Why does my dogs breath smell fishy? Get answers about whats causing that strange smell.

Okay, let's talk about something a bit gross but necessary – that fishy smell coming from my dog's mouth. It hit me a few weeks back. One minute, we're playing fetch, the next, I get a whiff of something distinctly... well, fishy. Not like tuna breath, more like old, bad fish.

First thing I did, naturally, was try to get a look inside his mouth. Not easy, he's a wiggler. But I managed to lift his lips a bit. His teeth didn't look that bad, maybe a little bit of buildup, but nothing crazy obvious screaming 'infection'. Gums looked pink, not red or swollen. So, I kinda ruled out a major dental disaster right away, at least I thought so.

Then my mind went to his food. Had we changed anything? Nope, same kibble he's been eating for ages. Treats? Same old boring biscuits. I even sniffed the food bag, just in case it had gone bad somehow. Smelled fine, just like dog food.

Trying to Figure It Out At Home

I spent a couple of days just observing him more closely. Was he drinking more water? Acting weird? Nope, same goofy dog as always. Eating fine, playing fine, just... stinky breath.

Someone online mentioned it could be related to their anal glands. Yeah, I know, gross. Apparently, if they get impacted or need expressing, it can sometimes cause a fishy smell that you might notice when they pant or lick themselves. Honestly, I wasn't keen on investigating that end myself. Seemed like a job for a professional.

• Checked teeth and gums again - looked okay-ish.
• Verified no changes in diet.
• Observed behavior - totally normal.
• Considered the anal gland thing - decided nope, not touching that.

Off to the Vet

After it didn't clear up on its own in maybe three or four days, I decided enough was enough. Called the vet and made an appointment. I explained the fishy breath situation over the phone.

At the clinic, the vet did a thorough check. She looked at his teeth way better than I could, poked around his gums, felt his belly, listened to his heart. Then she said, "Okay, let's check his anal glands." Bingo. Turns out, they were full and needed expressing.

She explained that sometimes, dogs don't express them naturally when they poop, and they get full, leading to discomfort and sometimes that weird fishy smell. The smell can travel, or they lick the area, and boom, fishy breath.

The Solution Was... Unpleasant, But Simple

So, the vet tech took him to the back for the, uh, procedure. Came back a few minutes later, dog looking slightly bewildered, but the tech confirmed they were definitely full. The vet suggested adding a bit more fiber to his diet sometimes, like a spoonful of plain pumpkin puree, to help things move along naturally.

And honestly? Within a day, the fishy smell was completely gone. Just vanished. It was definitely the anal glands. So, if your dog suddenly smells like a fish market, don't just assume it's their teeth (though definitely check those too!). Sometimes the problem is... further south. Lesson learned over here.