How to Get Rid of Fishy Smell From Dog

“How to get rid of fishy smell from dog” is a question most dog owners have. But it’s something that needs time and attention. Not just a quick fix. Perhaps your female dog smells like fish. Or the dog urine smells fishy. Or maybe the dog secretes a fishy smell. Or the dog stinks like fish. Or your puppy smells like fish.

The most common reason dogs have a fishy smell is due to anal sac disease. Anal sac disease is a “one size fits all” term or phrase used to cover anything concerned about the anal glands.

If the problem has persisted for a while, it might be wise to seek the counsel of your veterinarian immediately.

Home Remedies You Can Try To Get Rid of Your Dog’s Fishy Smell

It’s unfortunate, but the world’s preferred pet can sometimes have a fish smell. If your dog smells like fish, here are a few simple things you can try at home before pressing the panic button.

Try feeding your dog a high-fiber diet.

A high-fiber diet would, as a matter of course, help your dog empty their anal sacs or anal glands and in preventing anal sac problems. Your dog’s diet could also be what leads to your dog smelling like fish. Its fishy smell could be coming from fish oil, a supplement found in some dog food, or vitamins that aids your dog’s diet and helps in preventing itchiness, relieving joint pain, and improving fur health.

Make sure your dog always has access to clean water.

As part of its diet, keeping your dog hydrated is essential in helping your dog empty its anal glands and preventing anal sac disease. If your dog smells fishy, it could be due to a lack of hydration. Especially if your puppy urine smells like fish.

This could also lead to a female dog spray smell and your dog releasing fishy smell.

Make sure your dog adheres to a regular exercise routine.

Overweight dogs are more likely to suffer from anal sac disease, so walking or playing with your dog regularly would help keep the pounds off your dog (and maybe even off of you). If your dog’s butt smells like metal or your dog smells like tuna, you want to be sure they get regular fresh air and exercise.

Learn how to express your dog’s anal glands.

You can have your veterinarian teach you how to express or empty your dog’s anal gland. Anal glands manually emptied, assuming there are no other complications such as infection, can often save you a penny by saving you a trip to the veterinarian or the groomers.

How to Get Rid of Fishy Smell From Dog – Brush your dog’s teeth.

Regular brushing with an enzymatic toothpaste can help prevent plaque formation, which could lead to eliminating those fish smells.

Your house doesn’t need to smell, even if your dog smells. That’s where you need The Crown Choice air freshener spray.

It’s made of natural ingredients and will neutralize odors.

How to Get Rid of Fishy Smell From Dog – But Why Does My Dog Smell?

Fun fact: The phrase “a dog is a man’s best friend” was first used in 1789 by King Frederick of Prussia. He’s quoted to have said:

The only absolute and best friend that a man has, in this selfish world, the only one that will not betray or deny him, is his dog.

That being said, your dog can emit an unpleasant-smelling secretion that you can attribute to a whole host of other reasons:

• You could have a completely healthy dog that decided to roll around a mud puddle, a pile of rotten leaves, or even another dog’s stool, leaving them with an unpleasant odor easily fixed by a bath.
• A gastrointestinal disorder could cause your dog to smell like fish.
• If your dog’s mouth has a fishy smell, then your dog might have periodontal disease. It’s important to note that if your dog’s mouth smells like fish, it could also be suffering from diabetes or kidney disease.
• Your dog could also smell like fish if it were suffering from a urinary tract infection, which is common in diabetic dogs.
• Your dog could have Pyometra.
• Your dog could have a fungal disease like bacterial or yeast infections.
• Your dog could have a food allergy.
• Your dog could have gotten it from other dogs.
• Many other causes, most of which are less extreme and considered benign, but some of which could lead to a slew of long-term problems. If your dog exhibits severe symptoms or a rash change in behavior, consider taking a trip to the vet immediately.

Dog Anal Glands/Anal Sacs

The anal sacs are tiny specialized sweat glands or small sacs that are located on each side of your dog’s anus. The anal gland secretions have a distinct smell, often unflatteringly associated with fishy smells.

This odor also works as a scent marker for your dog; the secretion is released each time your dog defecates. That’s why dogs are often eerily interested in another dog’s stool (or dog poops), as smelling it often gives them chemical information about the other dog. It also explains why dogs like to sniff one another “under the tail,” as it were.

Anal Sac Disease

A dog’s fishy odor is typically due to anal sac disease. Anal sac disease is rare in larger breeds but quite common in small dog breeds and obese dogs. If your female dog smells like fish, this could be one of the reasons.

Different Causes of Anal Sac Disease

Various causes could lead to dogs suffering anal sac issues. These are the most common ones.

Impactions

Impactions are when your dog’s anal sacs contents aren’t properly expelled, resulting in impacted anal glands. The sacs will feel hard to the touch and are very painful for your dog.

Impaction can happen for several reasons, including soft stool, abnormalities in the anal sacs, or obesity in your dog.

Abscesses & Infections

Infected anal sacs often occur due to impacted anal sacs, and in turn, infected sacs can become abscessed. The anal sacs will appear discolored and swollen, and if left untreated, abscesses could rupture, causing your dog further pain, stress, and further complications.

Anal Sac Tumor

Anal sac tumors, while uncommon, are serious. They tend to severely limit your dog’s ability to express or empty its anal glands. These anal sac tumors could also be cancerous and metastasize to other parts of your dog’s body.

In extreme cases, your vet might recommend removing your dog’s anal sacs. This could be due to severe inflammation, persisting infections, or due to a tumor. In those cases, the best solution might be surgical removal of their anal sacs.

The surgery isn’t that complicated, and in most cases, the dogs are expected to make a full recovery. It won’t affect a dog’s quality of life.

Signs of Anal Sac Disease in Dogs

While having your dog smell like fish could be an early sign of a potential anal sac problem, there are other signs to watch out for that might indicate your dog has anal gland problems.

• Biting or licking underneath their tail
• Difficulty defecating
• Making odd sounds while defecating
• Scooting or sliding their butt across the floor
• A hard lump around the rectum
• Blood or puss with their stool

Make An Appointment With Your Veterinarian

Whether it’s because your dog smells like fish or because your dog is exhibiting odd behaviors that may or may not be connected to anal gland issues, it’s worth making an appointment with our veterinarians to ensure the health and safety of our beloved dogs.

Don’t leave your dogs vulnerable to future health complications.