Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish? 5 Interesting Reasons Why Dog Stinks Like Fish

Every pet owner must avoid bad odors from dogs. A Female dog smells like fish after your pet dog starts acting funny and stinks up a bit. You might want to know the possible causes as well as appropriate treatments for this particular condition.

Why does my dog smell like fish? Anal sacs or anal glands are small sacs located on each side of your dog’s anus. Dogs will show their anal glands when they are afraid, which is normal if it is slightly odorous. These anal gland secretions have a distinct smell, so many pet owners describe them as smelling like a fish.

But these anal sacs are different from dog breath smells like fish or some other cause with fishy smells. Of course, every owner wants to know how to get rid of fishy smell from dog. Let’s read to the end about this.

Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish?

There are several reasons why he might be having a fish smell. As mentioned above, many dogs must have their anal glands released periodically to continue to live as healthy a life as they should.

Another reason for “why does my dog smell like fish” is because he has an infection or some other ailment, or he is simply a victim of poor grooming.

If you’re wondering why does my dog smell like fish, his lick and anal gland smell may just be indicating that his anal glands might need to be cleaned out. Dogs must receive the appropriate amounts of fiber each day to maintain the anal glands (also known as anal sacs) working properly.

Sadly, thanks to a lack of fiber in their average dog diet, most dogs must have their anal glands released manually to keep them running properly. This can lead to an unpleasant odor around the anus.

Dog Smells Like Fish In Car

Dogs secretion in anal glands as a form of communication with other dogs. If your dog is in the car and sees another dog on the street, your dog may be expressing the anal glands.

A fishy smell like appearing from anal sacs can disturb you while traveling, especially if you have to clean the part of the chair affected by the fishy smell. How to get rid of fishy smell from dog in a car? You can use vinegar or baking soda to remove those odors.

Did your dog eat stink bug by any chance?

Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish After Being Outside?

There are several possibilities about why do dogs smell like fish when they come in from outside. One of them is the anal glands that your dog expresses when meeting other dogs or intimidated by other dogs.

Then another possibility, the presence of yeast or bacteria attached to the fur or on the dog’s body so that your dog smells like fish.

How to get rid of fishy smell from dogs after they come from outside? Immediately bathe your dog until clean all over his body to remove odors and bacteria that stick. If the odor is still there after your dog bathed and the smell is getting worse, immediately take your dog to a veterinarian for a medical examination.

Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell Like Fish?

Dog’s breath smells like fish is different from the condition of the anal glands, but it is still on the same topic as “why does my dog smell like fish.” If your dog’s breath has a bad odor, one of the reasons is the poor dental hygiene of your dog.

Tartar and plaque that continue to build up in your dog’s mouth will increase the fishy smell because this odor arises from the bacteria that are very much in your dog’s mouth.

Can Dogs smell water?

Dog In Heat Smells Like Fish – Is It Normal?

This usually happens when you have fleas or something else that is causing him to have an infection. Sometimes you even pull up plants in your garden with your dog, and your dog will start to smell fishy odors.

Do dogs in heat smell like fish? There is also a hormonal change when your dog is in heat, so your dog’s body smells like fish. After the heat is over, there is a possibility that the smell will disappear.

Why does my dog smell like fish in the heat? Oil production in dogs can also cause a fishy smell if they are outside too much and start sweating.

Why Does My Puppy Smell Like Fish?

Why does my dog stink? See if your dog has any parasites. Parasites will cause a dog to smell like fish, which can be very hard to get rid of. Ensure that you always make sure that your dog’s intestines are clean, and if they are not, you should immediately take your dog to the vet.

Puppy can sometimes smell fishy due to getting wet in the rain or running around in the yard. If your dog runs around and gets wet, he can quickly develop a fishy smell. It would be a good idea for you to take your dog outside on a leash and spray him with a garden hose on dry days.

If none of the reasons mentioned above seem right for your dog, you should talk to a vet. Some illnesses have symptoms like fishy smells, and you will want to prevent these from affecting your puppy.

10 Week Old Puppy Smells Like Fish

Why does my dog smell fishy? Be careful with the condition of anal gland blockage in your puppy because it can cause infected anal glands and requires serious treatment.

It usually occurs when you give food that is not suitable for your puppy, and blockage occurs because your puppy can not digest it properly.

Why does my dog smell like that even though it’s still a puppy? Puppy can also express anal glands, although not as smelly as adult dogs. You should pay attention to whether this condition is continuous or only temporary.

How Do I Get Rid Of The Smell Like Fish On My Dog?

You need to bathe your dog outside. Prepare toiletries such as brushes, garden hoses, dog cleaning products. You are deodorizing your stinky dog with shampoo to their skin. Then keep your dog dry completely before they enter the house.

Why do dogs release a fishy smell? There is a possibility that their fur or skin has parasites or fungi that make a fishy smell—and bathing them until their skin will help in cleaning the bacteria or parasites that stick to the dog’s body.

How to get rid of fishy smell from dog other than shampoo? You can use a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. The mixture is poured into your dog’s body from the top of the body to your dog’s tail.

My Female Dog Smells Like A Fish

I have a female dog, and my dog smells like period blood one day. Although female dogs normally have bacterial flora in their vagina, if the foul odor smells better than the fishy smell, it could be a health issue.

A female dog smells like fish, and you notice a light-colored discharge, then your female dog may have vaginitis caused by bacteria or yeast.

Why Does My Dogs Vag Smell Like Fish?

Female dog smells bad when bacteria get trapped in the folds of the vaginal walls that fishy vaginal odor comes out. This smell comes from an overabundance of bad bacteria.

Too much bacteria in the vagina makes you experience a continuous wave of infections. This is because your body doesn’t have enough good bacteria to keep the infections from coming back. You can help to fight off infection by taking probiotics each day.

You can take your dog to the vet for antibiotics for this female dog smells like fish problem.

How To Get Rid Of Female Dog Odor?

You can brush your dog 2-5 times per week and pat your dog’s fur with vinegar or baking soda to a quick dry bath. When you can fixed female dog smells like fish, your dog will have the better condition and always maintain hygiene.

Why does my dog smell like fish? Because female dogs are more sensitive than male dogs, it is easier to elicit odors from the anal glands.

Possible Reasons Why Does My Dog Stink Like Fish

There are several possible reasons why does my dog smell like fish. If this happens continuously, you need to take your dog to the vet because it could be serious. Below is a table about some possibilities about a fishy smell in dogs.

When dog owners ask about “why does my dog smell like fish,” any of the above may occur, and your dog should seek appropriate treatment immediately.

Signs Of Anal Glands In Dogs

When you ask about “why does my dog smell like fish,” of course, you have to recognize the symptoms so that when you take your dog to the vet, you know what to tell the vet. The symptoms are :

1. My dog smells like poop after defecating
2. Blood in their stool
3. Bite In Their Tail
4. Weird walking with scooting their butt in the floor
5. Have difficulty while defecating

Why does my dog smell like fish? Because there’s a problem with your dog’s anal glands. If you are worried about your dog’s condition, you can talk to your vet to ask for some medication and treatment about the fishy smell on your dogs.

Dog Fishy Smell After Neutering – What Should I Do?

If, after neutering, your dog experiences a fishy smell, then that is one of the conditions where your dog comes into heat. My dog smells in that condition because she has bloody vaginal discharge, which creates an offensive odor, but male dogs are attracted to it.

Why does my dog smell like fish? Because of heat, dogs will smell fishy in the anal glands, and this tends to be normal.

Final Verdict On Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish

Every pet owner will definitely ask if they experience conditions like “why does my bottom smell fishy?” because the smell is very uncomfortable and can disturb the whole house.

You need to know this because a fishy smell can come from dogs through the anal glands, and dogs express that odor when they are frightened or when your dog is in heat.

The fishy smell not only occurs in the anal glands but also in several things, such as being exposed to fungi and bacteria, which stick to the body. If your dog is done playing outside, sometimes you will smell a fishy smell on your dog’s body.

You can bathe and brush your dog 2-5 times a week to keep it clean and free from fishy smells that can disturb you and your family.

Why does my dog smell like fish and have other symptoms like hard defecating? This is a serious condition, as your dog may have anal gland disease. Immediately check your dog’s condition, so it doesn’t get worse.

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️