As soon as you snuggled up on the couch with your fur nose, you notice a strange and pungent smell.
You quickly realize: Your dog smells like ammonia.
In this article you will find out what this can mean and what you should do now.
Dog smells like ammonia: 6 possible causes
If you notice that your dog smells like ammonia, this can indicate kidney failure.
Liver disease or cancer are also possible, although the smell of ammonia does not occur very quickly.
In rare cases, dehydration or a bladder infection can cause your dog to smell like ammonia.
A rather harmless case is when the smell is due to a change in diet.
kidney diseases
If your dog smells like ammonia from its mouth, this can indicate a kidney problem. Especially if he has to urinate frequently.
A kidney infection is also a possibility.
But not only the breath must indicate a kidney problem. The urine can also suddenly have a strong smell of ammonia.
If your dog’s kidneys aren’t working properly, toxins won’t be cleared as quickly.
The smell of ammonia in dog urine is caused by an increased concentration of urea.
Urinary stones can also be responsible for the fact that the urine cannot be excreted and the concentration of ammonia increases.
Your dog can also absorb the smell through their skin or feces.
If your dog has kidney disease, you will notice tiredness, loss of appetite and vomiting in addition to the strong smell.
Blood in the urine, pale mucous membranes and inflamed tooth necks can also be symptoms.
If treatment is not given for a long time, anemia can develop.
Danger
The kidneys filter toxins and metabolic waste products from your dog’s body.
If the various toxins are no longer transported out, his body poisons itself from the inside.
liver disease
Liver disease can also be responsible for your dog smelling like ammonia.
The liver plays an important role in converting ammonia to urea. When the liver isn’t working properly, toxic substances can build up in your dog’s blood.
These substances then travel through the bloodstream to the brain and can cause damage. Character changes can be the result.
Since part of the breakdown product is then also excreted through the lungs, your dog will smell ammonia from its mouth.
Good to know
Ammonia is formed in your dog’s body as a byproduct of protein breakdown and amino acid metabolism.
dehydration
If your dog drinks too little, the urea in the urine can be more concentrated and an odor of ammonia can occur.
He will probably only urinate rarely and little.
It’s important that your dog drinks enough to allow toxins to be flushed out of the body through urine.
Other secondary diseases can otherwise arise.
cystitis
A bladder infection can also cause your dog’s urine to smell like ammonia.
In the case of a bladder infection, bacteria in the bladder can lead to an increased concentration of ammonia in the urine.
If your dog then urinates even less than usual because of pain, the substance can become more concentrated and cause a stronger odor.
lining
If your dog is fed a diet that is too high in protein, this can also lead to an ammonia smell.
Too much protein can put a heavy strain on the liver to do its job and lead to increased production of ammonian.
Therefore, make sure your dog is fed a balanced and species-appropriate diet.
tumor
A tumor or cancer in your dog will not trigger an ammonia odor by itself.
However, if the tumor is in the liver or kidneys, it can affect the function of these organs and lead to increased levels of ammonia in the blood and urine.
When should I see the vet if my dog smells like ammonia?
If you notice an odor of ammonia in your dog, it is advisable that you contact your veterinarian.
Because even if dogs can sniff, the smell of ammonia is not normal.
However, this odor alone is not a specific symptom for just one disease. The veterinarian must therefore determine what is causing the smell.
In addition to a physical examination, he will also check your dog’s blood and urine values.
Your veterinarian can also use an ultrasound and X-ray examination to identify some triggers for damage to the organs.
If kidney failure is present, your dog will be given an IV. If there is an infection, your dog will be given antibiotics.
As a further step, dialysis therapy may be necessary to rid your dog’s blood of harmful substances.
If your dog is treated quickly, there is a good chance of recovery depending on the illness.
Do you have more questions about strange smells in your dog? Let us know in the comments.