i have a schnauzer and she smells?

Question

my wee schnauzer really smells, i got shampoo from the vet, she has a bit of flaky dirty looking stuff on her skin and the shampoo seems to take some of it off, but the next day she stinks again, what could be wrong, the vet has ruled out mites and things, please help

Answer 1

are you feeding her cheap dog food? a dog requires a higher amount of linolaic acids than what affco says is suitable for dog food ingredients.
most dog food companies put in just a little bit, like .03% of omega 3s and 6s ( the essential oils to have healthy skin and coat) look for a dog food of better quality; one that says Omega 3 and 6 ( linolaic acids) is 3.0 - 4.0% ( 4.0% is the highest amount in dog food and found in Nutro Natural Choice)
also look out for foods containing "by-products" or "animal fat" there should be a real protein source such as chicken, or chicken meal, not chicken-by-product. and fat is necessary and good for dogs, but the label should tell you where the fat is coming from ie: chicken fat not just a generic "animal fat".
you don't want a food that contains corn meal, that is just a filler, your dog will litterally poop it right out. keep away from other fillers such as soy and barley too. however corn GLUTEN meal is okay, and soybean OIL is okay, because they are sources of Linolaic acids that will make your dog's coat shine, and the skin be soft and healthy.
if you do switch foods on your dog be sure to do it slowly to not cause vomiting, upset stomach or diarhea. do 70% ur brand with 30% new brand for two days. then do 50% ur brand with 50% new brand for three days. then do 30% old brand with 70% new brand for three days. then finally do all 100% new brand.
brands to look into:
Nutro Natural Choice
Dick Van Patens Natural Balance
Innova
Wellness
These are premium foods you have to buy in a pet store and they cost more than a cheapo like Beniful, but the outcome of a healthy dog, who has ESP is the best ( E- eats less, S- sheds less, P- poops less)

Answer 2

Allergies is a contributor to bad smells with dogs. Yeast is another. Not only does it stink, but there is also dirty looking stuff on their skin. If you had her to a vet, they should have ruled out that. But if they didn't, then my vet recommended Selsun Blue Medicated Shampoo for my dog that had yeast throughout her skin. And it was certainly a lot cheaper than what the vet would have sold me. Whatever is in the medication, kills the yeast. I bathed my dog every 7 to 10 days, and the yeast problem went away after about 3 or 4 washings. Anal extraction could be another cause for the foul smell. I would think the vet checked that too.

Answer 3

No mites? No fleas? Bathing a dog too much can trigger skin problems. Perhaps it's alergies. 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 4

Sometimes the skin isn't getting enough oils and it can make the skin flaky try using lavander oil mixed with the shampoo 'cause if this is the case your schnauzer will need its oil to keep it warm. Also don't wash your dog to often as this can also cause loss of oil on the skin

Answer 5

Don't waste your money on expensive shampoos and stuff. When you give your pup a bath, use Dawn dish soap...kills fleas, works great....very effective. It will deminish the oils in your pooch's coat, but they will come back, and it will be fine....worst case scenario, you get a little skin iritation from being dried out....(which brings us to:) BABY WIPES! That's right! If your pup smells (or has dry skin problems) use regular run-of-the-mill baby wipes once a day. It'll help her smell better and stimulate her coat as well.

Answer 6

There are a number of reasons why dogs smell. Most usual causes are ear infection, mouth infection or anal glands, but I would have thought your vet could have ruled them out. Does she pee on her legs when she goes? Does she roll in anything? If it's none of those things, try changing her food. Do it gradually though.
If none of that answers your question, take her back to the vet, dogs shouldn't smell if their coats are clean.

Answer 7

I used to have a schnauzer too. They do smell. I think it's the wiry haired breeds. They all smell. I don't think there's a lot you can do about it.

Answer 8

try wash the cage every other day and her toys

Answer 9

you can get do cologne at wal mart

Wolfie