Something's fishy...
Hey, I'm Hannah!
I have a Bull Terrier named Darla. She is overall heathy and she is a year and 5 months.
I'm very new to this breed, I usually have Goldens. So this is why I'm joining this website to keep up with her and what to do if something comes up, as for that...there is something I've noticed about her. Her (sometimes) fishy smell. I googled it, of course, and she doesn't rub herself on the carpet and her stools are normal. We tried to relieve her glands but no luck...they didn't seem swollen...I want to avoid the vet if I can. But being a pregnant woman I CAN NOT stand the smell. It's only every once an awhile...but when it's there it's FOUL. Could it be something else? Such as food? Does this happen often with these dogs or all dogs? Any advise as to get rid of the fishy smell?! Please help...lol
I have a Bull Terrier named Darla. She is overall heathy and she is a year and 5 months.
I'm very new to this breed, I usually have Goldens. So this is why I'm joining this website to keep up with her and what to do if something comes up, as for that...there is something I've noticed about her. Her (sometimes) fishy smell. I googled it, of course, and she doesn't rub herself on the carpet and her stools are normal. We tried to relieve her glands but no luck...they didn't seem swollen...I want to avoid the vet if I can. But being a pregnant woman I CAN NOT stand the smell. It's only every once an awhile...but when it's there it's FOUL. Could it be something else? Such as food? Does this happen often with these dogs or all dogs? Any advise as to get rid of the fishy smell?! Please help...lol
Comments
As for the fish smell she could have a bladder infection etc and that might require a trip to the vet
Why do you want to avoid the vet ?
Regarding swollen anal sack.
It is most prevalent in females, often worsened by a no-so-good spaying (well what's a good spaying?)...
If the swelling is really bad then you can have it expressed manually... but if only medium it's hard to get "the rest". The worse the swelling the worse the smell and I am not sure it's just "more" or "badder". Best solution is to add ruffage to diet. We add a good, really good shake of Oregano to each meal. If the stools are "hard" that causes the "fish" oil to be discharged with each poop... slowing build up... if too soft it builds up.
To me the fishy smell still points to the anal glands not evacuating sufficiently. The dog does not necessarily feel discomfort. That usually happens when the glands become infected, because of the bacteria boiling and infection developing in the overly filled glands.
To avoid this the fact glands need to be emptied manually. Otherwise things can develop into a situation that does not resolve on its own and causes your dog a lot of pain.
Usually the discharge from the anal glands is almost clear and does not smell a lot.
When collecting in the glands and not being evacuated in time bacteria start their work and when the secretion eventually evacuates, it has a brown color and leaves that nasty striking rotten and fishy smell - not normal.
If you don’t really know how to empty your dog’s glands, I am afraid there is no other way than seeing a vet. Because this may not resolve on its own. The vet can teach you how to do it yourself in the future, in case your dog is prone to problems with the glands.
If your dog’s anal glands do not evacuate on their own, that could either be a general problem. Some dogs just have that.
But the additional fact that your dog also seems to fart a lot to me points to problems in the nutrition. Farting is not unusual in dogs, as it is not in humans. But when happening on a frequent basis that points to problems.
There could be a general problem with the food. Maybe it makes the stools too soft, maybe it upsets the stomach or builds too much gas during digestion.
Whatever it is, you should try and look into it, because your dog may seem finde, but with being bloated all the time and having his anal glands not emptied he can’t feel fine in the long run.
Which food do you feed him? Does he get a supplement? Does he get probiotics?
How often does he do his number 2’s a day? Does he have soft stools or hard ones? What’s the color?
These are probably questions, a vet will ask either, because that tells a lot about your dog’s digestion.
I switched her to a diet I have had good luck with and a probiotic and it cleared up fast
I use a good kibble base currently (Fromme) and a mixture of cottage cheese , beef or chicken , rice ,, egg and a Gelatin from Great Lakes
Their coats are like silk and their stool is firm
I don't give all the time
She's getting all fixed up. No yeast infection, just swollen glands.