A question that is often asked by new and inexperienced dog owners is “Why does my dog smell like fish?” It might seem strange that your dog’s breath suddenly starts smelling of fish and that they start to leave a fishy smell behind them, for example on the couch. However, there’s actually an important medical explanation for it.
Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish?
At the same time as noticing the fishy smell the dog owner will likely also have noticed that their dog has developed the rather unpleasant habit of constantly licking, or scratching and biting, their butt. The dog may also have started to drag their butt all across the floor. This is known as scooting. They may also have started to chase their tail.
All of these things are signs that your need to be emptied because they’re not emptying on their own.
The Anal Glands
When all is going to plan, the anal glands (also known as the anal sacs) will empty themselves of fluid naturally when your dog goes to the toilet. But sometimes they don’t empty or only partially empty. The end result of this can be that the glands become full. This can cause discomfort for your dog and can cause infection if not treated.
Although it’s a quite straightforward and simple process to manually once you know how to, we recommend that you take your dog to the vets to get it done the first time. The reason for this is so that the vet can check for infection or any other problems. Alternatively, your dog groomer should also be able to empty the anal glands for you.
What Causes The Anal Glands To Fill?
The usual cause of your dog’s anal glands not emptying properly and becoming full is your dog’s diet.
If your dog is producing hard, firm stools then the anal glands will normally empty just like they’re supposed to.
If your dog’s stools are soft and runny on the other hand, then the glands may not empty, or may not empty enough, and will eventually fill up. To avoid this, you should make sure that you feed your dog a fiber-rich diet and not give it food with a lot of filler in it. Then your dog’s stools are more likely to be firmer and the anal glands are more likely to empty properly.
Summary
Many dog owners suddenly find themselves asking “Why does my dog smell like fish?” If you notice that your dog has suddenly started to smell of fish and is also licking or biting their butt and scooting, then the dog’s anal glands likely need to be emptied.
The vet or your dog groomer can do this, or you can even do it yourself. What is important is that it is done, to prevent infection and other problems, such as impaction of the anal glands, from developing.
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