Smelly Bum

Question
Hello, i have a bit of an embarrassing question to ask you about my dogs behind. My One year and Three month old Rhodesian Ridge back X Bull mastiff has a bit of a strange feature to his scent. I noticed it about 6 months ago when i wasn't able to give him a bath for about a month as i was very sick with the flu. I noticed that he had a strange 'fishy' scent to him and it was coming off his body like there was no tomorrow! I bathed him and it went away. Now i have noticed that every now and again he lets of this scent quite a lot and it wasnt until the other day that my Boyfriend noticed that it was coming from his bum. My dog has had all of his vaccines and has been castrated. Also, i dont know if it helps, but when he was a puppy, about 6 weeks old he once released a liquid from him bum (like he was urinating from his bottom) the liquid was clear and i spoke to my vet about it (who really isnt that bright) and he just ignored me when i asked him of it.
I really am worried about his health as we have nearly lost him before due to a cyst in his ridge. Please help me! Any information would be wonderful! Thanks a lot! From Jody

Answer
What you are referring to (the urinating from his bottom) is his anal glands.  These need emptied in most dogs every month or two.  That is also where the fishy smell is coming from.  Your vet should have known this.
You can empty them yourselve,  although it is a bit disgusting.  Or the vet can do it.

Here is instructions for doing it yourself.

http://www.barkbytes.com/medical/med0029.htm