Blog: What is That Smell?

If you are a Pet Parent, you are probably no stranger to weird, and sometimes unpleasant, odors coming from your pet. Pets can find all sorts of things to get into and sometimes the sources of odors are surprising. There is not a day that goes by where we do not answer at least one question about why an area of a pet smells a certain way. Generally, the odors that elicit these questions are not pleasant and understandably, most people want these odors to go away. So today, we will touch base on some common locations of odors and their possible causes. For simplicity, we will divide the body into three main sections: Odors coming from the front end, Odors coming from the body, and Odors coming from the back end.

Odors that come from the front end are usually coming from the mouth, ears, nose or eyes. The common factor in all of these areas is infection. Bacteria and yeast (the cause of infection) smell bad and if there is infection, there is odor.

• In the mouth, bacteria collects along and under the gums and gets incorporated in the plaque and tartar that build up on the teeth. Odor can be expected when a pet is dealing with tartar, gingivitis, dental disease or rotting teeth.
• Healthy ears should be clean, dry, and free of hair. Discharge and odor coming from the ears is a sure sign of infection or irritation to the ear. Many times, infections can be secondary to allergic conditions that the pet is dealing with.
• The nose of dogs and cats can be dry, moist, slightly rough or smooth but a foul odor is always a sign of illness. Many times, a foul odor will accompany discharge that can be yellow, green, or even bloody. These are all sure signs of an abnormality and it is important to determine what the underlying cause is so that it can be treated properly.
• A pet that is experiencing changes in tear production, allergies, injury to the eye or any other cause of discharge or matting around the eye is at risk of secondary infection to the eye or the skin surrounding the eye. In particular, animals with skin folds around the eyes can also be at risk for infections within these skin folds.

Odors that come from the skin, and do not go away with a simple bath, are also commonly due to infections. The infections that occur on the body and feet of animals are typically secondary to an underlying allergy or other medical condition. In some instances, an animal may have gotten an injury (such as a bite from another animal or a wound) that gets infected and turns into an abscess. In addition to odor, you may notice redness, swelling, discharge or reddish-brown staining to the fur where the pet has been licking.

Odors that come from the back end of animals rival, and sometimes surpass, the odors that come from the front end. The sources of these odors often include the gut and frequently these are odors that can clear a room.

• While most dog owners (and the occasional cat owner) have witnessed their pet passed gas, and countless others have blamed their own emissions on their pets, passing gas is an indication that your pet is having digestive issues. A pet with a normal gut will almost never pass gas. If your pet is passing gas, this can be an indication of dietary disturbances, food allergies, parasites, or other causes of gastrointestinal upset.
• Often times, pets that are having gas also have diarrhea, which can be a considerable source of odor from a pet. Diarrhea is never normal and indicates the need to talk with your veterinarian.
• All dogs and cats are equipped with small glands located on either side of their anus called “Anal Glands”. Anyone that has caught a whiff of this potent fishy odor can attest to the foulness of the discharge that can leak out of the back end of an animal. Generally, this fluid is expelled during a bowel movement and serves to mark the feces with each animals own unique scent. Most animals are capable of emptying the glands without problems, but some animals are unable to get all of the discharge out and need assistance. The glands can also become impacted or infected causing them to swell and rupture.

Regardless of the area, if you are smelling a bad smell on your pet, it is most certainly an indication of an abnormality. With the exception of your pet rolling in something gross (which a quick bath should fix right up), a foul odor indicates infection or discomfort of some kind in your pet and warrants a call to your veterinarian.