Why does my male dog's penis smell strange, but only sometimes?

It sounds like he might have an infection. Your vet can examine him and prescribe an antibiotic, if needed. If you see any discharge then you could clean it with a DOUXO® Chlorhexidine Pads and see if that helps. Otherwise, see if your vet can see him before Wednesday so treatment can be started.

I bet you are smelling anal sac/gland fluid. They are scent glands dogs have just inside there rectum. They are supposed to express a small amount every time they defecate, but sometimes they will leak if they get startled, or bark forcefully. If this is an occasional problem it is normal. If she is scooting or licking her rear end or otherwise acting uncomfortable then she should be evaluated by your veterinarian to make sure she doesn’t have an infection. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If it is the brown stuff I am seeing in the picture, it could be a small yeast infection (that is consistent with the smell you describe as well). Trim the hairs around the penis and then I would just try 25% white vinegar 75% water solution on a cloth and gently clean twice daily. If the discharge is white/creamy, yellow tinged, or even a bit crusty, that can be normal - especially for an in tact male dog. If there is problems urinating, blood in the urine or blood in the discharge, or very large amounts of the discharge, then I am more concerned. Unfortunately we are not legally allowed to recommend specific drugs/doses without a physical exam (also I have no idea what's available near you), so you'd have to call or visit the vet in that instance. Best of luck to you and Lupus!

It could be that Big Ben has impacted anal sacs, which would lead to his rear end stinking badly. It could also be that he has a skin infection causing the smell. I would have him seen by a vet tomorrow. The vet can diagnose the cause of his smell, and can treat him for it. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

If his breath smells like fish I would recommend having his anal glands checked. I would also recommend having your veterinarian shave the hair off of his prepuce and check a urine sample. That way we can determine if this discharge is anything to be concerned about. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, the metallic smell can be from teething. I would not be overly worried about it. All her adult teeth should be in by about 6 months of age, if after that the smell persists then you should have your vet check her out. You can give her 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin per day (pure pumpkin, not pie filling) to help with her pooping.

This presentation could be due to a localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria) or a more extended urinary tract infection. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.