Need advice. Murphy is eating his tail! UPDATE

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Yesterday I noticed Murphy frantically chomping on his tail, close to his anus. I checked on him and he had chewed all the hair off his tail from his backside to about 4 inches away on the tail. It was red, raw and looked like it was about to bleed. I put him in the bath to clean him good and assess the whole bottom and his butt hole looked pretty raw as well. He was more than happy to have me take care of it and i swear he looked at me like "thank you for helping me"
I had just brushed him 2 days before and there was none of this, also, his stools are consistently firm. There was no odor at all, but it does seem that the area that would be the anal glands is puffy from the outside.
I tried to express the gland with a gloved, lubricated finger, but he did whine when I applied pressure and since I don't know how much pressure to apply, I stopped so I didn't hurt him worse. I checked both sides and there really wasn't any distinct lump or mass on either side.
(before you think..."How could she do that?", Well, I was a Labor and Delivery Nurse for many years, so I have no problem putting gloved, lubricated fingers into small areas of a body)

I have used warm compresses, baby wipes to clean him off before applying Desitin ointment and an antiseptic spray the vet gave me for a hotspot he had chewed on his paw last year, and covered it to keep him from licking it. I treated it about 4 times yesterday and 3 so far today. His temp is normal and he's not sensitive to my touching the area as I would expect if it were impacted, but I don't really know.
It looks so much better, but he still sits gingerly and wants to keep getting to it.
So my question is, what else can it be? He has never had anal gland issues, never had them expressed. He did scoot his butt a few days before on the carpet and I just thought he had a dingleberry that was bothering him, but didn't see anything and just forgot about it.
I am taking him to the Vet in the morning as I think he needs an antibiotic at least, and of course to check the glands. Has anyone had this kind of butt/tail issue and it NOT be anal gland flare ups?
UPDATE; 11:40 am
Okay, just back from Vet. The right anal gland was full and is now expressed. I have some antibiotic ointment for his tail area that he has chewed raw and he should be good as new here soon. I would never have been able to express it alone as he was very sensitive as soon as she touched the right side and that was when he jumped for me at home too. Took a bit of restraining to keep him still for the vet.
So Murph and I have had a new bonding experience today. Haven't had to go thru this yet. Good to know for future as I will know what to look for and probably still try to do myself with DH holding. Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts for poor Murph.

[Gail and Bailey]

Hope Murphy feels better soon!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Sore bottoms are no fun at all so I do hope it is all sorted very soon for Murphy.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Will be looking for your update.  Hopefully this is just a minor issue and the vet fixes him right up!

[Lynn D.]

Sue, I think your nursey sense is dead on! Good job. Sorry Murphy is unhappy.

My previous dog had a lot of anal gland issues, but I have never seen an issue like you described and had it not be her anal glands.

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Awww - hope that he feels better fast poor guy!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Sounds like his anal glands ....  Oliver had problems when he was a growing puppy, his poops were always soft and his glands would get so swollen.  His vet showed me how to express them and believe me when you express them you know if you did it right or not - LOL.  I would express his glands when he needed it and once I changed foods and his poops got firm he has not need a express in well over a year (he is 2 now).

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

That's what had me doubting it was glands at first is that his poops have been fine forever, with rare exceptions of a day or so of softness here and there. Just hope it's not a chronic thing, for his sake.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well when Murph has his environmental allergies it's always his paws and the base of his tail that he goes after.  I couldn't figure out why it would be the base of the tail, and the Vet reminded me that when he sits outside his butt is direct contact with the offending allergen.....duh.   She told me to stop doing all those sit/stay exercises with him outside during allergy season...LOL.  Anyway, his is controlled with me wiping paws and tail/butt and giving him Claritin.  The scooting though does sound more like anal glands.  Glad you're taking him to the Vet.....let us know how you make out.  

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Just posted an update of Murphy and vet outcome.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Having a butt day! Started out with DIL texting that grandson is crying and holding belly. First thoughts are constipation. Go to do my grandma-nurse thing and no fever, no appendix pain. Rectal stimulation and a suppository and he falls asleep, but no poop either. Okay as we wait for that, I come home to take Murph to Vet and get an education in expressing anal glands. This would not be how I pictured my day off. Just had to vent.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Oh Murphy, poor you! The indignities we have to suffer. Hope you are feeling better and that tail is waggin soon.

[Gail and Bailey]

Your day got off to a busy start... "butt", here's hoping it all settles down. Glad Murphy is on the road to recovery and hope grandson feels better soon!