Why do dogs lick their butt?

Question

I love my dog and I wouldn’t trade him for the world, but I am always disturbed to see him licking his butt. Why do dogs lick their butt? They always seem to do it during the most inappropriate time too, like when you have guests that you are entertaining. Can someone please explain to me why all dogs feel like they need to lick their butts?

Answer 1

Humans seem to take for granted the fact that we have showers and other means of being able to get ourselves clean. When people ask why dogs lick their butt, I tend to stair blankly at them and wonder if they are being serious about the question. They are simply trying to get themselves clean. My dog licks every part of her body on a regular basis because this is the only way that she knows how to get herself clean without getting into the bath.

Answer 2

After a dog goes to the bathroom, they can’t simply grab a roll of toilet paper and use it to wipe with like a human. Asking why do dogs lick their butt is almost as bad as asking why human’s use toilet paper to wipe. Just like us, dogs want to be clean. They don’t want to be walking around with poo stuck to their butt when they are around people. Some dogs are quick about this and others may take longer to get the job done. If you don’t want your dog coming in from its bathroom break smelling like a toilet, let it clean itself the only way it knows how.

Answer 3

If you are wondering why dogs lick their butt, the answer can be a little bit more complicated than them just cleaning themselves. At times, a dog licks their butt because their anal glands are swollen. This can happen any time, but it is more likely if you have changed something in their diet. If the swelling get really bad and it seems like they are licking their butt constantly you may want to get them to the vet as soon as you possibly can. Dogs are simply trying to relieve the itching that they feel due to the swelling and yelling at them isn’t going to stop them from doing it.