My dog growls when I touch his tail or butt. Is he angry or hurt?

Harvey may have injured his tail or he may be having an issue with his anal glands that are located right inside the rectum. If this behavior continues for more than 24 hours I would recommend taking him in to your vet to be checked out. Best of luck. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If this has only been going on for a day or two, 'swimmer's tail' or 'limber tail' is a possibility. This is a swelling of the muscles at the base of the tail that can result in significant pain, and it can seem like the dog is unable to move it's tail. An injury would be less likely with no history of trauma. Spinal/lumbar pain is also possible. Anal gland inflammation could also cause some discomfort although it would be unusual to cause such extreme pain. Unfortunately I think a physical examination by a veterinarian would be necessary to diagnose the problem.

She is in pain. That is why she is growling. She is communicating to you that she doesn't want you to touch that area because it hurts. It has nothing to do with trusting you. Just because she acts like it doesn't hurt when she is getting around doesn't mean she is not in pain. Animals don't outwardly manifest pain like we do. They usually don't continuously whine and/or cry out like we would. I suggest you get her to your vet for an exam so you can talk about medications/supplements you can use to keep her comfortable. I'm sure you don't want her in pain.

Your dog could have hip or back problems that make it painful to posture to defecate and would also make it hurt when her tail is manipulated. It could also be infected or inflamed anal glands. This condition is very painful and makes it difficult to defecate or even move. Without treatment, the gland may rupture, causing a open wound on your pet's rear that will require wound care and antibiotics as well as some pain relief. I recommend getting your pet seen by your vet. They will examine your pet, possibly do some x-rays and labwork and be able to give you a better idea of what is going on and how best to treat it.

If you feel Macie is uncomfortable I would recommend that you have her seen by your veterinarian. Possible causes for this behavior include anal gland infectons or impaction, constipation, trauma or stool or foreign material stuck in the rectum. Your veterinarian can examine the area and determine what is causing her symptoms.

This hard mass could be due to anal sac impaction or it could be an anal gland tumor, both of which would cause him to drag his bum on the carpet. Given Angelo's age, cancer is unfortunately always a possibility, and I would not squeeze this mass to try to relieve the pressure. I also would not wait until Tuesday to get him into a vet. If it's an anal sac impaction, it can rupture, and it's best to have them expressed as soon as possible. If it's an anal sac tumor, early treatment is imperative, as this is a malignant and very aggressive cancer. I would have Angelo seen by a vet first thing on Monday.

Since this is so out of character for him he certainly could be injured. If a dog is hurting in a specific spot, they will sometimes becomes hypersensitive in that area. They will sometimes become aggressive. I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to localize the pain and start him on pain meds if needed. You may also have to put him in a short course of anti-anxiety meds until he feels better. Your vet will also be able to do X-rays if needed. I hope this helps!