Diet
September 15, 2022

Fenugreek: What to do if your dog smells like maple syrup

Stay
Stay

We love some good maple syrup on our pancakes and waffles. The smell is just so nice and sweet. And if you’ve lived in New York City, you might have even smelled it in the air, which is such a nice step up from how it usually smells!

But if your dog suddenly starts to smell like maple syrup or waffles, should you be worried? The smell alone doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. It can largely depend on if you notice any other changes in your pup. So let’s see what can cause that smell (other than breakfast time).

That fresh maple smell: great for breakfast, a little strange for a dog.

Different Foods

Sometimes part of your dog’s diet may change how they smell. Stay’s fresh turkey recipe includes fenugreek seeds. We always use healthy, natural ingredients to promote the health and well-being of dogs. We love these because research has shown that fenugreek seeds have lots of fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals with some great health benefits. These include:

  • Balancing blood glucose levels
  • Helping cholesterol levels 
  • Improving digestion
  • Anticancer properties
  • Powerful anti-inflammatory properties
  • Antiobesity and antidiabetic properties

In fact, fenugreek seeds are often part of supplements in holistic medicine for dogs with diabetes to help them achieve healthy blood glucose levels. 

Fenugreek seeds, in case you were wondering.

The trade-off, if you can even call it that, is that sometimes the seeds cause a dog’s breath to smell like maple syrup. If this is the only change you’ve noticed, it’s likely not a problem. It just means they’re that much nicer to have around!

Health Changes

However, there are signs your dog may be dealing with a health issue. 

Sometimes it’s not their breath, but your dog’s fur that smells like maple syrup. This is unrelated to fenugreek seeds, and it could be a yeast infection. 

If your dog’s breath or urine smells like acetone, which can sometimes remind people of maple syrup, AND you see any of these signs, it’s possible your dog may be developing canine diabetes:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Weight loss
  • Increased appetite

If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, please see a vet as soon as possible to properly diagnose your dog.

As a pet parent, you know your dog best. If the only change you notice in your dog’s breath makes you want breakfast, your dog is likely fine; but if there are other changes, we encourage you to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you’re looking for another trustworthy source of information, members who subscribe to Stay have access to some amazing, expert veterinarians who are on call to help with any questions about their dog’s health and well-being.

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