Login|Contact Us
Question and Answer

Dog

Ask a Dog Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

  • Ask A Question
  • Browse Answers
  • Meet The Experts
  • How JustAnswer Works

My Female spayed dog has a bad smell stemming from her rear.

 
Dr. Bruce's Avatar
  • Answered by:Dr. Bruce
  • Veterinarian
  • Positive Feedback: 99.0 %
  • Accepted Answers: 2071
Verified Expert
in Dog

Recent Feedback

Positive
Great
Positive
thank you!
Positive
Thank you so much. Its nice to know someone out there can tell me what to do.I...
Positive
Ok, thanks for your help. I appreciate you taking the time. Take care.
Positive
Dr. Bruce was generous with his time and I really appreciated that he did not...
Positive
Dr. Bruce was extremely responsive, understanding and most of all knowledgeable....
Positive
Thanks, a lot
Positive
Thank you so much Dr. Bruce for your compassion and good advice :)
Positive
responsive & reassuring
Positive
Sounds like good advice . I know its hard to give medical advice went you can't...

Customer Question

My Female spayed dog has a bad smell stemming from her rear. Anal glands were checked and fine. What could be the problem?

 

Optional Information:
Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 1

Submitted: 984 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $18
Status: CLOSED
Picture
Expert:  Dr. Bruce replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

Hi,

 

Welcome to Just Answer. How long ago were her anal glands checked? Is she licking back there more? Any discharge from her vulva?

Customer replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

Her anal glands were checked roughly 4 months ago and we noticed the smell before and after that. it gets very bad at times and seems to be worse if she cleans herself. she was just now asleep on the couch beside me for roughtly 2 hours and the smell was strong and present throughout. We haven't noticed any discharge at all or ever.

Picture
Expert:  Dr. Bruce replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

A lot of times, the bad smell from back there is due to the anal glands (even despite checking them 4 months ago). Some dogs will randomly express their anal glands on their own, they don't have any infection / trauam / blockage. The anal gland material is extremely foul smelling! IF it is expressed on its own, a lot of times they will then groom themselves / lick that area. She may be expressing them a little by licking them.

 

If there is no discharge or areas of redness back there, then the anal glands are most suspicious.

Customer replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

So what can we do? It is a STRONG fishy smell and can linger for sometime. She is a 100% indoor dog. It is plausible that it is from her vagina? I hate to be crude, but that is what we thought.

Picture
Expert:  Dr. Bruce replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

Strong, fishy smell - that screams anal gland issues. It could be from the perivaginal area, but usually there is redness and some wetness around that area. The best thing to do for anal gland issues like this is to have them expressed monthly (maybe a little more or less depending on a case by case basis). At this point, some owners will learn how to express them on their own. Your vet can show you how.

Customer replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

Can you make suggestions as to self expressing them at home? She is a pit bull and weighs about 50 pounds if that is relevant.

Accepted Answer

Picture
Expert:  Dr. Bruce replied 984 days and 19 hours ago.

Anal gland expressions don't take any great skill to do! They just can be a bit gross and very smelly.

 

Here is a very good link talking about them and showing a diagram how to do it.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=625

 

 

Honestly, there are a dozen or so you-tube videos showing how to do it. Please search it on there and watch a couple to see what it entails.

Expert TypeVeterinarian
Category: Dog
Pos. Feedback: 99.0 %
Accepts: 2071
Answered: 7/25/2010

Experience: 12 years of experience as a small animal veterinarian

Ask this Expert a Question >
 
Tweet

9 Dog Specialists are Online Right Now

Ask Your Question Now
Dog Questions Date Submitted
I have a friend who has two dogs. Both boys, named Jasper and 3/28/2013
Hello, our ten year old dog, Norm, sometimes has problems getting 3/28/2013
My dog has been coughing for 5 days. It started after a walk 3/28/2013
I am looking for a highly recommended vet in Stamford ct. We 3/28/2013
Was recently given a dog and a few days after we got her, she 3/28/2013
What is the proper dose of Prevacid for a 90 pound 3 year old 3/28/2013
Its scott about the dog that just had pups. Do you think this 3/28/2013
My 4 year old dog had a litter of 9 pups on Sunday and all 3/28/2013
RA-rbm 3/28/2013
I have an 80# XXXXX w/ arthritis - trying to get him off the 3/27/2013
RSS
Next 10 >
Ask A Dog Specialist
Type Your Dog Question Here...
characters left:

Top Dog Experts

See More Dog Specialists

In The News

Nbc
Washington Post
New York Times
Cnn
Learn More

How It Works

  • Ask an Expert
  • Get a Professional Answer
  • Ask Followup Questions
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Learn More
close
Find Expert answers related to your question.
Sign up using email
We will never post anything without your permission.
Already have an account? Sign in

Ask a Dog Specialist

Get a Professional Answer. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
252 Dog Specialists are Online Now
Type Your Dog Question Here...
characters left:
Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Truste
Contact Us | Terms of Service | Privacy & Security | About Us
© 2003-2013 JustAnswer LLC