Over the past week on the bed of my 8 month old Labrador puppy bitch there has been yellow/brown stains that seem to be some sort of liquid/secretion. It doesn't seem to be excretion but it does have a very pungent and distinctive smell. I have noticed it a couple of times in the morning (she has a crate) but have also noticed it after she has been in her crate during the day. She is very happy in her crate and I regularly change/wash her bedding, and have done so each time after seeing the stains. The stains have gone through her bedding cover and into the foam, so there is a fair amount of whatever it is. The following might be completely unrelated but it might help some of you experts throw some light on what could be going on...

- She has recently had a bout of diarrhoea, although this has now completely cleared and her stools are firm. The stains have only occurred since the diarrhoea. Anal glands?
- She is 8 months old and not yet had her first season - she is, however, malting (sign she will soon be coming in season?) and maybe this could explain secretions?
- She has recently starting chasing her tail (a lot!) and biting/pulling her tail when she catches it, she is also paying a lot more attention to her 'regions'

Any ideas?

Anal glands.

Does it have a fishy smell?

If she has been loose then they have not emptied as they normally would when passing a solid stool,a nd the secretion has built up and leaked or been expressed by licking.

I know this isn't the case here but a frightened dog can release the contents of the anal glands.

The purpose of the gland is scenting.

Biting her tail, licking a lot and scooting on the ground are all signs of anal gland issues.  Often with a digestive upset they will become over full and inflamed or even infected.

Thanks for the reply Brainless. I wouldn't say it was a fishy smell, more like a heavy musty smell, really hits the back of the throat! She hasn't been scooting on the ground. Would there be such a large amount from the glands? So what would you recommend from here? A trip to the vets? Sorry to appear so un-knowledgeable, this is our first dog, we've read lots of books and researched lots online as we want to be responsible owners but can't always find the answer ourselves!

Yes, trip to the vet, they will check the glands for you and if needed empty them.

As the liquid is coming away she may not be scooting but it may be the problem anyway - if not you do need the vet to find out what it is.

Is it definately coming from anal glands, or I'm wondering if she may have a touch of vaginitis?  Definately worth a trip to the vet to be sure. 

Easy to check, with a soft white tissue press it against her vagina and see if there is a brown stain if not discard and use another tissue and press against her anus and see if the mark you get is more than expected or is wet, obviously do not check either when she has just been to the toilet, first thing in the morning before you let her out would be a good time.

It sounds like shes 'sicking' up bile rather than it coming from her nether regions. You'd know if it was anal gland secretions as the fishy smell is unmistakable.

Our 11 month old Dobepup used to sick-up foamy yellowy bile during the night which has the musty smell you describe and no food or anything within it. When i asked our vet about it he said that it can often be caused by something as simple as hunger and that a little snack before bedtime could solve it. In our case though it appeared to be linked with irratible bowls and gassy-ness caused by a rice intolerance from her old complete food.

Hope this helps. 

My springer 'empties' her own anal glands.  Yeuch!  I thought she was coming into season as it smells the same, that musky, old fish smell.  Our girl doesn't scoot but she does pay a lot of attention to her rear end.  The fluid then sticks to her fur at her bottom and I need to get her in the bath quick.  It is a yellowy/brown a bit like diarrehoa.  And she does this about once a week.  Your girl sounds the same.