Why does my dog's breath smell like fish

Bad breath in dogs can be a real barrier between him and his owner... And especially between him and the cuddles he loves!

Many health problems, serious or benign, can cause bad breath in dogs, but when it smells fishy, it's often due to one condition in particular: inflammation of the anal sacs.

What do your dog's anal glands have to do with his breath, you may ask? Well, when there is inflammation, the dog tends to lick his backside a lot, before coming to blow his breath in your face. Isn't that nice?

 

Bad Breath in Dogs

Bad breath (halitosis) in dogs is often caused by tartar, a common plague among our four-legged friends. Tartar causes bacteria to accumulate in the dog's mouth, producing a putrid odor that can be unbearable.

Moreover, tartar is the source of many more serious pathologies in dogs, called periodontal diseases. These can not only cause the dog's teeth to fall out and irreversible damage to the jaw, but can also spread throughout the animal's body, causing septicemia.

Other non-oral diseases, such as diabetes and certain gastric disorders, can also manifest themselves through unpleasant breath. More surprisingly, sinusitis and other diseases of the dog's upper respiratory tract can result in an unbearable foul odor that can be smelled in his breath.

Finally, some conditions cause bad breath on contact, for example when the dog licks an infected wound... Or inflamed anal glands. Note that the dog's pus gives off a very strong and extremely unpleasant odor, which can be found in its breath if it has licked an abscess.

 

 

Inflammation of the anal glands in dogs

The anal glands, also known as the anal sacs, are cavities in your dog's anus that contain a liquid that is a signature odor for every dog. This sticky, particularly smelly fluid has an odor that is commonly described as something akin to rotting fish.

When the dog relieves itself, the anal sacs are emptied at the same time to perfume the animal's excrement with this fragrance that allows it to declare its identity. The amount of liquid is relatively small, and the owner usually does not perceive this typical fishy smell, which is covered by the smell of the dog's excrement.

However, it can happen that the dog's anal sacs become blocked and the fluid cannot flow out when the dog eliminates. The glands will then make the animal suffer and it will try to relieve itself by frantically licking itself, but also by performing the famous sled, a movement consisting of dragging its buttocks on the ground in a sitting position.

In this situation, your dog's hindquarters smell at least as bad as his breath, which owners sometimes don't realize because their dog doesn't often put it under their nose to ask for a hug. Inflammation of the anal glands is not a serious condition, but it needs to be treated to stop the unbearable odor and to relieve your dog, who may be very embarrassed.

To do this, it is not always necessary to take your dog to a veterinarian, as long as you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves to tackle a poorly located and badly smelling part of your dog... By passing your fingers around your dog's anus, you will be able to easily feel two small balls, one located at 4 o'clock, the other at 8 o'clock: these are your dog's full anal sacs.

All you have to do is gently squeeze these anal sacs to empty them completely, thus freeing your dog from this painful problem, and finally putting an end to the putrid fish emanations propagated by his breath and his backside. If in doubt, or if your dog seems to be in particular pain, don't try it and make an appointment directly with a veterinarian who will take care of it.

It's possible that the anal sacs have become infected, which makes them particularly sensitive and can become worse following careless handling. Now you know all about the most likely cause of fishy breath coming from your dog's mouth!

While it's not good to think that your dog's breath is bothering you because he licked his backside, it's reassuring to know that this putrid smell is often a sign of a benign problem. However, if your dog continues to smell bad after emptying his anal sacs, he probably has another problem and should be taken to a veterinarian.