Fishy smells? Poo breath? Here's how to de-code that pet odour...

by DR. CHRIS BROWN

Cats

Dogs

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You know you’re close when you know their smell. And the changes to it. In fact, their odour often gives you an early ‘heads-up’ on their health before things become an issue…  

So here’s how to become a pet odour connoisseur or a 'smell sommelier'!
And identify what that fish, metallic, fruity, poo…or roadkill smell really means. So strap your nostrils in. This is gonna get wild!  

Our pets sense of smell is their everything. At 100,000x stronger than ours, it’s how they view the world. So it makes sense that their own odours tell us a lot about their health.   

Did you know? Corn chip feet are considered normal and healthy. It's just their normal skin bacteria doing their thing...

So let’s decode the odour on…  

Fish Breath 🐟
Talk about attention grabbing. That pungent fishy smell comes from their anal glands that they’ve been licking when they become blocked or itchy.  

Why so fishy? The AG’s are scent glands full of an oily secretion that’s also a dog or cat’s signature fragrance. It’s meant to be pungent. But they’re also meant to empty on their normal bowel movements. If they’re licking at them, they’re full.  

The fix? Help them empty the glands naturally with my In-Betweeners Gland + Gut Health treats   

A Metallic Odour 🪩
I actually find this one the most nauseating. It usually means there’s blood somewhere; either from inflamed gums, skin folds or they’re licking at a cut on their body.  

Why so metallic? Blood is rich in iron and so gives a strong metallic odour; even in small amounts. Try to locate the source if you’re smelling this…  

The fix? Depends on where that smell is coming from. A metallic odour (and bleeding) normally means veterinary help…   

A Fruity Smell 🍇
This is easy. Go straight to their ears for a whiff. It’s the tell-tale odour of an early ear infection.   

Why so fruity? It’s no coincidence that fermenting fruit and smelly ears have a lot in common. That’s because yeast (and bacteria) are multiplying in both. In ears, they’re feeding on that dark ear gunk and the moisture from a bath, swim or getting caught in the rain…  

The fix? A twice weekly flush with my Ear De-Gunker gets those ears clean and dry; heaven for their hairy ones!  

A poo smell 💩
Hmm. The one that’s delivered up close with hot breath. This is a big sign of tartar build-up and dental disease.   

Why the poo smell? Ok too much information. But the bacteria in that tartar are anaerobes. The same type of bacteria found in their stools. It’s a sign their mouth bacteria are running rampant in their mouth.  

The fix? The 4 active ingredients in my Teeth + Breath treats neutralise mouth bacteria and can actually reduce tartar over time…   

The roadkill 💀
Ok. I’ve saved the worst till last. No-one can stand this ‘death breath’ for long. It’s screaming infection. Either in the gums with severe dental disease. Or they’re been licking infected skin folds or hot spots.   

Why the death-breath? It makes sense. You’re smelling rotting tissue. And the bacteria that are breaking it down.   

The fix? It depends on the source. For gum infections, a visit to the vet and Teeth + Breath treats are your best bet. For skin related issues, a clean up and application of Super Useful Skin Cream will repel that water and moisture build-up.  

There's no doubt those odours can hit all the high notes. But when that nose knows, you can at least get ahead of any health challenges...

Written and researched by veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown BVSc (Hons)

References:
1. Croft, J et al. Effectiveness of oral care interventions on malodour in dogs. BMC Veterinary Research, 2022.
2. Van Den Velde S, Van Steenberghe S, Van Hee DP, Quirynen M. Detection of odorous compounds in breath. J Dent Res. 2009;88(3):285–9.
3. Corbee RJ, Woldring HH, van den Eijnde LM et al. A cross‐sectional study on canine and feline anal sac disease. Animals. 2022;12:95.
4. Ehrenzweig J. Novel fiber‐rich supplement effective for prevention and treatment of acute, episodic and chronic anal gland disease in dogs and cats. Int J Vet Anim Med. 2018;1:104.