How To Clean Poop From Dogs Bum

How to Wash a Dog's Bum

Medium

5 - 15 Minutes

1 Day

Introduction

There are many wonderful things to be said about having a long-haired dog like Cody. He looks beautiful when his coat is nice and clean. For the most part, he manages to stay relatively clean and only needs a bath every three months or so. That is, all except his bum, which he can't wipe for himself. So when it gets dirty, guess whose job it is to clean up the mess? One way to keep the hair around his bum from getting dirty every time Cody poops is to keep the hair around his anus trimmed back.

Dog's Perspective

Cody really doesn't care whether his bum has poop on it or not, unless the buildup is making him itch. In which case, you'll probably see him doing the "Butt Scootin' Boogie" on your carpets. However, if you don't keep the area clean, not only will it look unseemly, it can also lead to medical issues.

Caution & Considerations

Never use any type of soap or shampoo made for humans as they contain ingredients that may be harmful to Cody. Using these products especially around the bum or rear may cause significant irritation or burning if they contain certain chemicals.
Use a pair of sharp shears to trim the hair around his bum so you don't snag the hair and rip it out of this very sensitive area. If necessary, consult a professional groomer for tips and tricks to keeping this area trimmed and clean cut.
Make sure your scissors or shears have rounded safety-tips to avoid poking him.
Take your time and be gentle. Cody is already not happy that you have to mess around with his bum in the first place. Being rough will only make it worse.
If you have to comb the area, wetting it down will make it easier. Use a bit of warm water to prevent shocking him with water that is too cold or hot.
This is also a good time to express his anal glands, as you are in the vicinity already.

Conclusion

No one really enjoys wiping their pets bum after he goes poop, but this is the first step in keeping the area nice and clean. The rest is all about catching the problem before it gets too big. Take your time, be gentle, and it will all be over in less than fifteen minutes. When you are all done, be sure to give your pup a treat and let him know he is a good boy.

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

Grooming Questions & Answers

We rescued Teddy 2-3wks ago. We took him to get groomed but he wouldn't let the groomer clean his teeth or cut his face. He has a piece of poop attached to his bum but he wont let us clean it without him getting mildly aggressive. Is there anyway to get it off without harming him by restraining him.

Congratulations on your new dog and I am sure cute Teddy knows he is a lucky pup! Will Teddy let you trim the area carefully? Try having someone hold him and give him treats (or you could stand him on a table, with someone holding him and slowly giving him a treat). Then the person on the other end does a quick snip of the fur. The other option is to try and soften it with a dog-safe wipe over the day, and then pop him in the tub. Or, you can try a waterless shampoo that might work to soften and remove the poop (available at pet stores). As for his visits to the groomer, try to find a groomer who will start with mini visits and even visits to say hello (where just a treat is involved). This will allow Teddy to get used the groomer slowly. You can also seek out a groomer used to working with nervous and mildly aggressive dogs - they usually have tricks for keeping the dog calm and making the visit go quickly. Ask the vet for a recommendation. Good luck and enjoy your new dog!

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Yesterday I noticed a round hard piece of feces fur ball around my dogs anus but he doesn't let me cut it off. Is there anything that I can put over it to dissolve the hard feces. He always would have a BM after eating now suddenly the hard fur feces ball is there!

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