Dogs are incredibly friendly animals and they love spending time with their owners. Not only that, but because of the pet’s loving nature, they make for excellent companions.
However, you should know that by their very nature, dogs are generally quite expressive animals. They like to play, and as a result of that, taking care of a dog can become a bit cumbersome for most people.
However, showering and washing the dog isn’t a problem. But, you should know that from time to time, weird smells might begin to emanate from the animal itself. These smells usually indicate a problem or give off a sign, and you need to know exactly what the animal is going through.
For instance, if the fur is all matted and there’s a pungent smell coming from the animal, it’s probably an indication of an infestation in the fur, and could be caused due to a wound on the skin that hasn’t been treated.
Another thing that you might notice is a fishy smell coming from the pet itself. Literally, your dog might begin to smell like a fish.
In most cases, it’s probably because your dog got into something that it shouldn’t have, but in some cases, it might be caused due to a health issue that hasn’t been treated. There can be any number of reasons why the animal might be smelling like a fish.
According to a renowned vet, one of the reasons why your dog might begin to smell like a fish is because of a yeast infection in its ears. This infection might also develop on their feet or their skin, and both could be problematic.
Another, more serious problem, would be the dog’s inability to express their anal glands. Figuring out the source of the problem is the first step.
Examine the Pup
The first thing you need to do is thoroughly examine your pup. You need to take a look at the animal from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail, basically a full-length examination.
You should start off by smelling the ears of the pup and its face. In some cases, eye discharge might also have a stinky smell. Apart from that, yeast within the ears can also produce the same kind of smell, so you have to eliminate all of these one by one.
Then, you need to look at the animals’ feet. If you see any brown stains, caused by licking, you might need to seek treatment for a yeast infection in the dog’s feet.
Finally, you should lift the dog’s tail, and take a look for any sign of swelling or redness. If you notice any kind of discharge from the anal cavity or around it, you might be looking at a problem with the anal glands.
What About the Anal Glands?
Dogs usually express their anal glands to communicate with other animals. In most cases, dogs don’t have to worry about this, and most dogs will never need their anal sacs emptied manually. However, if the dog is suffering from a problem, they might need to be emptied manually.
One of the reasons why your dog might need its anal sacs emptied manually is because of its diet. If the dog has a large, firm stool, it’s going to release the liquid from the anal sacs on its own.
But, a soft or small stool isn’t going to trigger the same effect, and if this continues on, the sacs are just going to fill up, and eventually there’s going to be a bit of discharge.
In some cases, the dog’s stool might be absolutely firm, but the anal sacs might not be triggered. This is one of the biggest issues and reasons why you might notice a fishy smell from the animal.
A clear indication that the animal is suffering from a problem with their anal glands is when they start dragging their bottom on the floor. If that’s the issue, the best thing that you can do is seek advice from a vet.
Manually emptying the anal glands is not an easy task, and it’s best if you seek advice and treatment from a vet. The vet will also tell you if there is an infection and if any medical intervention is necessary, and will also guide you on the best course of action that you can take.
What About a Yeast Infection?
Yeast prefers to grow in warm and dark places, which is why most yeast infections in dogs are found between the rear legs, behind the ears, near the vulva, as well as the toes and pads, or near the eyes. If you notice the smell coming from any of these regions, you should definitely consider going to the vet right away.
The vet will be able to recommend suitable treatment and might also recommend topical ointments that you can use to get rid of the infection. The yeast infection can be quite troublesome for the animal, and may lead to a lot of discomfort, so it’s best if you apply the ointment and administer the medication as required by the vet.
If you want to avoid such problems, one of the best things that you need to do is feed your dog the right foods.
For instance, you need to make sure that your dog gets an appropriate diet with the right amount of fiber. Depending on its age and its size, the fiber requirements are going to vary, so you need to be careful about that.
Secondly, you need to keep a check on the dog’s stool to ensure that it’s well-formed. Apart from that, you need to make sure that fresh and clean water is available for the animal at all times. That is of the utmost importance, and plays an important role in the dog’s health.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.