Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling fearful, your dog becomes more attentive and clingy?
Have you also noticed that your dog may behave differently around people who like dogs versus people who are afraid of dogs?
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, but can they smell fear? And if so, how?
Have you ever noticed your furry friend suddenly smelling like rotten fish during a thunderstorm or vet visit? You’re not imagining things – and you’re definitely not alone! As a dog owner for over 10 years, I’ve experienced this unfortunate phenomenon more times than I care to admit. My dog Claude once emptied his anal glands so dramatically during a forest walk (after being startled by another dog) that I nearly gagged while driving him home!
Let’s dive into why dogs let off that distinctive fishy smell when they’re scared or stressed and what you can do about it.
The Science Behind Your Dog’s Stress Smell
The culprits behind that awful fishy odor are your dog’s anal glands (also called anal sacs). These small, pea-sized sacs are located between the muscles that make up your dog’s rectum, typically at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions around the anus.
These glands contain a specialized oil-like fluid that normally gets released in small amounts during bowel movements This scent serves several important purposes in the dog world
- Marking territory
- Allowing dogs to identify each other (that’s partly why they sniff each other’s rear ends!)
- Providing lubrication during defecation
- Communication with other animals
But when your dog gets scared, stressed, or even overly excited, their sphincter muscles can contract involuntarily – just like they do during pooping. This causes some of that smelly anal gland fluid to be expressed, creating that unmistakable fishy odor that can make your car ride home absolutely miserable!
It’s Not Just Fear – Other Emotions Can Trigger The Smell Too
While fear is a common trigger, your dog might also let off this smell when
- Excited about seeing a friendly face
- Stressed in new environments
- Anxious during thunderstorms or fireworks
- Startled by sudden noises
- Having an altercation with another dog
As one pet owner described it: “That 5-minute car journey was possibly the worst journey of my life; I was literally gagging as I was driving due to the smell of fish.” I can totally relate!
How To Recognize When Your Dog Is Scared (Beyond The Smell)
If you’re not sure whether fear is causing the smell, look for these other signs that your dog is feeling scared or anxious:
- Tucking their tail between their legs
- Crouching or lowered posture
- Licking of lips
- Excessive drooling
- Stiff fur along their back
- Shivering
- Sometimes urinating or defecating (making the smell even worse!)
Why Some Dogs Are More “Stinky” Than Others
Not all dogs will express their anal glands when scared with the same frequency or intensity. Some breeds are more prone to anal gland issues than others, including:
Small breeds:
- Lhasa Apsos
- Miniature and Toy Poodles
- Chihuahuas
Medium breeds:
- Beagles
- Cocker Spaniels
- Basset Hounds
If your dog seems to release this smell frequently, it might indicate an underlying issue with their anal glands that needs attention.
Can You Stop Your Dog From Smelling When Scared?
Unfortunately, you can’t completely prevent your dog from expressing their anal glands when scared – it’s an involuntary reaction, like a hiccup for humans. However, there are things you can do to reduce the frequency and intensity of the smell:
1. Keep Anal Glands Healthy
- Ensure regular exercise
- Maintain a healthy weight for your dog
- Provide access to clean water all the time
- Feed high-quality, high-fiber dog food
2. Regular Anal Gland Expression
If your dog has frequent anal gland issues, having them expressed regularly by a vet or groomer might help reduce the likelihood of unexpected expressions during stressful situations.
3. Reduce Stressful Situations
While you can’t avoid all scary situations, you can work on gradually desensitizing your dog to common triggers and creating positive associations.
4. Quick Clean-Up Tips
When the unfortunate fishy smell does occur:
- Give your dog’s rear end a quick wipe with pet-safe wipes
- Consider a quick rinse of the affected area
- Air out your car/home if needed
When To Call The Vet About The Fishy Smell
While expressing anal glands when scared is normal, there are times when the fishy smell might indicate a health issue that needs veterinary attention:
- If your dog is scooting their bottom across the floor
- If they’re frequently licking or biting at their rear end
- If you notice swelling, redness, or discharge around the anal area
- If the fishy smell persists even when your dog isn’t scared
These could be signs of:
- Impacted anal glands
- Anal gland infections
- Abscesses
- Tumors
Other Reasons Your Dog Might Smell Like Fish
The fishy smell isn’t always from fear. Other possible causes include:
- Impacted anal sacs that are leaking
- Anal sac infections
- UTIs or yeast infections (especially in female dogs)
- Gum disease causing fishy breath
- Skin fold infections in certain breeds (like Bulldogs, Pugs, Shar-Peis)
- Ear infections
My Personal Experience With Claude’s Stinky Situation
I’ll never forget when my dog Claude had his first major anal gland expression during that forest walk. The German Shepherd that approached us was just being playful, but Claude got really scared. After we separated them, I noticed this HORRIBLE fishy smell.
The 5-minute drive home was pure torture – windows down in the middle of winter and I was still gagging! When we got home, I immediately called our vet who explained about the anal glands and reassured me it was normal. She also recommended adding some pumpkin to his diet to increase fiber, which has actually helped reduce these incidents.
Should You Express Your Dog’s Anal Glands Yourself?
While it is possible to express your dog’s anal glands at home, I personally leave this task to the professionals. I’ve watched our vet do it once, and even though I was at the “face end” of my dog rather than the “business end,” it was not pleasant!
If you’re braver than me and want to try it yourself, there are instructional videos online – but be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart or weak stomached! Most people prefer to have their vet or groomer handle this task, as they’re trained to do it efficiently without harming the dog.
Final Thoughts
That fishy smell when your dog is scared is completely normal, if extremely unpleasant. Understanding why it happens can help you be more sympathetic to your furry friend during stressful situations.
Remember:
- The smell comes from anal glands, not actual poop
- It’s an involuntary reaction to fear or stress
- Some dogs are more prone to it than others
- Regular vet check-ups can help prevent gland impaction and infections
- Fiber in the diet can help with natural expression during defecation
Have you experienced this stinky situation with your own dog? It’s one of those less glamorous parts of dog ownership that nobody warns you about! But we love our furry friends anyway, even when they make our cars smell like a fish market on a hot day.
What’s the worst smell your dog has ever produced? Drop a comment below – misery loves company, and us dog owners need to stick together through thick, thin, and very stinky situations!
Can Dogs Smell the Difference Between Fear and Happiness?
Researchers correctly postulated that dogs would respond differently to human odors that were emitted under different emotional states—namely, fear and happiness.
In the study, dogs were exposed to three stimuli—their owner, a stranger (the control) and an odor dispenser. Dogs were assigned to different odor conditions randomly.
They collected odors from humans in three different emotional states: fearful, happy and neutral (no sweat). The odors were collected from the armpits of random male donors who were not otherwise involved in the experiment procedures.
The dogs were then observed for responses, including behaviors directed at the three targets, stress behaviors and heart rate. Researchers found that when the dogs were exposed to “happy odors,” they interacted more with the stranger and had lower heart rates.
In contrast, when the dogs were exposed to the “fear odor,” they displayed more stress behaviors and had higher heart rates associated with the fight, flight or freeze response—a bodily response of the autonomic nervous system that is essential for adaptation and survival.
The dogs also sought more reassurance from their owners and interacted with the stranger less than the dogs that were exposed to the “happy odor.”
Researchers concluded that chemosignals—odors that we emit in response to our emotional state—communicate across species to dogs. So, if we are scared, they can smell it and get scared, too.
Is It True That Dogs Can Smell Fear?
The science is in, and the answer is a resounding YES—dogs can smell fear. Dogs have olfactory superpowers that can detect a human’s emotional state by the scent that a human emits. That’s right—you can’t hide fear from dogs. They’ve got your number!
Until recently, the idea that dogs can smell fear was only a theory, but a study called “Interspecies transmission of emotional information via chemosignals: from humans to dogs” actually proves that dogs (or at least Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers) can smell human emotions and respond accordingly.
When a person gets scared, their sweat glands will start secreting moisture, especially in the armpits. This sweat contains chemical signals that dogs can pick up on.
Can Dogs Smell Fear? Explained
0