My dog smells fishy and poops badly after stress. Is it normal?

That is normal. Think about a skunk. Whey they are scared they spray anal fluid which smells awful. Dogs are similar. When scared or injured they often involuntarily express the anal fluid, and sometimes poop also. When the anal sacs get over full and infected it becomes a problem. Dakota should get over this behavior as she becomes more relaxed and trusting. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dakota.

What you are smelling may be anal gland secretions. If one or both of the anal glands are very full they will sometimes "overflow" and then you have them exit the anus. This is a very bad sort of fishy smell. Next time you visit your vet for his vaccinations, you should have the vet examine them and empty them if necessary. If you think he has problems pooping or if he cries when pooping or if he scoots his behind on the floor, then they may be infected or impacted and need to be checked by your veterinarian.

Sometimes normal excretions from the anal glands can smell fishy and this could be what is making Cheese’s stool smell. If Cheese continues to urinate inappropriately I would recommend seeing a veterinarian to make sure she doesn’t have a urinary tract infection or other lower urinary tract disease.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Anal gland excretions do smell a bit fishy- that is normal. It can take a few hours for the smell to eventually dissipate, however, it you take a little mild baby shampoo or mild soap on a moist towel and rub his behind gently with it after expressions, this can greatly reduce the smell immediately afterwards. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!

Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (1:1 ratio of plain boiled boneless chicken and plain white rice). Feed in small, frequent amounts waiting at least one hour between feedings. If the vomiting stops, continue feeding until the stool is normal. Transition slowly to the regular diet. If the vomiting or diarrhea don’t stop, see your veterinarian. The fishy odor is likely from her anal glands. These glands are located around her rectum and are responsible for scenting and marking. They get expressed (or emptied) during defecation but sometimes, they can get too full and inflamed or infected. Occasionally, an abscess can form requiring lancing, flushing and antibiotic therapy.

Cats and dogs have scent glands on either side of the anus called anal glands. The material in the glands is very stinky and often described as smelling fishy. Most wild animals can empty these glands voluntarily for scent marking or in self-defense (like a skunk might do), but dogs and cats have largely lost their ability to empty these sacs voluntarily. They normally release these glands during defecation, but can also release with excitement or stress. So, if Ariel struggled or got excited when you moved her, she likely expressed her anal glands. It is not anything to be concerned about, but can certainly be stinky, so you may need to clean the area of the couch that she was licking to get rid fo the smell. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I bet you are smelling anal sac/gland fluid. They are scent glands dogs have just inside there rectum. They are supposed to express a small amount every time they defecate, but sometimes they will leak if they get startled, or bark forcefully. If this is an occasional problem it is normal. If she is scooting or licking her rear end or otherwise acting uncomfortable then she should be evaluated by your veterinarian to make sure she doesn’t have an infection. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.