My dog has a terrible odor! What shampoo will work?
The first question a vet will have is this -- what is causing the odor? There are a multitude of shampoos out there, but if it isn't a skin or coat problem, shampoo won't help.
What are the most common causes of doggie odor?
The first thing to consider is the obvious -- did your dog roll in something (decaying matter, feces) or get sprayed by a skunk? Usually either one of these scenarios is fairly easy to diagnose, and your vet can offer advice on what shampoo would be the best for either situation.
Why do dogs roll in smelly stuff, anyway?
Animal behaviorists think it is a way to "scent camouflage" themselves. By rolling in something smelly and perhaps of their intended prey, they won't be detected. I have a "roller" dog, and she just looks like she loves the thrill of new Eau de Dog perfume!
OK, my dog didn't roll in anything, and did not get sprayed by a skunk. What else could it be?
Here are just a few possible smell-producing medical problems:
Breath - some diseases, like kidney failure and Diabetes, can cause a change in breath.
Diseased teeth and gums - dental disease and infected gums can produce a very foul odor. Additionally, a sore mouth may cause increased drooling. The malodorous saliva can coat the fur, furniture, etc., and you may not recognize that this is originating in the mouth.
Infected ears - bacterially infected ears are often extremely smelling. A vet can usually smell these ones while they are still in the waiting room. Your dog will usually be scratching or shaking the head, but not always. A bath may make ears worse if water is trapped in the ear canal.
Flatulence - is the odor on your dog, or from your dog? Flatulence, or "gas" may indicate a dietary or intestinal problem. Some flatulence is normal, but if this is regularly occurring, please see your veterinarian.
Anal glands/sacs - this is perhaps the most common cause of doggie odor that won't go away. Anal sacs are two small scent-sacs in the area of the anus. These are a type of "marking" glands. When a dog has a bowel movement, these sacs are normally squeeze, and a very smelly, oily secretion is released with the feces.
If these sacs become infected or impacted (thicker secretion than normal, can't empty properly), problems result. This can be a very painful situation when they become infected! If a dog (or cat) is scared or overly excited, these glands can secrete the smelly, oily substance on the surrounding fur, causing bad odor.
I have heard about anal sacs - what can be done to ensure that they won't 'leak' or get infected?
Your veterinarian can show you how to check and even empty the anal sacs at home to prevent problems with odor. Here is an excellent online animation on anal sacs that offers more information on this subject.
So... to be safe, always consult with your veterinarian if your notice an odd odor or anything "not quite right" with your pet. An ounce of prevention is definitely better than a pound of cure!
2006-07-19 01:36:00
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answer #1
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answered by its_ok_im_here69 3
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Body odor in a pet, (if not the obvious result of lack of bathing or rolling in something stinky) is usually attributed to either an illness or a bad diet. For the illness option, I'd see a vet. For the bad diet option it's possible you are feeding a low quality dog food. Believe it or not, this can have an effect on your dog's odor. It could also be a food allergy to a particular ingredient in your dog food. Food allergies can start at any point in the dog's life, so even if you dog hasn't had problems before, it doesn't mean it can't be having them now.
If the problem is not because of an illness, I would switch to a raw diet. This will solve your problems with both clean teeth and body odor. If you don't have the time for a raw diet then I would upgrade to a better quality dog food and start brushing my dogs teeth.
2006-07-19 02:52:17
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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You dont say what kind of dogs ot their age but some breeds have stronger odor than others. First, go to a vet to determine if the dog has a skin condition. If not, bathing him often with a deodorizing shampoo might help.
As for the bad breath, that needs to be checked by the vet also. He may need dental work done. You can get toothbrushes and toothpastes for him . This next thing may sound silly but it may help too. My dog is 10 years old and has no tartar...the secret...eating ice cubes.
2006-07-19 01:38:45
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answer #3
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answered by groomingdiva_pgh 5
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FIrst take the dog to a vet *mouth/breath odor can mean illness* and rule out anything wrong. You can also brush Fido's teeth *any pet store will have dog toothbrushes and doogie toothpaste-usually liver or chicken flavor*
As for the body odor, how often does he get a bath? It's usually a good idea not to overbathe a dog *dries out skin*, but maybe your dog is the exception to the rule.
2006-07-19 01:37:18
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answer #4
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answered by starikotasukinomiko 6
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After bathing your dog with the body odor apply some body powder that they sell at all pet stores. Groomers use this powder to pro-long the clean smell of the animals that have just groomed.
As for the dog with the bad breath, make sure all it is being fed is hard dog food (no table scraps) and have it's teeth cleaned. You can also give it Greenies, which cleans teeth and gums AND freshens breath.
2006-07-19 01:35:21
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answer #5
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answered by KL 5
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My friend had a dog that stunk so bad you couldn't even get near it. She washed it constantly, and took it to the groomers all the time. Nothing seemed to work. Then....she took the dog to the vet. She found out that the smell was coming from allergies. The dog could no longer eat dog food that contained beef. It did the trick. The dog was also put on prednisone for a short period of time to lessen the allergic reactions it was having.
2006-07-19 01:38:25
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answer #6
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answered by trueblond195 5
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Give him a good bath and rub some nice smelling conditioner (human brand will do) into his fur. Wash him and pat him dry. Then let him dry on his own. If he still stinks, he might have a skin disorder. As for his mouth, dog toothpastes are available. Brush his teeth using a baby brush and a little bit of the toothpaste. Please don't use human toothpaste. Also give him DOG breathmints atleast twice a week.
2006-07-19 01:46:05
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Well you can get rid of the smell with constant bathing, at least that's how my beagle lost her smell. That and avoid letting the dog play outside after bathing. For bad breath, it's best if you brush your dog's teeth. Check if there are dental problems too. If you find any, bring your dog to the vet. Consider your dog's diet as well. Good luck ^^;
2006-07-19 01:39:14
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answer #8
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answered by lyalltanith 2
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Give the dog a bath.
For the bad breath, I think they make treats to help cure that.
2006-07-19 01:35:34
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answer #9
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answered by michaelyoung_airforce 6
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Also look at diet. Cheap food can make dogs smell. Look at the ingredients on your dog food label. The first ingredient should be meat.
2006-07-19 02:25:11
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answer #10
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answered by A Great Dane Lady 7
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