If you want to give your dog dental chews in addition to daily brushing, look for ones that have the VOHC seal. That stands for Veterinary Oral Health Council. It means theyve tested the product and determined it helps slow down plaque and tartar buildup.
The areas most prone to yeast infections include the paws, face, ears, genital area, and along the tummy. Signs that your dog may have a yeast infection in those locations include:
To prevent tartar, many pet parents give their dogs dental chews. “Theyre helpful, but they dont take the place of brushing your dogs teeth once a day,” Tracey says. “Its like thinking you could eat carrots and get clean teeth. It helps to brush off some of the plaque, but its no match for daily brushing.”
Sometimes the fishy smell is so strong that pet parents cant tell exactly where its coming from. If the anal glands are healthy, the next likely culprit is a urinary tract infection (UTI), Tracey says. Left untreated, a UTI can spread to other organs. But its easily remedied with antibiotics from your vet. Other signs your dog may have a UTI include:
Drinking and peeing more are also symptoms of diabetes and kidney disease. Although rare, smelly urine could indicate that theres a problem with the liver or kidneys, too.
Why does my dog smell of fish? If your dog smells of fish, the most common cause is usually problems with their anal sacs, but it could also be a sign of dental issues, digestive conditions or infections. Dogs have small sacs that sit either side of their anus and produce a distinctive smelling liquid that helps other dogs to recognise them. These sacs can become blocked, swollen or infected and can be very painful. Signs of anal sac disorders include your dog licking or biting their bottom, scooting on the ground or finding it difficult to go to the toilet. If you’re concerned about your dog’s health then always
Tip of the Nose to the Tail
Before getting into some of the medical conditions that cause a pet to smell fishy is to try and locate where it is coming from. Does your dog’s mouth smell like fish, ears, under the tail, or just in general?
There are several reasons why your pup may smell a little funky and finding out where the odor is most apparent can help figure the mystery out.
Some health conditions that cause a fishy or unusual smell include:
This is why it is essential to have your pet examined if you notice a foul odor, just to rule out more serious medical concerns.
If your dog is emiting a fishy odor, the most likely cause is that the anal glands are impacted and need to be released. The anal sacs are the size of peas and are psoitioned on both side of the inside of your dog’s rectum. These sacs have an oily substance that is released through your dog’s excrement. It is a marker to other dogs and animals that have territory, readiness to mate, and so on.
This “clogged” system will cause a dog to scoot their rear on the ground, as you may have witnessed. They need to have the glands released, and this is done by the veterinarian or most groomers. You can also learn to do this simple task by asking us for instructions.
Yeast will cause a somewhat fishy scent when there is a problem with overgrowth or infection. Yeast, like bacteria, are naturally occurring and are on the skin, ears, and warm, damp places that encourage their growth. If your female dog smells funky, they may have a yeast or bacterial infection, such as vaginitis. Check for any signs of yellow or white discharge as another indicator of this infection.
Many dogs also have a problem with ear infections due to overgrown yeast and/or bacteria. Some heavily wrinkled dogs like bulldogs and Shar-Peis suffer sometimes from an overgrowth of yeast, which loves to hide and proliferate in the folds of their skin.
Dental disease is common in dogs (especially those who don’t receive routine pet dental exams) and because of this, bad breath, or halitosis, is reported in many canines. P
eriodontal disease causes your dog’s breath to smell and this condition can cause serious problems down the road. Broken and loose teeth, discoloration, tooth loss, infection, and abscess are only some of the problems associated with dental disease, which is why dental cleaning and tooth brushing are a must for our furry friends.
Kidney disease and diabetes mellitus are two conditions that cause unusual or foul breath.
Why Your Dog Smells Like Fish: Natural Remedy
No matter how much you love your dog, you probably don’t love all of their smells — especially if he or she is emanating an undersea odor. If something smells fishy with your dog, here are a few possible explanations: