labrador owners , help please....?

Question

I have a female 8yr black lab ( rescued ) she has a terrible odor and chews at her skin ,, we had a vet do skin scraping nothing shows, getting her spayed in a couple of weeks as we noticed her odor got stronger after her being in heat. We bathe her in medicated stuff vet gave us, she is good for one day !, Her teeth look white so not much bad stuff there. She seems healthy and lively in all other ways and used to live outdoors running loose probably ate bad food , We have pedigree dry food and some meat with it , hope being on a stable diet might help her digestion .. only had her 3 months,,she is starting to look shiny and her coat is growing in nice now,except for her smell ,, anyone had the same and got a solution ? thanks..

Answer 1

Since you've been to the vet and he could not find the problem it could well be food related. Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359& more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/$$PetFoodsByRating?OpenForm

Answer 2

I had a mixed female black lab that got an odor near her back end about every few months, I am not sure if it had to do with her 'cycle', she was also fixed.

If she doesn't have fleas or mange or a hot spot I would say it is her food. Try Beneful, I have has some real good results from it.

Answer 3

Is the odor constant? Does it come directly from her skin? Or is it "gas"? Her scratching at her skin may suggest insects (fleas or ticks). Carefully check her coat for any ticks (which will stay attached to her) or fleas. Does she spend a lot of time outside? If so, she is more likely to become infested with insects.

If she just has gas and some dry skin, diet can fix the issues. Some dogs are very sensitive to any changes in their diets. This is evidenced by excessive gas and/or diarreah. Therefore, feed her a vet recommended food for every meal. I suggest a dry dog food. Dry food has less fat and less protein (prevents stones), yet still has all the necessary nutrients (and protein levels) a dog needs. Dogs love canned food, but the high fat content is not healthy for them (plus, the high protein content is bad for some breeds). Plus, the harder dry food will help keep her teeth clean. Try not to deviate from this diet at all. That is, don't give her table scraps (or try to limit them) or too many treats (unless made from the same company making the dry food). I recommend two feedings - once in the morning (breakfast) and once at dinner. A dog her size should probably get about a 8 to 12 oz. of food for each meal. Ensure that she has lots of fresh water with each meal. Check with your vet to ensure you are not over-feeding or under-feeding.

Additionally, try adding a teaspoon of vegetable oil to her food. The extra fat will make her meal more enjoyable (the same reason we use oils in our food), and will help her skin and coat. Her coat may shine more over time (this may take up to a month). But be careful with his oil - as I wrote, it is fat and too much can cause her to gain weight. Just use a teaspoon until you notice that her skin and coat are better, then stop adding the oil.

Bathing with medicated soap is good, but just like with humans, too many baths can dry out her skin. Try not to bathe her more than once a month unless your vet states otherwise. Some dogs only need baths as little as once a year (barring them getting extremely dirty). I would also advise keeping her inside the house more. Restricting her freedom outside will help eliminate insect bites and infestation, chances of eating "bad" food and keep her clean. You can exercise her under your supervision (walks, playing fetch, etc.). If she cannot be trusted alone inside, get a large crate with a soft pillow, add toys and a few treats - she will love it as it's "her space". I have used crates for years and a LARGE crate (with enough room for a dog to move) is ideal. However, do not keep her in there for extended periods. She will need to stretch, eat, drink and relieve herself.

Barring some insect infestation, it simply sounds like she likes getting dirty (dogs love rolling in the mud, which may contain quite a bit of debris, including feces) and has dry skin. Therefore, the suggestions I made above should help.

Lastly, I applaud you for spaying her. This will not only eliminate the chance of unwanted pups, but increase her life span (reduces risk of cancer).

Answer 4

Pedigree IS bad food. Try changing her to something higher quality (and probably around the same price) such as Canidae, Royal Canin or Chicken Soup.

Answer 5

It could be alot of things. Many vets don't know how to deal with skin issues. I had to take my dog to 4 vets to finally find out what was wrong. I suggest a dermatologist

Answer 6

I would agree, it sounds like an allergic reaction to food. Change to a good quality food - the first ingredient should be meat. No corn! Labs tend to be sensitive to food.

Answer 7

Are you sure it's not her anal glands? They smell HORRIBLE. Take her to the vet and ask them to check, they can drain them. You might also try giving her a zinc pill each day for her coat.