Many of us ask ourselves: “Why does my dog smell like fish?” undoubtedly, that nauseating smell that comes from our beloved dogs and that usually emanates from the rear of our dogs, sometimes without realizing what its origin could be, is unbearable. In this post, we will try to analyze why does my dog smell like fish and we will propose some solutions to alleviate it.
Why does my dog smell like fish?
All dogs smell bad from time to time, but most of the time, it hits us with a scent that is easy to explain. Usually, this will happen if our dog’s fart, roll in like other dog or animal feces, or get soaked after a walk and develop that wet dog smell. Read more: Can cats eat raw chicken?
However, occasionally our furry companions will emit an extremely pungent fishy odor that seemingly appears out of nowhere. In most cases, this fishy smell will likely originate from our dog’s butt. If you notice that your dog’s butt smells like fish, don’t worry, we explain why and what you can do about it.
The butt or buttocks of dogs may smell fishy due to an infection, impaction, or blockage of the anal glands. The anal sacs are on either side of your dog’s butt. They contain sweat glands that produce a fishy smell, which acts as an odor marker for dogs. Dogs can emit a fishy smell from their bottoms when they are scared. Do you now: How long do parrots live
What if my dog’s butt smells fishy?
In general, most of the fishy aromas that emanate from dog butts tend to stem from the same problem, a possible problem with the anal glands. (as a note, before going into more detail, we recommend that you save whatever food you are eating for later.)
If a dog has an infection of the anal sac, then the butt will smell fishy. Other things that can also happen include checking if the anal area appears discolored, swollen, or visually different from normal. It’s important for your vet to treat these infections with antibiotics, or it can lead to painful abscesses or even ruptures.
Dog’s breath can also smell fishy
This is because the dog cleans itself. If a dog licks your butt that smells like fish, that unpleasant scent will transfer to your mouth and breath.
The anal glands (or anal sacs) are located in the anus and contain a fluid that is responsible for creating such a strong and foul-smelling fishy odor. Depending on the dog, this fluid can vary in color and appearance, appearing thick and gray in some canines and thin and yellowish in others.
All dogs possess anal glands and, in general, they work efficiently and smoothly, being used to help dogs mark territory each time they poop. Simply put, the fluid contained within the anal sacs is released with the feces when dogs relieve themselves and will act as an odor marker.
However, it is not uncommon for these glands to become blocked in some dogs. For one reason or another, they don’t empty properly, which will eventually lead to more complications down the road, such as making the dog’s butt smell like fish.
Unfortunately, there is no proper consensus on what exactly causes anal gland problems in dogs. Despite this, many experts believe that the root of the problem is related to other health problems commonly found in canines, such as obesity, allergies, chronic diarrhea, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Therefore, you need to be more vigilant if your dog suffers from any of these related conditions and his butt smells fishy.
