Honey, my 8 mo Great Dane pup, emits the most awful fishy smell sometimes. Does anyone know why this is? It's usually in the evenings when we're watching TV and she is sleeping on the beanbag...suddenly, we can smell this AWFUL fishy stench which just fills the room...it's like a fish market! I'm not sure where it's from but I've smelt her coat and also her mouth and I think it's coming from her rear end, although we never "hear" anything! Could it be some kind of stomach gas? Does anyone know what causes it? I'm wracking my brains to think if it happens after we give her anything special to eat but I can't think! She doesn't get many treats - just her complete dried food, and some dog biscuits and sometimes some fruit and veggies in her Kong. We never had any trouble before, then recently, we've started giving her big, raw marrow bones as well (as a treat once a week)...could they be the reason?

Thanks -
Hsin-Yi

Classic anal gland stench! From the sound of it she is not emptying these glands (found at "4 o'clock and 8 o'clock" to her anus) properly when she poos, and they are getting overfull and leaking. Not serious unless they become impacted, so get your vet to show you how to empty them.
:)

Thanks so much, Jeangenie! I hadn't thought of the anal glands...you're right! That's why it seems to come from the direction of her rear end but we never hear her fart or anything. I thought glands only act up when you see them scoot their bottoms on the floor, so I hadn't thought of it. Now that you mention it, she does lick her anus area a lot.

Will get it sorted - thanks!! :)

Hsin-Yi

Is her poo usually quite soft? Marrow bones are great for "recreation" but if you could give her some smaller ones (raw only....something like ribs, necks, oxtails etc)  where she eats the whole bone it would help firm the poo which helps the anal glands express themselves naturally at toilet time. :)

Kath.

my neighbours dog gets this smell too,empty the anal glands and that sorts it,usually his dog needs doing every 3 or 4 months.

Actually, her poos are pretty firm - so it's strange! They were pretty soft and sloppy when she was a young puppy but now, they are quite good - firm, solid lumps which are quite easy to scoop up. I haven't noticed any difference in the poos since starting to feed her bones, other than a slight whitish tinge on some. Funnily enough, she does "eat" most of the huge marrow bones I give her (maybe 'coz she's a Dane and so can get through bigger bones?) - they are usually the size/length of my forearm but by the time she has finished with them, they are usually the length of a hand only, with all the "knuckles" missing and pretty chewed up.

Thanks for the suggestion, though! :)
Hsin-Yi

My Lab has suffered from impacted anal glands frequently, one sign he displayed was constantly scratching himself with his back legs, vet explained that it was because when impacted they itch like the devil, basically an itch they cant scratch.
After they are emptied the poor old lad emptied his bowels and I have never smelled anything like it in my life, always left it to the vet never attmpted to do it myself.

Eeeuugh - this sounds so gross! I was going to attempt them myself but now, I think I will make an appointment with the vet!! :) Also, I guess it's good for him to make sure that they aren't impacted. Honey does scratch herself with her back legs (only occasionally) but I always thought it was because her neck or her ears are itchy - but maybe it's something more sinister?

Thanks again -
Hsin-Yi

Don't worry - they scratch themselves with their back legs because that's the easiest way to reach!

The vet is the best one to teach you to empty anal glands (they don't like doing it themselves, so it's great if you can do it instead!). Wearing rubber gloves, and standing out of the way, you raise the tail as high as you can with your left hand (I'm assuming you're right-handed), which will extend the rectum. With your other hand holding a piece of cotton wool/loo paper over the anal area, with your third hand you squeeze from below-and-to-the-sides of the anus towards the middle ...

:D :D :D

It's not difficult but do not attempt it in the kitchen until you have the hang of controlling the result of your efforts.

I would find it impossible because I do not have a third hand :D :D :D

Use a BIG tissue!! ;)

And big wellies :D :D :D

and a gas mask. :D