Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 1/22/2010

Question
I have a female black lab named "chelsie",she don't have any fleas
but she keeps biting her butt and rubbing her butt on stuff as if she has a itchy skin problem,doesn't seem to be much dandruff either,can you help?

Answer
Itchy butts are not always caused from fleas.  Sometimes the anal sacs are full causing pain from pressure.  Sometimes there are parasites, like tapeworms, that crawl on the rectal area and the skin and hair around the rectum.  And sometimes there is a yeast infection that occurs around the area of the rectum because of all of the oil glands that are found there.  Check with your vet to see if something can be done to relieve the itching.