My puppy's rear smells fishy and has fluid. Should I be worried?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Golden Labrador | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 17 days old | 8 lbs
My puppy’s butthole is very smelly and I can smell it from a distance. It also seems to have a fluid coming out. Its clear, but also a mucus color like whiteish. Should I be concerned?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 14th, 2018
What you are smelling may be anal gland secretions. If one or both of the anal glands are very full they will sometimes "overflow" and then you have them exit the anus. This is a very bad sort of fishy smell. Next time you visit your vet for his vaccinations, you should have the vet examine them and empty them if necessary. If you think he has problems pooping or if he cries when pooping or if he scoots his behind on the floor, then they may be infected or impacted and need to be checked by your veterinarian.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 28th, 2020
That could be recently expressed or impacted anal glands. The odor is comparable to a bad fish smell. Most dogs express some of the material each time they defecate, but some do not and that can cause problems. Your dog is a bit young for impacted glands but many poodles do have problems with their anal glands. If he is scooting, has a reddened swollen area around his anus, then they are probably impacted or inflamed. Your vet can show you how to express them at home yourself, and most groomers do it as part of the bath before the haircut. Impacted anal glands can be quite painful and if they stay swollen without getting expressed they can rupture and become infected.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on January 8th, 2019
This could be normal for his anal glands discharge. In puppies they don't alway smell as bad as in adult dogs. If the clear liquid continues to leak, I would have your vet take a look at him. I would also keep an eye on his bowel movements to make sure he isn't having any loose stool or diarrhea. I hope this helps!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on October 17th, 2018
You are probably smelling his anal sacs. They are like scent glands in a skunk. They are on eithe side of the anus and the fluid smells awful, like rotten fish. If you’re smelling this then you should bring him in to have the fluid expressed. Sometime dogs get infection in the anal sacs which can be very painful and hard to heal. Most dogs empty the fluid when they defecate or express it when scared, again like a skunk. If the opening gets clogged the fluid can build up causing itching and sometimes infection. They will do a rectal palpation to empty the fluid and that will show whether there is infection present. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rocky.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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