Why do my dogs stink???

Question

I have 2 bassets, they both smell but the boy who is 6 months is very smelly. I try not to wash them much as its bad for their skin and I use a nice shampoo from the vets but he just has a "BO problem" as my Dad calls it - Basset Odour!!!! I heard put vinegar in the water when bathing them is this ok apparently my Mum saw a vet say it on TV and the smell is too much yeast or something any ideas??

Answer 1

Apple cider vinegar... not just regular vinegar.... wash out their ears too... bassets can get very stinky there... Hounds also have a smell that is a little different from other breeds... just like that houndy baying...

Answer 2

Well.. assuming that the dog did not go out and roll in doo-doo, here are some possible reasons:

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... If the dog is going along and scooting its rear end on the floor or grass, it means that the anal sacs are full.. I usually take care of that myself rather than going to a vet.. I (with some ruber gloves) actually squeeze the two anal sacs to get that smelly stuff out.

NOW.. here is another thing that many people overlook. My son had complained for 4 years about his smelly dog.. bathing every week, etc etc but stil stunk and the dog itched. I told him about sarcoptic mange problem but he would not believe it so when I went there one day, I treated the dog with a shampoo(actually a medication that I applied with ruber gloves, etc) and the smell went away because there were MITES embedded under the skin and it caused irritation continually and of course a smelly situation.

Answer 3

you may need to take your dogs to the vet. there could be an underlying problem.

one thing could be that when you're not looking they're getting into smelly things or smelly water and rolling in it somehow. that's there way of covering up smell. though it doesn't seem to work very well, now does it..

has your dog been sprayed by a skunk lately? you may have washed the stench off for now but whenever thedog gets wet the stench will come back. try mixing apple cider vinegar in water and pouring it on your dog. you could also try this with tomato juice.

there may be another thing...anal glands. they'rebasically sacs that fill up with smelly fluid and are usually emptied during times of stress for a dog.

if it's just their fur, try calling a vet and seeing if there are other ways thiscan be treated. if it's something like bad breath or smelly ears that could be reason to suspect a disease...

either way, puttingyour dogs in kennels is not averynicething to do. thatwould be almost like neglecting them for something that is outof their paws...

Answer 4

I'd suggest a checkup at the vet...some types of yeast infection (in the ears, etc...very common with big-eared dogs like Bassets) can cause the smell you mention...also the aroma could be related to their diet. I'd have them checked out to be safe. Hope this info helps.

Answer 5

All hounds have an odor. But with a Bassett Hound one thing that will help is to keep their ears clean inside and out. They tend to drag them in everything and seeing as they are so long when they shake their heads to try to clean their ears it doesn't go anywhere as the ear length itself keeps it in. You can use a Q tip and a little Peroxide just on the surface area of the ear. you can't stick them down in, but you can also get one of those baby ear thingies and put some peroxide in their ears and they will shake it out on their own. I had a Cocker Spaniel that used to smell so bad and realised that it was her ears causing it.

Vinegar in the water for a bath may help I don't know I have never tried that, but there is also a solution that is mainly used for de-skunking that works effectivly for odors also. It is 1 cup of peroxide to 4 tbs baking soda and a few squirts of dawn. It takes alot of bad odors out of their coats. Also another one is vinegar and Lemon juice. That will work also.

Answer 6

Yes, it could be yeast. Bassetts are really prone to yeast infections. Now, let me tell you, I have seen dogs that will roll in their own poo. I would take them to the vet and have their skin looked at. Good luck with the smelly problem.

Answer 7

OR ITS THE FOOD YOUR FEEDING. WHEN WE ADOPTED OUR RIDGEBACK A YEAR AGO WE HAD TO BATHE HIM EVERY 3 DAYS OR OUR EYES WOULD WATER. HE HAD BEEN GETTING OLD ROY FROM WAL-MART. AFTER 6 MONTHS ON BENEFUL THE ODOR WENT AWAY. ROCKY HAS ALOT OF LOOSE SKIN AND FOLDS. ALSO, OUR AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD HAD A BO PROBLEM AND HAD BEEN BEING FED OLD ROY FOR 10 YEARS. HE GETS PEDIGREE LAMB & RICE AND HAS NO MORE BO. ALSO, I FOUND USING HUMAN BABY SHAMPOOS IS EFFECTIVE AND NOT HARMFUL FOR FREQUENT BATHS.

Answer 8

hello, when my dog goes for a run in the fields and always comes bk smelling of fox poo after rolling in it, this is the worse smell ever, i bath my dog in ketcup then with dog shampoo, this does actually work, give it ago.

Answer 9

brush bicarb soda in there coat, works a treat without any harm to the skin. it just asorbs smells & odours. I use it on my westies bedding too. sprinkle it in and hoover it out

Answer 10

I have always used horse shampoo on my dogs - its soapless and it's good for ticks and fleas - smells nice. And lets face it horses stick when they roll in things so prehaps that might work on your dogs