My dog's anus looks infected. Should I take them to the vet?

Red’s anus does look irritated and I can see some redness on the underside of his tail as well. He might be licking due to irritation from full anal glands, parasites or allergies. I would recommend having your vet examine him and check his anal glands. They may want to check a stool sample as well. Oral or topical medications might help. I would recommend putting an e-collar on to prevent licking until you can get to the vet.

Either is possible - diarrhea can cause irritation and 'itchiness' of the anus and perianal area. Baxter's anal glands could also be full since they are normally emptied during defecation and his stool probably hasn't been bulky enough to express them. If his anal area looks irritated you could apply a thin layer of Vitamin A+D ointment or Petroleum jelly to the area, but if he keeps scooting I'd recommend taking him in to have his glands checked.

From what I can see from the photo I think this looks more like inflammation or infection. Sometimes when dogs have diarrhoea they rub their bums which can lead to raw skin which in turn can become infected. Another possibility is an anal gland infection, these can burst out suddenly. There is always a possibility that it could be a tumour but it doesn't look like the typical tumours you get around the anus. With appropriate treatment an infection should heal within one to two weeks, whereas tumours would require more investigation/invasive treatment. I would chat to your bet about getting some meds for your dog if they haven't been prescribed already. Running bloods would also be prudent and may give further clues to the cause.

Yes. Abscesses are infection and require treatment. Abscesses can become chronic or even turn into something like septicemia. It’s best to get them taken care of quickly. Make an appointment with his veterinarian. You also need to prevent licking and he should wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. I hope it heals quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It sounds like your dog has a severe case of colitis, or an inflammation of the colon. Colitis can be caused by many different things. Some of the more common causes include intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, food intolerance, irritable bowel disease and viruses. Brownie is probably licking around his anus because of the pain and inflammation associated with diarrhea or he may have an issue with his anal glands. I would recommend taking him in to the vet to be examined. He may need fluids to correct any dehydration that can occur because of fluid loss, a fecal examination performed, have his anal glands checked and antibiotics and/or probiotics to help the diarrhea clear up.

Hi there and thanks for posting. Certain shampoos or sprays may irritate the skin and anus especially if she has a history of sensitive skin. Sometimes the groomers will express the anal glands as part of their grooming routine. If that was the case, sometimes there can be a small amount of inflammation afterwards especially if the anal sacs were very full. She may also have a skin infection or infection of the anal sacs as well which may be unrelated to the grooming. Feel free to send along pictures or you can also request a consult with me to share pictures and I can provide additional feedback. I hope this helps!

He could be having a problem with his anal gland and have an infection and/or need the glands expressed. If the problem continues than have your vet examine him to determine the cause. Your vet can express his glands, if needed.