Surely at some point you have noticed a terribly unpleasant odor coming from under your dog’s tail. It's a very distinctive and unforgettable smell that can confuse us to the point where we wonder why our dog's tail smells like fish.
Typically, a rotten or fishy smell coming from a dog's anus is due to a problem with the anal glands, either due to poor hygiene or other reasons. In this article we will explain why this happens and how to avoid it, as it may be a symptom of a problem that needs to be treated.
Common non-pathological causes
There are actually many reasons why a dog smells like fish and, unfortunately, not all of them are harmless. However, you should not sound the alarm ahead of time; it is better to first become familiar with the main provoking factors of a non-pathological nature.
A caring owner notices deviations in the pet’s well-being in a timely manner
The main ones include:
- Stressful situations, against the background of which in almost 100% of cases the pet begins to exude a rather rich and unpleasant aroma. As a rule, this is observed if, against a background of stress, the animal experiences pain for a long time.
- Few people might think, but fear can also cause the appearance of a fetid, rotten odor. This is a kind of protective reaction of the body to potential danger. In apartments, the most common sources of fear are electrical appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines and other noisy household appliances.
Note! Stress and fear will never have a positive effect on your pet's body. It is better to start cleaning the house - provided that the animal is afraid - when the pet is on a walk.
A dog that is frightened by a loud vacuum cleaner may smell unpleasant.
Why does a dog's tail smell like fish?
Surely at some point you have noticed a terribly unpleasant odor coming from under your dog’s tail.
It's a very distinctive and unforgettable smell that can confuse us to the point where we wonder why our dog's tail smells like fish. Typically, a rotten or fishy smell coming from a dog's anus is due to a problem with the anal glands, either due to poor hygiene or other reasons. In this article we will explain why this happens and how to avoid it, as it may be a symptom of a problem that needs to be treated.
External factors influencing unpleasant odor from the mouth
Why does my dog's breath smell like rotten meat?
The most common external triggers for the formation of an unpleasant odor are:
- The daily diet contains a high concentration of protein. When such foods are digested, a large amount of nitrogen is released, hence the putrid odor.
- Deposition of food remains behind the jowls of brachycephalic animals. People with short muzzles often do not have time to swallow all the food while eating; its remains accumulate in the cheek space, where they rot and emit an unpleasant odor.
- The animal is given only chlorinated water to drink. It is important to understand that the cause of the development of dysbiosis can be a refusal to use bottled or spring water. And dysbacteriosis is already a significant reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Additionally, it is worth noting an unbalanced diet that is not suitable for the pet. If difficulties arise in developing a diet, it is better to seek help from a veterinarian or breeder.
NO low quality chlorinated water
What does human sweat consist of - chemical composition
The chemical composition of sweat depends on the current state of health and the usefulness of the food consumed. If you exclude salt from your daily diet, then sweat loses molecules of this food additive. The performance of the thyroid gland can be influenced by the presence of a certain number of iodine molecules in sweat; in diabetics, this fluid is replete with glucose, and in liver diseases, the excretory system produces an increased amount of bile molecules.
Serious physical activity and a state of overexertion are accompanied by the release of large amounts of lactic acid - the main negative chemical product of all athletes.
By percentage, the chemical components of sweat are as follows:
- 90% is allocated to water - the main temperature regulator. By removing fluid to the surface of the body, excess thermal energy also leaves the body along with it;
- additions of ammonia and other toxic elements;
- there is also urea and sodium additives;
- a small amount of various acids;
- minimum percentage of trace elements present.
Causes of pungent odor and possible diseases
There are really many reasons why a pet begins to emit an unpleasant odor. To identify the exact provoking factor, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. The veterinarian will write out all the necessary directions.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Why does one house smell like cats, but not another?
In a dog, the smell from under the tail may indicate developmental pathologies or diseases, inflammatory conditions of the genitourinary system. Most often, the smell is not fishy, but ammonia. In most cases, dogs are diagnosed with kidney failure. The pathology is accompanied by a slowdown in the elimination of waste products from the body, which poisons the tissues.
Among owners of Yorkshire terriers and other decorative breeds, a very common question is why a Yorkie's urine smells. The fact is that at the genetic level they have pathologies in the development or diseases of the genitourinary system.
Important! The pet must eat well and undergo regular medical examinations at a veterinary clinic.
Oral problems
As a rule, we are talking about tartar. The manifestation of such a symptom does not pose a threat to the health and life of the pet, but plaque on the teeth may not be so harmless. The destruction of tooth enamel, the formation of foci of infection, pain and difficult treatment can negatively affect the pet’s quality of life.
Tartar in dogs
Worms
If your dog's tail stinks, this may indicate that the body is infected with worms. In fact, this is a common problem, especially if you do not regularly take a preventative course of taking anthelmintic drugs.
Liver diseases
If your dog smells like rotten meat, the cause may be serious problems with the liver. As a rule, a pronounced unpleasant odor begins to bother you already at the stages of tissue necrosis, when, unfortunately, it is no longer possible to help.
Autoimmune imbalance
If an unpleasant odor appears from your pet, you should think about the development of autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, most often we are talking about an incurable disease – diabetes. If your pet begins to itch or, on the contrary, suddenly gain weight and is thirsty, then you should immediately take a blood sugar test.
Oncological diseases
The dog also smells like fish from under its tail and, possibly, from its mouth as a result of the development of a malignant neoplasm in the animal’s body. A tendency to develop cancer has been noted in boxers and other purebred dogs with a short, raw muzzle. Neoplasms can also form in the oral cavity, which is not uncommon.
When does a fishy stench signal trouble?
If your dog suddenly begins to emit an unpleasant, pungent fishy odor, pay attention to the health and behavior of the pet. Owners should be alert to the following symptoms:
- dull, faded, brittle wool;
- the presence of foci of inflammation on the skin, ulcers, wounds;
- accumulation of wax, black plaque on the ears;
- sudden weight loss, loss of appetite;
- low activity, depressed state;
- severe itching;
- problems with chewing food;
- unstable stool, nausea, vomiting;
- unpleasant odor of urine, discoloration, frequent painful urination;
- ulcers, wounds on the oral mucosa;
- ear diseases (ear mites);
- fungal infections (mycoses);
- discharge from the nose, eyes.
Poor nutrition
How to get rid of dog smell in an apartment
If your puppy or adult pet smells rotten or fishy on a consistent basis, this may indicate that the food is not right for him. This issue is especially acute among dog owners who eat ready-made dry industrial food of dubious quality.
Low-quality dry dog food is the cause of digestive disorders
Dogs cannot handle all foods that the human stomach can easily handle. For example, the owner decided to pamper his pet with a delicious bun that activates the sebaceous glands. The result is that the animal’s body produces a large amount of sebum, which causes the stench.
For your information! A specific smell may come from your pet if fish is often present in its diet. Of course, seafood is healthy, but it is important to adhere to moderation in everything.
Experts strongly recommend excluding homemade food from the dog’s diet, which activates the processes of decay of food residues in the intestines. We are talking about peas, beans, cabbage, pasta and potatoes. They often provoke the development of diseases of the digestive system.
What should the owner do?
the washing up
Don't forget about prevention. The dog's fur is always confirmed by the active work of the sebaceous glands. Not all dogs know how to groom themselves, and not everyone strives to do so, so it is important to regularly brush your dog’s coat, especially if it is long-haired, to avoid unpleasant odors.
You can wash your dog no more than once a week, so if your dog begins to smell unpleasant before this period, then check it for diseases, the symptoms of which may be an unpleasant odor.
It is very important to take care of the process of drying the coat after bathing. It is recommended to dry long-haired dogs with a hairdryer, while observing the temperature regime to prevent the dog from overheating and activating the sebaceous glands, since in this situation the hair will be dirty again.
If your dog has tangles in his fur, it is necessary to comb or cut them out, as they can cause an unpleasant fishy odor. Avoid tangling the fur and brush your dog after every walk.
Do not wash your dog with your own shampoos, as they cannot help solve the problem with an unpleasant odor, but on the contrary, they can strengthen it, therefore, it is recommended to use specialized shampoos with a natural composition that will not cause allergic reactions and will restore the fat balance on the dog’s body.
Don’t forget about a dog’s ears, which are a vulnerable spot in almost all breeds, causing a number of diseases if they are not properly cared for.
The ears should be cleaned regularly and examined for any abnormalities or diseases.
Dirt from the ears is removed with a regular cotton swab, and if a disease is detected, it is necessary to show the dog to a doctor.
Preventing bad breath in dogs
It is known that it is always easier to prevent a problem from developing than to solve it later. So it is here. Experts have developed a small set of simple measures, the systematic implementation of which will reduce the likelihood of the formation of an unpleasant odor:
- At least once a year it is required to visit a veterinary clinic, including a veterinary dentist.
- It is recommended that dogs brush their teeth, although many still consider this procedure inappropriate. The optimal frequency of the procedure is once with an interval of 4-5 days. You can use special toothbrushes or a piece of bandage.
- To cleanse tooth enamel, you can use special bones that contain grains, vegetables and rawhide.
- If the condition of the oral cavity is neglected, then it is recommended to carry out ultrasonic teeth cleaning.
How to clean dogs' teeth with a bandage
The pet’s diet also plays a big role in this matter. Experts allow two options: feed the animal with high-quality industrial dry formulas of premium and super-premium quality, or a varied and natural diet.
Symptoms of various inflammatory processes
Despite the various foci of damage to the reproductive organs, inflammatory processes have common symptoms of the disease.
Characteristic symptoms of inflammatory processes in the genital organs, in addition to existing discharge, include:
- excessive attention of the animal to the genitals: the pet licks the loop more often than usual due to itching from the secretion;
- lethargy is noted in behavior;
- temperature increase;
- increase in abdominal volume;
- thirst - the animal consumes a lot of water, vomiting is possible;
- depressed state;
- hard breath;
- weakness;
- refusal to go for a walk;
- Frequent urination, including at home.
If the symptoms described above appear, you should not self-medicate. It is important to understand that the disease in its advanced form is much more difficult to cure, and if assistance is delayed, the result may be the death of the pet.
What to wash so it doesn't stink
To get rid of the unpleasant odor, first of all, it is recommended to try Nizoral medicinal shampoo, diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio (sold in a pharmacy for people). The pet's body must be moistened with water, the fur and skin thoroughly washed, and left for 10 minutes. The optimal frequency of the procedure is with an interval of 5-6 days.
Shampoo Nizoral
If bald spots form on the body, then you should not postpone a visit to the veterinarian. He will scrape off the sources of the lesion, after which he will develop a therapeutic course.
Breed predisposition
Breeds that, due to their characteristics, have a particularly foul dog odor include:
- English and American cocker spaniels;
- boxer;
- Saint Bernard;
- basset hound;
- Shar Pei;
- shepherd dogs;
- Pugs.
Decorative dogs, representatives of breeds with non-shedding fur, and some animals without hair are practically odorless.
Among the most popular breeds, poodles, Dalmatians, Shih Tzus, and miniature pinschers have virtually no smell.
How to get rid of smell in an apartment
Proven and effective ways to get rid of the unpleasant smell of a pet in an apartment:
- Wash the animal's bedding regularly, without waiting for the appearance of an unpleasant, albeit faint, odor. It is recommended to use laundry soap or hypoallergenic washing powder during the washing process.
- Pet leprosy should be treated with special formulations that effectively eliminate unpleasant odors, for example, lemon juice, iodine, rubbing alcohol, soda.
A healthy dog shouldn't stink, so it's important to have regular checkups.
Healthy and nice smelling dog
If your dog smells unpleasant, don’t panic; just observe your pet’s condition and show it to the veterinarian.
How to Avoid Anal Gland Problems
Once we know why our dog's tail smells like rotten fish, we will discuss ways to reduce this unpleasant odor. We must comply with the following measures:
Each dog, like a person, has its own specific smell, which, if the body is working properly, is practically not felt. But there are cases, and not isolated ones, when a dog begins to exude a rich putrid or fishy aroma that follows literally everywhere. Before deciding to deal with the unpleasant odor yourself, you should consult with your veterinarian or breeder, as the cause may be serious.
How to properly clean wood floors from dog urine
While the most unpleasant formations can be removed from the carpet quite quickly, the pungent dog “aroma” from a wooden floor is a dangerous problem. The appearance of dampness (if the dog peed in the same place several times) can lead to damage to the varnish and swelling of the laminate or parquet. Initially, dog urine is removed using a napkin or towel. You need to blot the puddle, wash the floor with clean water, and wipe dry. Next you can do the following:
- rub the laminate with lemon peel;
- make a paste of soda and water (change when dry);
- neutralize the stench by washing the flooring with a floor cleaner that smells of lavender and mint.
The use of ordinary bleach or powder is unacceptable: they will not help remove dog urine from the floor and will damage the coating (suitable only for light-colored linoleum). To prevent your dog from peeing on the floor again and the room smelling like urine, you can try a weaning spray. True, it rarely helps. If the dog begins to go to the toilet in the room due to old age, you will have to lay oilcloths or a medical diaper on the floor. Difficulties are also possible when an adult dog marks the territory due to the appearance of a cat.
Signs of violations
Symptoms of inflammation of the paraanal glands in dogs depend on the stage of development of the disease. In the initial stages, the animal may scratch the itchy anal area, and the discharge is still quite liquid and yellowish. As the disease progresses, the secretion thickens, its quantity decreases, and the color becomes darker.
The fur around the anus and on the inner thighs thins and begins to fall out, the surface of the skin becomes moist to the touch, swollen, red, and painful. The body at the base of the tail, anus, genitals and thighs may become covered with a rash, and pustules filled with fluid or purulent contents may form.
The dog begins to walk with great difficulty, he suffers from itching, pain, his usual behavior is disrupted, and his character changes.
The dog becomes irritable and aggressive, with a particularly acute reaction to touch. She is even capable of biting her owner, although before her illness she had never allowed herself to do anything like that.
If the disease is not treated, much more complex problems will appear: a high temperature will rise, the lower part of the body may be poorly controlled, and in especially serious conditions, half of the body becomes paralyzed.
Treatment of pathology
In the initial stages, cleaning the anal glands can eliminate the problem. By freeing them from secretions, the cause of inflammation can be eliminated, and the remaining traces can be cured by using specific drugs.
The veterinarian cleans the outlet of the paraanal gland, if necessary, additionally rinses the cavities, administers an antibiotic solution and prescribes this remedy for severe purulent inflammation.
If the dog already has a mature abscess, it is punctured, the contents are released, if necessary, a deeper cleaning is performed, antibiotics and other drugs are administered as prescribed by the doctor.
If you just need to clean the formations, there is no need for anesthesia, but with inflammation it will not be possible to treat without pain relief.
When the abscess has not yet matured, the pet is given a course of wet warm compresses to accelerate maturation, and then the cavity is opened and cleaned out. Next, antibiotics and suppositories are used, for example, with ichthyol.
Typically, treatment for a dog takes from 5 days to 2 weeks, if there are no complications. Regularly recurring suppurations, when the glands need to be cleaned every 5–7 days, the formation of fistulas, changes in the animal’s behavior, and detrimental effects on general health require the use of radical measures. The anal glands are removed.
For a veterinarian, this is a fairly simple operation, but it is done in exceptional cases. Without the functioning of the glands, the dog loses its means of self-identification and may find itself an outcast in “canine society.” And this will have serious consequences for the dog’s psyche.
Prevention of blockage and inflammation of the paraanal glands
- Walk daily for at least 3-4 hours a day.
- Proper balanced nutrition, including fiber.
- Periodic examination of the paraanal area.
- Cleaning the glands at the first signs of stagnation with the necessary regularity.
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Quantity
If you have a four-legged friend
Preventative measures are a sure way to avoid dog smell in the house.
Daily vacuuming of sofas, carpets and floors will help prevent the presence of a strong stench.
Essential oils, which can be added to a spray bottle and sprayed around the perimeter of the apartment, will help freshen the air in the apartment.
The dog grooming industry offers a variety of grooming products: combs, brushes, furminators.
Regular visits to the veterinary clinic will allow you to prevent the disease in time.
Minutes of joy spent with your beloved pet compensate for all the additional time and effort spent on maintaining order and cleanliness in your home.
