As a dog owner, when you see your dog scooting on the floor for the first time, it’s obvious to get an unpleasant feeling. In fact, when you witness your furry friend doing this for the first time, you assume that they are being mischievous. But, that’s not the case. They are either having a sore itchy bum or clogged anal glands and it might make you wonder, “What Cream Can I Put On My Dog’s Sore Bum?”
Further, the sore bum is commonly known as anal sac disease. The disease is a result of the inflammation of the ducts of the dogs. Now, if your dog has a sore bum, you are probably wondering – What cream can I put on my dog’s sore bum? or Is there any treatment you can use at home? and When do I need to take my dog to the Vet? Let’s find out the answers shall we?
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What Cream Can I Put On My Dog’s Sore Bum?
When you know your dog has a sore bum, you can apply some cream to the sore region. For instance, use a natural moisturiser like Aleo vera gel to provide some relief to your dog. In addition, there are plenty of other creams that are available but, you will need to consult your vet before using them.
Below are the different creams you can consider while treating a sore bum of your dog:
- Castor oil cream
This oil cream retains ribonucleic acid. The substance provides anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties to the cream. Castor oil cream is quite effective as it not only reduces the pain of your dog’s sore bum but, also heals any rough skin around the area.
Further, the cream is also useful as a repellent for fleas. So, if your dog has any irritating parasites near the bum, rubbing the castor cream in will help keep the fleas away.
- Hydrocortisone cream
This cream is not vet-approved but, provides a quick solution. Once applied on the dog’s sore bum, you will see the swelling is reduced and your dog will feel better. However, use this cream only when you have no other option available as it is not fit for long usage.
- Neosporin ointment
Neosporin easily kills the bacteria around the sore bum region. However, the cream is for topical use only. So, if your furry friend ends up licking the lotion applied, then they may get sick or worse have an allergic reaction.
Thus, use this ointment after the vet’s approval and follow the instructions on how to apply this cream while ensuring that the dog doesn’t lick them.
- Sudocrem
Generally, you should avoid using this cream because it retains zinc oxide. The substance is toxic for dogs and can compromise the dog’s health. You are thinking if it’s toxic why use it?
Well, zinc oxide has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties. This is the sole reason why it is used despite the risks it poses. So, apply the Sudocrem in a specific limit. Also, use it only if you are confident that your dog won’t lick it.
- Vaseline
In general, vaseline is useful in stopping cuts and abrasions from getting infected. But, many dog owners suggest using it because they believe it has anti-inflammatory properties. There is no definite prospect suggesting that it helps deal with the issue because dogs tend to lick them off.
- Coconut oil cream
The coconut oil cream retains some fatty acids. These acids are helpful in dealing with itchiness and can help improve the sore bum condition of your furry friend.
These are some of the creams you can put on your dog’s sore bum.
But, what are the signs indicating a sore bum?
Signs your dog has a sore bum
At times, it’s possible that you miss the signs suggesting discomfort in your canine friend. While they surely cannot convey their pain verbally, here are some of the signs or symptoms indicating they have a sore bum:
- Scooting: this is a classic giveaway of a dog having a sore bum. You will see your dog drag their sore bum in an effort to relieve their pain.
- Blood in the stool: you will see traces of blood in their poop or near the butt region.
- Licking: your dog will lick near the anal region if there is something stuck in their rectum or an infection. In both cases, you also see some swelling which indicates a sore bum.
- Swelling: if the area around their bum is reddish and there is a definite swelling they are suffering from a sore bum.
- The anal region feels hard: when you gently press the anal region and it feels hard then they probably have a sore bum. While you press with your finger, observe their behaviour. If they are in pain they will whine.
These are some of the indications that will help you know whether your dog is having a sore bum or not. If the pain is severe and there is an infection, approaching the vet is the best thing to do.
Home Treatment For Sore Bum
Considering the swelling around the anal region is minor, the following are some of the home treatments you can use for treating a sore bum:
- Warm compress method
Take a cloth and dip it in warm water for a few minutes. Now, place the cloth under your furry friend’s bottom region for 5-6 minutes. If the cloth loses the heat dip it again and follow the procedure. Make sure you cover the sore area. Further, you can repeat the warm compress method after every hour until the swelling is also gone.
- Change the diet
Using fibre enriched diet can significantly help with an itchy sore bum. Use dry food with fibre-rich fruits and veggies to reduce rectal itching. Improving the diet can do wonders and save your dog from a vet visit.
- Exercise
This may seem contradictory because while there is swelling near the anal region exercising may elevate the pain. While your concern is legit, a small exercise session will help improve the dog’s sore bum condition.
- Clean the butt
When your dog poops they leave some parasites afterwards and cleaning them is important. If you don’t clean their butt region properly, you will see them get infected. Along with the infection, they will also get a sore bum and the condition can get worse if you ignore this aspect.
Preventive measures for avoiding sore bum in dog
The home treatment will solve the sore bum issue but, as a dog owner, it’s obvious you’ll want to prevent a sore bum in the first place. So, if you are looking for preventive measures to avoid a sore bum issue in your dog, here are some of the tips you can consider:
- Grooming: regular grooming of your dog will help lower the amount of hair that can get stuck in the anal sacs. Hence, this reduces the chances of infection or irritation.
- Worming: this will help reduce the amount of faecal matter that piles up. causes irritation to the dogs.
- Flea Bathing: fleas are also prone to cause irritation and lead to sore bums in your furry friend. So, it’s important you provide them with regular baths to remove fleas.
- Food supplements: adding supplements such as probiotics and coconut oil to your dog’s food will keep their anal region healthy.
- Vaccinations: ensuring your dog receives all the necessary vaccines will certainly reduce the chances of getting a sore bum.
FAQs
What Cream Can I Put On My Dog’s Sore Bum?
The treatment relies on the severity of the swelling and how bad the condition is. If you find normal swelling then you can treat it at home itself. Use a clean cloth and dip it in hot water. Afterwards, fold it and lay it down on the floor. Make your dog sit down (the cloth should cover the anal region) and apply gentle pressure. This will help with the swelling and pain. You can also consider using a cream if the method doesn’t work.
Why is my dog’s butt red?
There are many reasons why your dog has a red butt. One of the prominent reasons is itchiness around the anal region. This makes the bum red and sore. Further, the redness also occurs because of allergies, flea infestation, overgrown hair, grooming, faecal contamination, diarrhoea and so on. You can treat such a sore reddish bum at home and if necessary take the dog to the vet.
Can I put coconut oil on my dog’s itchy bum?
Yes, you can! Take a small amount of coconut oil, about one teaspoon. Gently apply the oil near the itchy bum and massage the skin. Your dog will feel good as the moisture will make them feel more comfortable.
What Cream Can I Put On Dogs Bum – Final Take
A sore bum can trouble your dog and it’s crucial to address the situation. You can use cream to treat the condition. Firstly, identify the basic signs or symptoms to verify the sore bum condition. Afterwards, decide whether to use cream or different home remedies to treat them.
If you are using cream, make sure you don’t use any random cream, especially without the vet’s approval. Using such substances can worsen the condition. The results of using a cream are promising but, some dogs may get an allergic reaction. In such cases, a vet consultation is a must. Home remedies come in handy for dogs who are resistant to creams and tend to lick them. In short, use the cream only if you have faith that your furry friend won’t lick it.
