Why Does My Dog Smell Like Rotten Chicken?
Why does my old dog smell so bad?
Why Does My Dog Smell Rotten All of a Sudden?
"I have a 17-year-old Rat Terrier, and she has lost a lot of weight but eats pretty well; she drinks, pee, and poops. She's been wormed and vaccinated this year but had recently started to smell terribly bad, like really nasty. Dead chicken bad! What's wrong with her?"—Twilla
Reasons an Old Dog Might Start Smelling Bad
There are several things that might cause a dog of that age to smell bad, including:
- Dental disease: This is the most common reason for a dog presenting with a foul odor. It is usually because a tooth has become rotten below the gum line and the smell is coming from a pocket of pus that you may not even see. Every time she grooms herself, she coats the skin with that smell, and you notice it even when her mouth is closed. The other problem is that even if your dog is still eating, her body needs more calories to fight off the infection, so unless you are feeding her more than normal, she will lose weight.
- Cancer: Tumors grow fast, and sometimes, the blood supply does not keep up, and they begin to rot from the inside. This growth may be in your dog's mouth, which is why you have not seen it, or you may find it when she is on her back for a belly rub. Some cancers also have a specific odor (1), but you would probably not recognize this unless the tumor is infected; the smell you are describing sounds more like an infection.
- Kidney disease: A foul breath is one sign of kidney disease, but it is usually described more as a fishy odor, not rotting chicken. To confirm the diagnosis, blood will need to be collected and tested. The weight loss you mention is also seen sometimes in kidney disease, so you should have this checked as soon as possible. There is no cure once her kidneys start to go, but you can keep her in good shape for many years to come with some basic changes.
- Anal sac infection: If your dog is dragging her butt across the carpet, this is a sign of impacted anal sacs. Sometimes, they become infected, stink horribly, and need to be treated.
- Rotting object in the mouth: This is something I have seen more frequently in puppies and young dogs that chew up objects in the house, not in a dog her age. If you open her mouth and the teeth look fine be sure to look at the top of the mouth and you may find something stuck between the teeth and rotting. If she does not chew on sticks and bones anymore I would not worry about this possibility much.
- Infection and secondary maggot infection: This would be pretty unlikely with a Rat Terrier, but we see it with older long-haired dogs (like Poodles and Chows) that have diarrhea. The flies are attracted to the feces that become stuck to the hair.
In a small, older dog, I would expect dental disease first, but unfortunately, there is no way to rule out which of these is the problem without an exam. You can take your dog to your local veterinarian, and he or she will examine the mouth first. Considering her age, he or she may need to do x-rays to see how deep the infection is, and he or she will probably want to do blood work to check her organ function before anesthesia.
This is not an emergency, but you should call for an appointment immediately. A dog with dental disease is in a lot of pain, even if she does not show it.
Source
- Sharma A, Kumar R, Varadwaj P. Smelling the Disease: Diagnostic Potential of Breath Analysis. Mol Diagn Ther. 2023 May;27(3):321-347. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9893210/
This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2024 Mark dos Anjos, DVM
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