My female dog smells fishy and licks her vulva. What's the cause?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Old English Sheepdog | Female | unspayed | 2 years old | 50.7 lbs
Metallic fishy smell from bitch no swelling, anal glands feel fine, no skooting but she is trying to lick a lot happy and settled, it's just the smell everyday
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 16th, 2017
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Even though Blossom's anal glands are empty she could be leaking anal gland material and that is what you are smelling or they could be infected. Having your Vet express them and see what the material is like may be helpful. The other possibility is a UTI, but they usually have increased urgency to urinate. She could also have an infection around the skin of her vulva. I would bring her and a urine sample to your vet to have those areas checked out. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on February 3rd, 2019
Hello. It certainly can be her anal glands again, but she may also have a secondary bacterial or yeast infection around her vulva. To some degree, this may be allergy related, so have your vet take a look, empty her glands ( or check to see if this is necessary ), & perhaps suggest either a medicated wipe for the vulvar area or even try her on an allergy medication. This should make her much more comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
My female dog is spayed but sometimes her private parts smell like fish why is it so ??
Roxie has been licking her bottom parts for a very long while now. She can be lying down and all of a sudden she’ll pop up and start licking. She’s been doing this for a few months now. At first I thought it was her anal glands because she would secr
My 7 year old female, spayed Labrador has started leaving several very small, just bigger than pea-sized yellow dots on the carpet. I'm unsure whether it's vaginal or anal discharge. There's no obvious changes in behaviour or obsessive licking etc, b
My dog won’t stop licking herself! Every time she licks “down there” there’s a horrible odor, but it only occurs when she licks. Not sure if it is a UTI but she has been peeing in the house randomly and straining to urinate.
Stella has been licking her female area insesivly and leaking clear fluid when she walks and or lays down.
My puppy smells aweful. Its not a corn chip or yeasty smell its much stronger. She is being treated for a UTI and has had some food allergies in which her food was changed. No bath can help it, shes musky x10. What could be causing this?
My older dog is peeing herself and it smells fishy
Adult spayed female dog bites and licks her vulva frantically for about a half hour, at just about the same time of day, almost every day. Vet has found no problem, but has primarily been looking at anal gland issues.
11-week old boxer female puppy woke up tonight frantically licking her vulva. The area does not appear swollen or imflamed. She has had normal bowel and bladder function since waking. She is crying and running to escape pain? irritation?
Symptoms: fishy smelling, urinary incontinence (leaking and accidents in the house), licking crotch and anus excessively, recently was treated for a uti. Did a urinalysis a few days ago and crystals are gone, but I did not do a culture. Which is mor
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
