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It’s a behaviour that all us dog lovers dread—our adorable pup dragging their butt across the carpet.
Dog scooting is a sign that your four-legged friend is experiencing discomfort and it’s often related to anal gland problems, allergies, or irritation. It's their way of saying something isn’t right with my butt.
Increasing the fibre in your dog's diet is a simple way to help firm up those poos and improve anal gland health.
A number of brands offer specific anal gland supplements which you can simply add to your dog's normal food rather than trying to change diet.
We explore some of the best anal gland supplements aimed at providing relief from scooting.
We'll fill you in as best we can about the ingredients, product type, reasons to buy/avoid and of course value for money. You can then judge for yourself which brand best suits your four-legged friend.
Read on to find out which products are the best to Boot that Scoot !
UPDATE : JULY 2024 - After the latest round of testing, we've added YuMOVE Rapid Digestive Care to our review for dogs with sudden loose stools and stomach upset |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Picks of the Best Dog Scooting Treatments
1. Best Supplement Range
Buddy & Lola
Buddy & Lola are a family business dedicated to providing high quality human-grade supplements for dogs, they are a welcome change for modern dog lovers searching for natural alternatives.
From calming chews, to probiotics, natural allergy solutions to anal health support, Buddy & Lola offer a range of natural, hypoallergenic supplements.
They offer two different products to help with scooting issues -
⭐️ Scoot Stopper
⭐️ Pumpkin Powder
Let's take a closer look at Scoot Stopper first.
This supplement comes in the form of small soft chews, packed full of fibre which is known to help improve your dog’s bowel movements by keeping them regular and naturally emptying their anal glands.
What's more they're formulated with prebiotics to improve your dog's gut flora. In simple terms, the extra prebiotics (food for good bacteria) increases the good bacteria which in turn produces well formed, easier to pass poop.
Key ingredients include flaxseed, psyllium husk, dandelion root, pumpkin powder and beet pulp. It's worth mentioning that whilst the chews are grain free, they are not gluten free.
The chews are chicken liver and bacon flavoured and we can attest to the fact that they smell, well, very... 'bacony'. If you have a picky pup these could be a game changer as in testing our dogs found the scent very enticing.
Each tub contains 60 chews and Buddy and Lola offer feeding recommendations on both their website and on the packaging. You should see results in 1-2 weeks.
The second option to consider is Pumpkin Powder.
Made up entirely of....you guessed it Pumpkin, it contains vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals like iron and potassium.
Due to its high soluble fibre content, pumpkin is excellent for your dog's digestion and adds bulk to your dog’s stool by absorbing water. Simply sprinkle the powder on your dog's meals or add to water to make a puree or even freeze for popsicles.
Let's talk all important price.
Scoot Stopper, as a guideline -
🐶 Small dogs (under 18kg) require 2 chews a day.
In testing, a tub will last you a month and cost between £0.94 (on subscription) and £1.05 a day.
🐶 Largest dogs (over 36kg) requiring 8 chews a day.
The tub will only last a week and cost between £3.77 (on subscription) and £4.19 a day.
Pumpkin Powder, as a guideline -
🐶 Small dogs (under 10kg) need 1 scoop a day.
In testing the pouch lasted 24 days and cost between £0.60 (on subscription) and £0.66 a day.
🐶 Large dogs ( over 26kg) require 3 scoops a day.
The pouch will last 8 days and cost between £1.80 (on subscription) and £2.00 a day
Regardless of which you choose, Buddy & Lola offer a storage tin to help keep those supplements fresh and easy to administer (a game changer for tricky to measure powders). The storage tin is FREE with new subscriptions or available to buy separately with one-off orders.
Signing up for a subscription will save you 10%, Buddy & Lola also offer free delivery on subscriptions and orders over £30, a 30 day money-back guarantee and a next day delivery option (£2.99) if you're in a real rush.
Our Verdict - The bottom line is that Pumpkin Power will work out cheaper than the Scoot Stopper especially for dogs weighing over 18kg when the number of chews required becomes very expensive. However we feel that for small dogs, Scoot Stopper is a hassle-free, good value way of adding a supplement to your dog's diet. You can offer the chews as treats at anytime of day. |
Ingredients: Scoot Stopper - Flaxseed, psyllium husk, dandelion root, pumpkin powder and beet pulp | Pumpkin Powder - Pumpkin
Reasons to Buy
+ All natural products
+ Hassle free soft chews
+ Great value powder
+ Works in under 2 weeks
+ Money back guarantee
Reasons to Avoid
- Chews pricey for large breeds
Buying Options
For 15% OFF the entire Buddy & Lola range (first time purchases only)
enter SMARTBARK15 at checkout
If you're interested in exploring more, why not take a look at our review - Buddy & Lola's Dog Supplements Review : Nourish Your Dog's Wellbeing
2. Best for Rapid Results
YuMOVE
YuMOVE, renowned for their exceptional joint care supplements, also have an extensive range of products aimed at common ailments including a selection of products addressing canine digestive issues.
Their NEW Rapid Digestive Care product is a game-changer for dogs experiencing sudden loose stools.
Available in three sizes to suit different breeds, this fast-acting formula harnesses the power of pre and probiotics to soothe upset stomachs and promote digestive balance.
YuMOVE Rapid Digestive Care comes in an easy-to-use syringe format. We simply followed the instructions on the outer packaging to set the syringe up to dispense the correct amount of paste directly into our dog's mouth.
The only drawback was the paste's thick consistency. It required a two-handed effort to syringe it. Fortunately, the taste was appealing, allowing us to simply let our dog lick it off.
Whilst we felt that the syringe format might require a little extra effort compared to a more traditional chew, YuMOVE Rapid Digestive Care isn't designed for daily use. It's specifically formulated for short-term relief of digestive upsets.
This treatment can be given for up to six days to support your dog’s digestive health.
To prevent future upsets, YuMOVE also offers a comprehensive Digestive Care range, including pre and probiotic supplements and a fibre-rich option for maintaining optimal gut health.
Our Verdict - If you are looking for an instant answer to an upset tummy and loose stools, then we'd recommend YuMOVE Rapid Digestive Care - the clues in the name ! |
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3. Best Chew Supplement
Dog's Lounge
Dog's Lounge are a small UK family company that have an ever-expanding range of premium, natural dog supplements. One of their best selling products is the aptly named Scooter.
Formulated by vets, Scooter soft chews contain a natural blend of active ingredients which add extra fibre to your dog's diet that helps to bulk up the stool and help to reduce scooting.
The chicken liver flavoured soft chews can be offered whole or alternatively crumble over your dog's food.
Freddie, like most Cockapoos is very fussy and we normally have to go to elaborate lengths to hide any tablets in high value treats.
No problem with Scooter though ! We didn't need to crumble or hide them.
Freddie ate the soft chews as if they were dog treats straight from our hands. Big plus for Scooter 👍
Dog's Lounge suggest that you should see a reduction in scooting behaviour between 1–2 weeks. We tested Scooter for three weeks and saw a significant improvement.
Let's talk cost. Smaller dogs ( <17kg) need 2 chews daily and larger dogs ( > 45kg) need 4+ chews daily. So costs vary from 61p a day to over £1.23 depending on the weight of your dog.
Dog's Lounge also offer a 10% Subscribe and Save option in addition to a loyalty program. The aptly named Woofs Club, a points based scheme that awards points (woofs) every time you make a purchase, engage with Dog's Lounge on social media, refer a friend and more. Your woofs can then be used towards future purchases and free shipping.
Ingredients: Beet pulp, psyllium seed husk, flaxseed, dandelion root and pumpkin.
Reasons to Buy
+ All natural product
+ Highly palatable
+ Easy to administer soft chews
+ Works in under 2 weeks
+ Money back guarantee
Reasons to Avoid
- Could be pricey for heavier dogs
Buying Options
You might be interested .... |
The Dog's Lounge range also includes Chomper, a natural dog plaque remover which we feature in our product round-up article Best Dog Plaque Removers |
4. Best Value Supplement
Glandex
Last in our review is Glandex from US company Vetnique. They offer an assortment of all-natural supplements, and Glandex is one of their best selling products specifically designed for dog anal gland health.
The patented Glandex scientific formula works in multiple ways to keep the anal glands healthy They use a unique fibre blend to help promote bulky and firm stools.
Glandex is available in two forms - powder and soft chews (peanut butter flavour) depending on which your dog prefers.
They state that on average, dogs should see results within 3–5 weeks, but it can take up to a 8 weeks experience the fully benefits.
It's worth noting that there can be mild side effects, related to the increased fibre content in Glandex. These can include loose stools and gas/flatulence. You can avoid these side effects by giving half the recommended amount for the first 5–7 days to allow your dog to adjust to the increased fibre content in Glandex.
When calculating prices per day, we found that the powder works out much better value than the soft chews. A small 70g tub of powder costs between 23p a day (dogs under 11kg) to £1.00 a day (dogs over 34kg) so significantly cheaper than the first two options in our review.
The one flaw with the powder is the lack of measuring scoop. This sounds like a minor issue but with a small dog you need to be able to accurately measure out 1/8th tsp !
A hugely popular US supplement with countless 5 star reviews but with possible short term side effects.
Ingredients : Pumpkin Seed, Apple Pectin, Quercetin Dihydrate, Bromelain & Probiotics
Reasons to Buy
+ Available in both soft chews & powder form
+ All natural ingredients
+ Best value
Reasons to Avoid
- No measuring scoop
- Possibly more short-term side effects
Buying Options
You may be interested in our article on the Best Dog Cone of Shame Alternatives 2024
Our Verdict
Three of the products we feature can provide a healthy fibre boost to your dog's diet, firming up stools and helping to maintain healthy anal glands.
Which option you choose, is really down to whether you think your dog will prefer a soft chew or a powder sprinkled onto your dog's food.
If you need a rapid response to loose stools accompanied by a stomach upset then we would suggest looking at YuMOVE Digestive Care Rapid.
We'd also recommend visiting your vet first to get your dog's anal glands expressed and once they're emptied, start using one of these recommended supplements to keep them healthy and prevent them from blocking again.
An initial visit to the vet can also make sure that the glands are not infected and double check that's the source of your dogs issue.
What is Dog Scooting ?
Dog scooting is a behaviour where your dog drags its bottom across the floor while sitting or even lying down.
Whilst it's a fairly common behaviour, scooting is as unhealthy for your floor as it is for your dog because it deposits bacteria and sometimes a foul smell.
This behaviour is often a sign of irritation or discomfort around your dog's anus, but it can also indicate a more serious health issue.
One of the most common causes of scooting is anal gland problems, which can occur when a dog's anal glands become blocked or infected.
Other possible causes of scooting in dogs include skin allergies, intestinal worms, and other digestive issues.
Ultimately, we recommend a visit to your vet to ensure scooting isn't due to a serious issue like allergies or parasites. If however, the reason behind your dog scooting is nutrition related, there are some alternatives you could consider.
One way you can help long term is to add more fibre to their diet. High fibre foods can help prevent some digestive issues, firm up their stools and help to prevent their anal glands from becoming inflamed.
FAQs
Can my dog have Weetabix to help with scooting?
Generally more fibre in your dogs diet will help with anal gland health and reduce scooting. However Weetabix also has sugar and salt to make it more palatable for humans. Pumpkin is a far healthier alternative.
Which foods help prevent scooting ?
A fibre-rich diet can help prevent scooting. Incorporate foods such as sweet potato, broccoli, pumpkin or apple into your dog's meals to promote healthy bowel movements and reduce anal gland discomfort.
How can I tell that my dog's anal glands are full ?
To start with your dog will be scooting and licking excessively. You may also notice a little leaking out in brown patches on the carpet or floors with a pungent smell.
What is involved in expressing anal glands ?
It's the process of manually emptying a dog's anal glands, which are located on either side of the anus. It involves gently squeezing the glands.
Anal gland expression should only be performed by a vet or someone who has been properly trained. We wouldn't suggest trying this at home as you can cause more damage and irritation.
Thank you for stopping by and reading our article on Best Dog Scooting Treatments
