When you got a dog you knew they would come with some smells; dirt, grass, wet dog, but fish probably wasn’t one you anticipated. There are several things that can make your dog smell like fish, from their diet, to their environment, and much more. Sometimes the smell is more potent than others, and sometimes you only catch a hint of it. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to rid your dog of that fishy smell and keep the unpleasant odor at bay.
Straight To The Source
Per usual, we will always recommend asking your vet for a diagnosis, advice, and treatment options, but if you want to save yourself a trip, there are plenty of ways to narrow it down at home. The first step in eliminating this problem is to find the source. Is the smell coming from your dog’s bad breath? His dirty ears? Or under his tail? This can help you to determine the cause, as well as the treatment necessary for getting rid of the stench.
DENTAL HEALTH
If the smell is coming from your dog’s mouth, this could just mean you dog’s teeth need to be brushed regularly. Dental disease doesn’t only apply to humans, sometimes our pets can contract diseases like gingivitis or periodontal disease. These dental issues can cause stinky fishy breath, frail or discolored teeth, drooling, bleeding gums, loss of appetite, and much more.
EAR INFECTIONS
Ear infections are another culprit of that fishy, bad smell, and can be very uncomfortable for your dog. Some tell tale signs of an ear infection (aside from the smell) would be scratching in or around the ear, discharge, redness or swelling, or constant head shaking. Often times, your dog’s ear infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast.
ANAL GLAND PROBLEMS
If the smell is coming from under your dog’s tail, it could also be their anal glands, anal sac tumors or possibly anal sac disease. Your dog’s anal glands need to be released from time to time, and most dogs can actually do this naturally by themselves as they have a bowel movement.
Sometimes though, they get clogged and need to be released manually. This could happen if your dog has had diarrhea for extended periods of time, which wouldn’t put the right amount of pressure on the glands, causing them to get backed up. Your vet can help with anal gland issues. Ridding your dog of the anal gland secretions is common place.
How To Treat These Various Medical Conditions
The best way for us dog parents in preventing most of these ailments is to catch them in the early stages, and this can usually be done without any expensive vet treatments. Staying proactive about your pet’s health, much like you would your own, or your child’s, will keep them happy, healthy, and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Stay on top of your pet’s routine wellness vet appointments, and don’t take your vet’s advice so lightly. If they notice something small, they’ll give you advice on how to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem in the future. A foul smell can be a warning sign and health issues can be prevented.
Dental Hygiene
For example, brushing your dog’s teeth at home. They say dogs have the cleanest mouths, but why not help that fun fact along by maintaining your pet’s oral care. This little routine can have a huge impact on their dental hygiene, and can alleviate many dental problems before they even arise.
Remember, dental hygiene can have a snowball effect on the rest of our health, and the same goes for your pets. You should use a soft toothbrush, and always use toothpaste manufactured for pets, since many of our own toothpastes contain ingredients that could be toxic to your furry friend. Also, don’t forget to incorporate lots of praise for your pup, chances are teeth brushing isn’t always pleasant for them, especially if they are new to it. If you have been lacking, you can schedule a dental cleaning with your veterinarian.
TREATING EAR INFECTIONS
When it comes to ear infections, things get a little trickier. The abundance of yeast can sometimes be treated easily, through cleanings, changing your dog’s diet, or environmental changes, but they will often times require a trip to the vet and an antibiotic to clear it all the way up. Don’t wait if you can’t get it under control at home, this could lead to buildup and permanent damage inside your pup’s ears.
DOG BATHING
Yeast likes to form in warm and damp places, so unfortunately this doesn’t only apply to the ears. Dogs with a lot of wrinkles could have yeast infections throughout their skin, which can cause the nasty smell. Doing some further research and using the correct dog shampoo for your dog’s breed could be helpful in maintaining this issue.
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
Also, smells from female dogs can be cause by several things. She can contract a yeast infection or bacterial infections, such as vaginitis, and any dog can contract a urinary tract infection. This is generally obvious when your dog has the fish smell we’ve been discussing, an increase in urination, licking of the vaginal area, scooting around, or discharge of mucus, pus or sometimes even blood.
This is another crucial moment for your pet’s health, so don’t wait to visit your furry friend’s doctor. It can cause a ton of discomfort and even be very painful. This will often times require a trip to the vet and antibiotics, but in the case that it is something more, such as an anatomical issue, it could even require surgery in order to prevent future flare ups.
EXPRESSING ANAL GLANDS
When it comes to anal glands, there’s a lot of controversy. As we know, this can be the cause of many smells that permeate from your dog, but it could also be a health concern. There has been a lot of argument over the idea of manual anal gland expression. Some say it should only be done naturally when your dog defecates, and that if you do it yourself too often it can cause them to become dependent on an outside source to do so.
The problem with this theory is that it could cause even more health concerns for your pup, so if this is the problem, definitely consult your vet. The heightened toxicity in your dog’s body, not to mention the discomfort and build up of pressure from anal gland problems, can cause hemorrhaging, or even an abscess. If left untreated, these abscesses can eventually burst through the skin, causing a painful, smelly, and often times bloody mess, needing prompt medical attention.
Yes, expressing your dog’s anal glands is something you can do at home, but understandably, most people prefer to ask their vet or groomer to do it. After all, they are the professionals. The anal glands are small sacs, about the size of peas, and they are positioned on the inside of your dog’s rectum, at (roughly) 4 and 8. The release of this oily substance is often noticed by other animals, as this is how dogs mark their territory, show readiness to mate, and much more.
STEPS TO PERFORM
This shouldn’t cause too much discomfort for your pet, although due to the personal and invasive nature, some dogs may need to be sedated in order to complete this process. You should gather the materials you will need beforehand, such as gloves, paper towels, petroleum jelly, a trash bag, and most importantly dog treats. Put a towel under your dog, and put your gloves on. Hold your dog steady if possible, if not, this may need to be a two person job.
Apply a little petroleum jelly to your fingers, and gently insert them into the dog’s anus. Again, these glands are located at 4 and 8, and if they are built up they should be easier to find. Usually they are about the size of a pea, but if full they may feel more like a grape. As you hold the paper towel under your dog, gently squeeze the anal glands together, between your thumb and index finger. As you squeeze, the smelly oily fluid should release itself and ooze from the glands. Once finished, dispose of everything properly and give your pup lots of praise.
One more thing to note about your dog’s anal glands, if you decide to do this at home, watch out for any abnormal discharge as you express the glands. The usual fluid is smelly, brown and oily. If you notice anything else, such as thick or chunk discharge, or the fluid is green, yellow or white, this could mean your dog has an infection. If this is the case, you will want to contact your vet immediately to treat the anal sac problems.
All In All
We all love our pets, and we want the best for them. We go above and beyond to keep them happy, healthy, and comfortable. While their fishy smell or stinky breath might be off-putting, there are tons of ways to keep your pup’s health on the right track.
Household products, when used as directed by your vet, can be super helpful. Things such as baking soda, dish detergent, lemon juice or vinegar can help rid your dog’s fur of these smells. Remember, a healthy diet, good dog food for young and older dogs and visiting your vet on a regular basis, goes a long way. So between the vet recommended treatment options, and the many products sold at the pet store, you’ll have no shortage of resources.
Check out our post: My dog has allergies! What’s the best eye drops?
Sources:
https://www.greatpetcare.com/wellness/why-does-my-dog-smell-like-fish/
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