Dogs are notoriously known for being stinky, and unfortunately, their discharge isn’t always pleasant smelling either. In fact, male dogs sometimes have a metallic smell to their discharge.
Don’t worry about it sometimes; even the healthiest of animals can experience a puzzling and concerning difficulty for their owners. If your male dog is producing a discharge that smells metallic, here are a few tips on how to deal with it.
While metallic smelling discharge from male dog may be alarming at first, there is no need to worry – it is usually a sign that everything is healthy and normal.
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The Anal Glands are to Blame
His anal glands most often cause the metallic odor coming from your dog’s posterior. This happens when your dog is leaking anal sac fluid or has an anal gland obstruction. Also, you may detect an odor emanating from his mouth because he is licking the liquid from his anus.
Anal glands or anal sacs are two tiny pouches located on either side of a dog’s anus. They frequently create odorous secretions, which dogs employ to identify one another and claim their areas.
A dog’s body is designed to naturally discharge the anal fluid during defecation. However, if the dog does not get treatment quickly, the anal glands can become enlarged and inflamed.
Some of the common signs that your dog’s anal glands are blocked include:
- Abnormal tail position
- Swelling
- Redness on the rear end
- Licking of the rectum
- Dragging or scooting the rear end
- Sudden jumping or crying out
- Painful bowel movements
- Evidence of fluid on an area the dog was sitting
Solutions to Anal Gland Problems
Your dog’s anal glands should be examined by a veterinarian when they become impacted, diseased or infected. Your pet will require professional help to clear up the problems in his rear end and prevent them from reoccurring.
If you notice that your dog’s rear end is scooting on the ground or licking at his anus frequently, check for swelling or fluid around his anus. If you see any other indications, such as foul odor, weight loss, and tiredness, take your pet to a veterinarian.
Do not squeeze these glands on your own if you do not have experience! You will only make matters worse if you try to remove the block yourself.
By examining his anal glands, your veterinarian can also examine his health, including taking a sample of the fluid to test for infections.
If your dog is producing a metallic smell in his anal sacs, it could indicate obstruction rather than a simple infection. Treatment involves removing the obstruction surgically. If he has the infection, this will also involve a thorough course of antibiotics to rid him of the infection.
In short, if your dog’s anal glands have fluid or are swollen, he should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
How do you know if your dog’s anal glands are full?
If your dog isn’t scooting his hind end on the ground or licking at it, you might never know that there is a problem with his anal glands.
However, if you notice him scooting on the ground excessively, he may just be trying to eliminate whatever is causing him pain in this area. You can also look for swelling around his anus. Both of these are signs that his anal glands are full and need attention.
If you notice him rubbing up against furniture or objects, he may have an inflamed anal gland, which is another sign of this condition requiring veterinary attention. You can also push on your dog’s rear end gently to see if there is any swelling in the area, which may indicate a problem.
In most cases, your dog’s anal glands should express themselves naturally when he defecates, or they will do so without any manual assistance from you. If you notice that they are swollen or feel hard to the touch, consult your veterinarian for an examination and treatment.
What dog breeds need their glands expressed?
Every dog has anal glands, though not every breed has them expressed. Anal glands can get blocked or impacted in almost all breeds of dogs. Some breeds are more prone to this than others; these include:
- Chihuahuas
- Miniature Pinschers
- Dachshunds
- Beagles
- Basset Hounds
- Cocker Spaniels
- Bulldogs
- Beagle
Any dog can have anal gland problems. For example, you may notice your dog scooting his bottom across the ground or licking excessively at his rear end.
The glands should be expressed once a month, but if they are emptied too frequently, you could stimulate them to go into overdrive and create more dirty sacs than average.
Please express them when you see them full and hard.
Your Dog Could Be Suffering From UTI
Your dog may have a metallic odor if he has a UTI. When germs enter the urethra, they cause UTIs, which can affect the dog’s urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys. It is caused by several factors, including a weakened immune system, tumors in the urinary tract or bladder, urinary stones, and malformed, missing, or narrow urethras.
A urinary tract infection is inflammation in any part of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra). A UTI causes the body to produce more urine than usual, leading to discomfort or pain in dogs. Dogs who have a UTI may experience:
- Frequent urination
- Painful urination
- Blood in the urine
And many more problems, including the metallic smell coming from the back end. If your dog is suffering from these symptoms, visit a vet or take him to an animal hospital immediately.
Besides pronounced odor (different from the normal urine scent), other symptoms of UTI in dogs include:
- frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- cloudy or bloody urine
- whimpering during urination
- peeing in the house
- genital licking
Solutions to UTI
UTI infections can spread to your dog’s kidney and cause more serious problems if you don’t pay attention. If you think your dog has a UTI, go to your local veterinarian. The doctor will order a urine test to figure out whether it is a UTI. Then, the illness will be treated with an antibiotic.