For a while now our dog (who is raw fed), every now and again gets a brief fish smell from her anus! She licks it at the time of smell and within seconds has disserpeared! (much like a fart) she is fine in her self and poos are normal!!

Any ideas what it could be or how to stop it?? Our vet doesn't agree with raw feeding and will say it is that straight away!! Thought I would try here first!!

Thanks in advance

Louisa

Anal glands?

One of my raw fed dogs has this, its his anal glands, I take him to get the emptied every couple of months, the vet hasnt even asked what im feeding !

If it is only such a brief smell that goes so easily, I wouldn't worry.

If it was farts that regularly clear the room, I would be looking at the diet in great detail (and no, I would not be asking the vet for advice unless there were other physical symptoms).

I remember only too well the days when most dogs were fed on Pedigree Chum and Pal, with or without mixer, and many of them would totally gas present company - only for the owner to claim it was normal...!

Well, I never knew dog ownership should come with a gas mask and a health warning!

What do you meant emptied ??? Is there nothing I can feed to sort this myself??

Sometimes eating raw bones can make their poo hard enough to empty the glands, or giving a raw carrot - the cellulose can't be broken down in the gut and the pieces of carrot coming out the other end can press on the glands and empty them. Otherwise it needs doing manually - your vet will show you how.

I do feed her raw bones of chicken and lamb breast, I will try raw carrot first thanks

You need to increase the fibre in her diet to assist with the anal glands. I've been having big problems with my boy and his recently, the smell was constant though and I increased his fibre intake even more, made no difference.. He's just had them expressed by the vet who confirmed he also had an infection too.

Can I ask, what consistancy are her poo's?

Fairly hard

it is normal for the fishy smelling anal gland secretions to coat the faeces when pooing, they are scent glands, and solid poos means they empty.

A dog when nervous or startled/excited can also release the secretions from their glands.  So the occasional fishy breath after cleaning the area is of no great concern.

If too much secretion builds up the glands can become impacted and infected,a and  vets assistance needed.  The consistency and smell will be thicker/nastier.

Unfortunately some dogs glands don't empty properly for some reason and can cause problems, especially if they have loose motions for any period of time.

> You need to increase the fibre in her diet to assist with the anal glands

I have been searching the net for ways to increase fibre and most say canned pumpkin not sure we would have that here (England) or a bran that soaked in water!!!

Any ideas.... please note i raw feed my dog

Thanks

I know some people have been buying off Amazon, I have seen that they are selling tinned pumkin in Waitrose, however whether its just pure or not I don't know.

Pro-Texin Pro Fibre off one of the online pharmacy's is something i've tried and added. I've also tried rolled oats too.

> I have been searching the net for ways to increase fibre and most say canned pumpkin not sure we would have that here (England)

It's hard to get, but I am told the nearest equivalent is peeled, steamed, pureed Butternut Squash.
All canned food is cooked, so if you wanted to try a raw substitute then stick some raw butternut in the blender and grind til fine. (Don't over stress the blender's motor, though!). You could also put it through a juicer and feed the pulp.

I raw feed as well and at first I didn't include any raw veg, but at the suggestion of my sister (Billinghurst follower for over 12 years) I tried adding blitzed veg and to my surprise it has made a difference to my dog... almost no jelly poos now and lovely firm kickable nuggets from his back end. Also if he puts on an extra pound or two, it can be stepped up as a filler while reducing the meat content.
So it might be the missing link for yours, too :)

We feed her veg but thawed frozen veg! Will go to chopped raw veg and see if that works!

Marvellous thanks for all the advice! Our plan is to sit down and work out her diet to make sure she is getting enough of everything,

Thanks again

Thanks again all I think we have narrowed it down to milk? Is that possible?

Milk is a bit of a long shot, but some cows are being grazed on kale at the moment, so maybe the whiff comes through!      Our bitches smell of fish when they are ovulating!!

Jo

>>Our bitches smell of fish when they are ovulating!!<br />

One of mine does, it can be quite ripe :)

She has been spayed but it was a very similar smell when she was in season!!

So we have gone a few days no milk and no smell ??? It's so strange!! ( fingers crossed )

I have a bitch which 'empties' her glands herself every week or so.  If I'm lucky, she'll do it on her own bed and if not, she'll do it on the sofa!!lol.  All I know is she will have that fishy smell (at first I thought she was is in season) but will clean herself and her trousers quite thoroughly till the smell goes.
I don't mind her doing this as I'd be more worried if they were compacting and a bother to empty.  I figure her doing it herself must be quite natural?

~I've had two empty their's days apart.  the smell isn't pleasant especially at bed time.  For some reason it can linger.