puppy rubs butt on floor

by Kimberly Lafleur
(Louisiana)

Hi! I have a 5 week old rat terrier/jack russell puppy and he rubs his butt on the floor is this normal or does he have something wrong with him?

Also when he sleeps he jumps, shakes and whines.

Do you think this is just puppy dreams?



Hi Kimberly
It could be that your puppy has worms. These can make his little behind itchy!

Most puppies have at least some roundworms, and it's important to have him dewormed by your veterinarian. Don't use over the counter products as they're not very effective and can have side effects.

It could possibly be that his anal glands (either side of his rectum) are full, or infected, but at his age this isn't very likely. I'd think worms.

The twitching, whining and jumping are most likely just him dreaming. Puppies tend to do this quite a bit. He may even make little barks and running motions with his legs.

Unless you notice him having uncontrolled movements or being in pain when he's awake, it's probably nothing to worry about.

Best of luck with him.