Why does my dog breath smell like fish? Simple tips to fix it!
Okay, so the other day I was cuddling with my dog, Buster, giving him all the love, when I got a whiff of something...off. It wasn't his usual doggy breath. This was straight-up fishy, like he'd been sneaking bites of my tuna sandwich. I was like, "Whoa, Buster, what have you been eating?"
My Investigation Begins!
First, I checked his food bowl. Nope, nothing new there. Same old kibble he's been eating for months. Then I did a quick scan of the house, looking for any stray fish sources. Did a can of sardines magically open itself? Did we have a sudden salmon infestation? Nothing.
Next step, I checked Buster's mouth. Now, I'm no vet, but I wanted to see if anything obvious was going on. I gently pried open his jaws (he wasn't thrilled, but he tolerated it). I looked for any stuck food, redness, or anything that looked weird. Everything seemed...normal, I guess? His teeth weren't sparkling white, but they weren't horrifying either.
Google to the Rescue(maybe)
So, since I'm not a doggy dentist, I turned to the internet. I typed in "why does my dog's breath smell like fish?" and, oh boy, did I get a lot of results. Some said it was normal, some said it was a sign of serious problems.
- Some articles talked about anal glands. Apparently, dogs have these glands that can sometimes leak a fishy-smelling liquid. And if they're licking their behinds...well, you get the picture.
- Others mentioned dental disease. Like, if there's a buildup of tartar and bacteria, it can cause all sorts of nasty smells, including fishy ones.
- A few suggested it could be a sign of kidney problems. I got a little worried about that one.
My Action Plan
After my somewhat terrifying internet deep dive, I decided on a plan.
- First, I scheduled a vet appointment. Figured it was best to get a professional opinion.
- In the meantime, I bought some dental chews for Buster. He loves those things, and hopefully, they'd help a little.
- I also made a mental note to brush his teeth more often. I'm guilty of slacking on that, I admit.
Will keep you guys updated on what the vet says, stay tuned!
