Six reasons your dog might smell bad: bad breath, urinary tract infections, ear infections, stress, skin problems, and anal sac disease. Learn what each one means and how to help.
Have you noticed that your dog smells really bad? In this video by an animal expert, we explain the six reasons why dog can produce bad odor. 1. Halitosis Bad breath in dogs can be caused by various problems or diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or periodontal diseases. It is worth noting that the main causes of bad breath in dogs are tartar and periodontal disease, which consists of the calcification of bacterial plaque on tooth enamel due to the deposit of minerals from saliva. This tartar can accumulate and cause inflammation or gingivitis. The way to treat halitosis is by controlling the disease that is causing it as well as treating the periodontal disease by having the teeth cleaned under general anesthesia. The key is prevention through check ups at the veterinary center, brushing the teeth and using dental treats. Discover how to get rid of bad breath in dogs in the video that we have included in the card. 2. Urinary tract infection When a dog's urine smells stronger than usual, it may be due to a urinary tract infection. Symptoms include painful urination, increased consumption of water with a fishy, irritating odor, frequent urination in small quantities and fever. In this case, the the urinary tract infection that is causing it must be treated. To do this, a urine sample must be obtained from the dog cultured and an antibiogram performed to determine which antibiotic is best for the disease. 3. Otitis this disorder occurs relatively frequently, especially in dogs with long drooping ears such as the Cocker Spaniel breed, and consists of inflammation or infection of the external auditory canal. Symptoms include bad odor due to secretions, itching and scratching of the ear, head shaking, pain or hair loss in the area. To treat bad odor in dogs with otitis, the infectious process of the external auditory canal must be controlled by using topical treatment. An ear cleaning will also be necessary. 4. Stress or fear Dogs can release an unpleasant odor such as a fishy smell from their anal glands, which are scent glands that, in addition to serving as information between dogs when they greet each other or that release their contents during defecation. These dark, smelly and oily contents are released when the dog is experiencing a stressful situation or is very afraid. You should avoid situations that stress them or reduce your dog's stress through play, attention, petting and distractions. In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to take your dog to an ethologist to consider drug therapy. Above is a video in which we explain 10 signs of stress in dogs and how to help them. 5. Skin problems Skin problems, especially bacterial or fungal infections can cause odorous compounds to be released that release fishy smelling compounds making dogs smell like this in addition to causing problems such as dandruff, itching and changes in behavior, the skin problem in question must be treated specifically applying topical treatments such as the use of ointments and treatment shampoos with anti inflammatory, antifungal or antibiotic principles, combined or not with systemic oral therapy. 6 Anal sac disease if your dog has full anal glands due to not eliminating the secretion properly during defecation or due to any problem that causes it to accumulate, it may smell bad. You can suspect it if your dog drags the hind third of its body against the ground due to this irritation. It may also lick the anal area constantly and even cry. Sometimes you may notice a lump or swelling in the area. You should go to the veterinary center if your dog has discomfort in the anal area and it smells bad as it may need veterinary assistance either by cleaning and extracting the secretion or through more complex surgical techniques in addition to the use of anti inflammatories or drugs to control the pain. If you want to continue learning about health problems in dogs and how to treat them, don't miss the playlist that we have left for you here on the side. Tell us now you know why your dog smells bad. Until next time, experts.
