Dog Forum

It's Colin's arse!!!

I've been putting Grizzly Salmon Oil in my dog's food for about a fortnight now, and the other day, my husband and I caught a wiff of an awful fishy odour.
Colin also smelt it and went mad, licking his bum for ages afterwards (clearly enjoying doing so).

It's almost completely cleared up Luci's dandruff, and she hasn't had this side affect.

Should I stop giving it to Colin?

Poor Colin!!

Perhaps Colin isn't digesting it as well as your other dog. It would be a shame not to give it to him when you take into account the health benefits.

How much are you giving him?

Maybe stop giving it to him for about a week and slowly re-introduce it back into his diet. I'd start with no more than half a teaspoon of salmon oil every other day for a week. Then half a teaspoon every day for a week and wait to see if there any recurring smells!! If all is well continue.

I've been giving my dog the fish4dogs salmon oil for a few months now and I've seen a definate improvement in his coat condition.

Have you checked Colin's anal glands?

They generally have a distinct fishy smell and can cause the dogs to lick at they bottoms.

I agree with teh above post. Using fish body oil should not result in ANY odour.

Sounds like the dog may need to have his anal glands emptied or that he has evacuated them himself.

It does have a distinctly fishy odour...................

Just had my dog to vets with the fishy smell - her anal glands were blocked. Since the vet emptied them, she has stopped chewing her back end & smells pleasant again!

Yuk! I've got that to look forward to then

I have to say I've never smelt anything as bad as anal gland smell.

I smelt fermenting grass in an intestinal tract - that was bad - anal glands is the only thing that makes me retch!lol

I had to take my male cat to the vets to have his anal glands emptied once. I couldn't smell anything, maybe I've got a really bad sense of smell!!

The worst smell I remember experiencing at work was when the vet had to put an old dog to sleep that was riddled with cancer. After the injection took efect the dog's nose and anus just continued to bleed

I had the job of stemming the flow and trying to make the dog look more presentable for the anguished owners. The smell was unbelievable!! I have never smelt anything that bad since!!

Are you a vet nurse of something Gypsy?

Yes a vet nurse

cool - that's field I'm trying to tap in to - rather the the dead end jobs!

Vet nursing is very difficult to get into. After leaving school I did lots of work experience and sent letters to any vet within a 200 radius! I had no luck so went to uni to study English but when I finished I still really wanted to work with animals and I'm fascinated by anatomy!


Then I was offered a 2 week placement by a vet I know, to cover a trainee vet nurse who was on sick leave. Lucky for me she didn't return so I literally begged the head vet for her position and got it! So, at nearly 22 I started training for my VN qualification.

Its a great job, very rewarding, very upsetting at times!! I now work in a mixed animal practice so its a lot more varied and interesting. I really enjoy the equine work. However, the biggest downside to the job is the pay, even when your qualified! I do take Oscar to work though which is great and a vet I work with takes his rescue whippet!

I have been off work for 3 weeks, acrued a lot of holidays! So once I'm back I'm not going to have much time for the forum!!

Aware of the ins and out of the job - did several months volunteering at a local vet.

Problem I have is starting out later in life, trying to juggle the house, car, dogs etc with college is a no go at the minute!

I'll get there eventually if it's meant to be!

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply to me, you've been a great help

From your posts, I've gathered it's his anal glands and not the salmon oil (I only give him one stroke of the pump every day).
However, I haven't smelt it since, just the once. Somebody mentioned he could have emptied his glands himself? Is this possible? Is it just backed-up poo?

Sorry to sound so clueless, anal glands are something I've asked about a lot and nobody seems to know anything about!

Hi - anal glands are what the dogs use every time they have a poo; it's a sort of territory marking thing for other dogs to sniff. Occasionally the glands become blocked and the dog will usually "scoot" on the floor. Mine has just been to the vet's and i was told that a flea bite can cause the anal glands to block. That was a surprise. Hope this helps abit?

Ugh! Salmon oil shouldn't smell after it's been through his digestive system. Sounds like his anal glands have evacuated themselves. Maybe you should take him to a vet, get him checked out...

Sorry, Ive been reading this post with interest. I have 2BCs, both male. My youngest is 1 and the other is 9. The younger one has never had his anal glands touched, and as far as im aware, neither has the older one. How often do hey need to be emptied, and what are the symptoms?

normally the anal glands take care of themselves and don't need to be emptied, but occasionally something goes wrong and they get blocked and a vet usually has to empty them, although I believe they will then show you how to empty them yourself - if you can stomach it!!
Symptoms seem to be "scooting" and biting their back end.oh, and the fishy smell that dogs sometimes produce from their rear end
Hope this helps?