. Your dog will either whine or cry when it tries to go potty and drag his/her buttocks in an attempt to get relief. Your vet will confirm anal gland problems through a manual probing. Then, as part of any good veterinary services, compress the anal glands, releasing the blockages and providing relief for your dog.

Occasional Dragging with No Other Apparent Symptoms

Occassional dragging of the buttocks usually means that your dog is trying to wipe his or her own backside using your carpet as toilet tissue. If you see your dog about to slide, pick up his/her buttocks and take a look. Just as humans are uncomfortable with traces of fecal matter left behind on their derrieres, so your dog is too. You may need to don gloves and wipe your dog with special dog anal wipes to prevent a larger mess across your carpet. Ask your vet about what type of wipes you can use for this problem.