Certain dog owners can notice a strong metallic smell coming from their pets. Some claim that the smell is like iron while others give a more generic metallic odor explanation. One way or another, you need to know why this happens and what you should do about it. Dog smells like metal are not normal and there are a few things you need to know.
Reasons That Cause His Breath Smell Like Metal
The first thing here is to know that these reasons are present only when you can smell the metallic odor from his mouth. The dog smells like metal. The issue here is not harmless and this doesn’t mean that there are no problems! As a matter of fact, some of the causes can be very bad so you should do the obvious.
-
Dental Issues
This is a common problem and as you can assume it will affect the mouth of your dog. It happens due to gingivitis or periodontal disease and usually, it starts with a fishy smell. However, if the issue is severe and your dog has gums that are bleeding, you will notice a metallic, copper-like smell. Dental work will solve the issue.
-
Internal Bleeding
In general, bleeding can cause a metallic odor. In this particular case, we can see that the internal bleeding will be present in the respiratory or digestive system. As such, it will reach the mouth and you can sense the metallic odor. As you can assume, this can be a huge problem and you need to take him to a vet as soon as possible. Don’t forget that you will notice the smell when the bleeding is fresh.
-
Kidney Failure
Sadly, the metallic odor can be present due to kidney disease. It means that the kidneys of your pet are failing and they are unable to filter the waste and toxins in the blood. These will build up in the blood and they can cause a metallic smell coming from the mouth of your dog. Yes, you still need to take him to a vet and you need to do it right now!
The Most Common Cause Of Metallic Smell In Dogs: Anal Glands
All of the above are common reasons that can happen to any dog. But those are not the most common of them all. Anal glands are the most common cause of them all. When these are impacted, they will cause an iron-like odor coming from your dog.
Anal glands are located in the anus and there are two of them (one on each side). The glands are small and basically sacs that contain oil or sebaceous and also sweet glands which are even smaller. When these two mix, we can notice a strong odor. The sweet cells inside will produce an odor that is a mixture between rotten fish and iron.
You may wonder what is the purpose of these glands? Dogs use these to mark their territory. Every dog has a unique smell that is similar to a fingerprint of a human. Dogs have been using these glands to mark their territory and communicate with other dogs for a long period of time. They still do this every single time they can.
The metallic smell will happen when the sacs inside are impacted. These sacs should release the mixture every single time when your pet has a bowel movement. But, if this doesn’t happen the mixture will remain in the sacs. Impacted anal glands can cause the same problem. In both cases, we can notice a strong iron-like odor.
The issue is painful to a dog and there is no easy fix. The glands will get bigger and bigger over time and eventually they can rupture which is more than just painful. This will happen unless you take him to a vet and treat the condition.
In most situations, you cannot tell with certainty why this issue happens and there is no 100% effective method to prevent it. But, we do know that there are a few causes of the problem. Here are the most common.
- Diarrhea
- Obesity
- Allergies in the food
- Physical abnormalities
- Senior dogs who don’t move much
- Anal gland obstruction
- Certain skin mites (Sarcoptes or Demodex)
- Skin conditions that yeast infections can cause
Certain breeds (usually smaller ones) tend to have a higher risk of developing anal gland issues. The best examples are chihuahuas and poodles. This means that you need to take extra care when they are in question.
What You Should Do
The only thing you can do is to take your pet to a vet as soon as possible. Of course, this means that he will already develop a metallic odor and you need to take him for control so a vet can determine the cause and start treatment. There is no way you can prevent all these conditions or diseases.
In the case of anal glands, we can see only two things owners can do to help their dogs. The first one is to provide your pet a balanced and healthy diet. Obesity and improper diet can affect anal glands quickly and we all know what this means. The second thing to do is to make sure your pet is not obese. All dogs have a weight range that is mandatory to follow. If your pet is too skinny or obese, you need to react! When a dog has proper weight, he feels the best and the risk of certain issues is much lower. Sadly, there are no a lot of things you can do to prevent anal gland issues.
The Final Word
Now you know why my dog smells like metal. The main thing to keep in mind is that this can happen at any given moment and you will have to take him to a vet. Even if the metallic odor comes from his mouth you need to do the same thing. Some of these issues are easy to treat and won’t cause a huge problem. Others are more than just severe and require professional help right now.