why do wet dogs smell like dead fish?

and why long-dead fish, not nice, fresh fish-market fish?  even when they're wet from fresh, clean snow, and not from stagnant, algae-infested mud holes?

why?

I always say that our one dog at home smells like *fart* when he gets all wet from the rain or whatever. LMAO.

Uhhh, mine doesn't have a smell.  If anything, she's slightly sweet smelling even when wet. 

Now if she goes swimming in a stinky creek then she's funky.

well...aren't you both special  (jewels and her dog, that is)

My dog is funky after getting wet too.

He does fish-farts and they're painful to smell... so I feel ya!

We are special!

Oh, she does smell fishy after eating fish.  She gets sardines (or some other oily fish) a few times a week.  She's fishy for a few hours afterwards. 

So I do have to put up with a fishy odor occasionally.

Something to do with the oils in their skin?  My Lab stinks when he's wet, unless he's had a bath recently, but I've always thought it more of a low tide reak than a dead fish stench.

i think with retrievers and other water dogs, it's definitely the oils.  but mine is a rhodesian ridgeback.  shouldn't she smell like--i dunno--the savannah?

Mine definitely smells like eggs when she is wet. Not stinky or anything, just eggy.

I've noticed Alex's dog also smells particularly ripe when she comes inside if it's cold outside.  Doesn't have to be wet, doesn't even have to be damp in the air.  She just smells plain rotten if it's cold outside.

Now, my kittens, Whiskey and Vodka, smell like baby lotion when they're wet.  That scares me almost more than the fishy smell of the dog.

Wet Grease! that's it.

Dang.  My dog smells like roses.....

my dog smells like corn-chips, specifically Fritos. 

I believe the correct question is why does dead fish smell like wet dogs?

I was going to make a filthy joke about this thread, but not today, or at least not while sober.

Original Post by peaches0405:

Dang.  My dog smells like roses.....

 omg.... MINE TOO!!

;)

Original Post by mspw:

my dog smells like corn-chips, specifically Fritos. 

 that generally means some sort of skin problem, Ms. Just a heads up.

actually, it means she needs a bath.

i just want to add that this is really. really. really. really. funny.

and, my beagle smells like horseradish right now, wet or dry (though it is intensified when he's wet which is often since i live on an island and it's november) . he desperately needs a bath but, ugh, he hates it so much.... it's like i'm killing him, like i'm those bad guys in "beethoven's 2nd" (remember that 90's flick?)... you know, the ones that steal the puppies? 

my girls dogs dont smell. My male smells sometimes when he goes for a run outside. The girls smell good tho, maybe that is like in real life, boys are smelly!

Original Post by cellulitedelight:

Now, my kittens, Whiskey and Vodka, smell like baby lotion when they're wet.  That scares me almost more than the fishy smell of the dog.

 I just had to comment that I absolutely love your kittens name....so funny.