Bacterial or fungal infections of the skin can occur in the anal area, especially if the skin was broken in some way. The area is especially prone to infection because of the presence of fecal matter after your pup defecates. Unfortunately, by licking the area excessively to soothe the pain and itching, the skin becomes more irritated and these infections can become worse. Your vet can take a skin scraping of the area to determine if any harmful microorganisms are present. Antibiotics or anti-fungal drugs and creams can help rid your pooch of these infections.