scared dogs make a smell?

[Guest Anonymous]

i heard that when a dog gets very scared it MAKES A FUNKY ODOR?
kinda like a skunk can....

is that true?

[imported_Cassie]

Yes it certainly is true...dogs have anal glands and they contain a stinky substance...if a dog gets scared they can blow their glands...I have had this happen to me on more than one occasion! :roll: working at a Vet clinic and helping to hold the back of the dog...the dog got really frightened and blew its glands in my face...very difficult to get off...you can smell like fish for the rest of the day....try explaining that to customers!
Dogs also release some of this substance each time they have a bowel movement...its their own personal scent which other dogs love to smell.

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you so much Cassie.

I Had heard it but wasnt sure if it was true or not.

K- sorry :oops: I am used to my home PC that has auto-log-in but i cant do that on this system. i usually at least type in that i am at work or at least my name when im not logged in...i forgot.
*hangs head*

[Guest Anonymous]

*perks up*
Oh..Yeah... it was a test... and you passed with flying colors.
:wink:

[Peng1zrule]

dogs don't have a "scared smell" but they do have anal gland fluid, which, when they are stressed or scared, they can empty out. they also empty them when they go to the bathroom....one reason I didn't like Dogs Never Lie About Love was because the author seemed ignorant...when one of his dogs was in a confrontation, she emptied her anal glands, and he didn't know what it was--he offered the theory that this was the "smell of fear" :roll:

[Snow]

Not too long ago I read an article on a related topic and I wonder if there is a correlation to this topic. The author of the article stated that dogs tuck their tails between their legs when they are fearful to prevent the dissemination of the scent of the anal glands. The anal gland fluid contains information on the dogs rank, temperment etc. (which is why the first things dogs do is sniff butts) and the dog wants to prevent the object of his fear from getting this information. A reason wasn't given but I assume that typically a fearful dog has a relatively low rank. On the other hand, a dog that is confident will walk with his tail held high so the world will know of his elevated rank. I wonder if the tail tucking is an automatic response to prevent the sacs from emptying under stressful or fearful circumstances. This occurred to me particularly because of Cassies post. For the glands to have blown in your face :o :o the tail musn't have been tucked at the time.

Sorry that this is a bit off topic, but I just thought that it was interesting.