Smelly Dog!

poohzee

I know most dogs have a bit of a smell, but apparently my dog smells more than normal!! My mum is looking after her just now as we are away on holiday shortly so she went and asked at a dog shop and was told that she shouldn't smell (she was bathed yesterday - only once every 2 months) and it is probably her food. She is on Barking Heads - does anyone have any advice?

gettingready

Anal glands check?

Ear infection?

Those 2 cause Zara stinkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk - when she gets them

krlyr

Is your mum perhaps just not used to eau de dog?
Is she confining the dog to certain areas in the house? When I visit my mum, the dogs are mostly confined to the conservatory (unless it's too warm in there - not been much of an issue this year!) and come the time to go home it is a bit whiffy in there simply because it's not a giant area and they're two big dogs.

Diet can play a part, Barking Heads is a good food but good in general doesn't always mean good for your dog - are there any other signs the food may not agree with her? Wind, dry skin, dandruff, chewing at her feet, a red looking belly, ear infections, etc?

The weather certainly doesn't help, if the dog gets damp it can worsen the doggy smell.

Or, is it definately the dog? Not smelly bedding, perhaps, or the smell of her food (e.g. if it's a fish flavour, the biscuits often have quite a whiff to them!)

jaqui59

What breed of dog is she?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Was she dried totally before going there?


Damp dog always leaves a bit of a whiff.

And, seeing as I haven't had a dog myself for a few years, even the cleanest dog does smell. All the time. It's just that the people around dogs all the time don't notice it.

poohzee

Thanks for the replies guys, she is a yellow lab, just shy of being 2 years old. No probs with her ears or her anal glands. She was dried properly - not really a damp dog smell, just a doggy smell if that makes sense! My mum has a dog herself and has had dogs all her days - so is used to normal dog smell. Its not her bedding as it gets changed weekly and it def. seems to come from her!
Her food seems fine, although i would like less poo - but I reckon all dog owners would say that! x

jaqui59

Labs have a double coat, and can be quite oily, due to the nature of the work they were bred for.

A very good very regular grooming regime, along with bathing now and again if she gets really mucky are about as much as you can really do. Also wash her basket and blankets frequently and keep on top of cleaning any soft upholstery she comes into contact with, and also any carpets.

It sounds a normal case of Eau Du Dog to me ... Also you mention that she "Apparently" smells more than normal which suggests to me that it isn't really bothering you?

Julieel

You might need to get her glads expressed, does she drag her bum on the floor or bite her back leg - these are other signs that she needs it done. When my pup got it done I noticed the smell improved instantly.

Otherwise check if its just her feet, I could wash my dog and find that about an hour later her feet really stink, worse than my hubby's!! lol