Many dog owners ask this “dirty” question … Should you wipe a dog’s bottom? It is the obsession of many dog owners. The thing you can’t really control when your dog has a bowel movement. This dreaded phenomenon of “sticking” droppings to your dog’s hair. These sometimes soft droppings which remain attached to the fur of your animal who who does not hesitate, then, to stick his behind on your face … duh …
But it’s not just you that can get in the way. Far from it, even. It’s all about protecting your dog’s health. In fact, excrement trapped by the hair can cause digestion problems, can promote the appearance of parasites and cause infections. Worse, if the rectum is completely blocked, the damage can be even more serious. It is therefore advisable to wipe your dog after each outing to satisfy a need.
However, before you get to that point, there are a number of appropriate measures to prevent droppings from sticking to your dog’s fur.
Cut the hair on your dog’s hindquarters
It is not always obvious. Your dog will not always be receptive to such a practice. Besides, who really would be? Nevertheless, and this especially concerns long-haired breeds, it is sometimes necessary to trim, cut, the fur at the level of its anus, to favor the expulsion of excrements. Indeed, when the hair is too long, they can more easily accommodate the faeces of your canine and thus favor the appearance of irritations, infections and parasites.
To achieve your goals, use treats to reward your dog for good behavior. Take him to play right after this makeshift grooming. The method will work and will make your job easier and faster.
Should you wipe a dog’s bottom? Don’t wait!!
The trick is not really one. It is more a reflex or a routine to adopt. If you are afraid that droppings will cling to your dog’s hair, we advise you to wipe them directly after the saddle. So have wet wipes next with you to properly clean your dog’s anus. That’s not all, check that all the droppings in your garden have been removed. It is a matter of cleanliness, both for you and your canine friend.
An invitation to change the diet
Sticky droppings are often the result of consistently soft and runny stools. In fact, this should prompt you to change your dog’s diet. The kibble may not be suitable. Maybe he needs more fiber in order to have harder droppings. Get the advice of your veterinarian.
Underlying causes
Perhaps there is an underlying cause such as a disease or a parasite. Droppings that stick to the dog’s bottom and that are often soft or semi liquid are sometimes caused by an intestinal worm or an infection of the digestive system. Certain pathologies can promote diarrhea. It is advisable to react rather quickly, by consulting with a veterinarian.
Correct physical anomaly or injury
Sometimes the region of the anus is distorted due to your pet’s history. This is sometimes the case when your dog has been abandoned, or saved from a puppy mill and has not been raised in the best conditions. Sticky droppings can be indicative of an injury and a check up at the vet may be required.
Consider a non-stick product
In 2018, the Cornell Animal Health Hackathon prize was awarded to a group of students who had developed a solution based on beeswax and carnauba wax. The idea is to spray the solution on your dog’s bottom to prevent droppings from sticking. The product, called HygenaPet, is not yet on the market. But you may find sprays with a similar composition in the market and it could prove to be an incredible solution and a means of prevention.
Four home remedies to relieve diarrhea in dogs
If your dog has diarrhea, you don’t want to keep wiping his bottom, but rather eliminate the root of the problem. The most important thing is to make him drink to avoid dehydration and not to feed him for about 12 hours. There are also medical solutions, such as gastric bandages, that can help relieve the animal but are not natural. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss four home remedies to treat or prevent your doggie’s diarrhea with healthy ingredients.
Please note, if your dog has diarrhea for more than two days, take him immediately to the veterinarian.
1. Plain yogurt
The active bifidus in yogurt can help strengthen your dog’s bacterial flora. It is best to incorporate into its kibble once in a while to prevent the onset of diarrhea.
2. Red elm
Red elm is famous for its ability to fight inflammation. It is available in food stores in the form of capsules or bark powder. Start by mixing 1 tablespoon of elm powder (1 teaspoon for small dogs, 1 tablespoon for medium dogs and 3 tablespoons for large dogs) with 1 cup of cold water. Bring to boil, cook on low heat for 3 minutes then let it cool down. This remedy is to be given 4 times a day to your dog.
If you choose capsules, give half a capsule twice a day to a small dog, 1 capsule twice a day to a medium-sized dog and 2 capsules twice a day to a large dog.
3. Vegetable broth
As we said above, it is essential to hydrate your dog when he has diarrhea. To do this, a little tip is to prepare a vegetable broth with meat and rice. Then only give your dog the broth about 3 times a day.
4. White rice diet
White rice is known to densify the stools. Once your dog has no diarrhea, you can give him a diet based on cooked white rice and a little skinless chicken. Beware, the quantities must be minimal. After two days, switch to his usual food but mix the rice and meat preparation with his kibbles, gradually decreasing the quantities through the next 4 or 5 days.
Should you wipe a dog’s bottom? By now you know it’s the right thing to do but, better yet, you need to deal with the causes of stickky stools. It’s time to get to work!