Dog Smell Question

[Sarah]

Hello there! I came for help with my dog, a 2(ish) year old beagle mutt. I am a new dog owner (we got her in February).

When we got our dog, Molly, she didn't shed at all. Not a bit. I was surprised, because I expected her to shed. She's got medium length hair, very soft. It doesn' t feel all smooth and shiny like a beagle's, it feels more like a German Shepherd's hair. Anyway, I have noticed recently that when she's been in her cage a while there's a bad smell from her, a doggish smell, but not like wet fur, more gross. It's not urine or feces, and she's fixed, so I don't think it's any kind of reproductive thing.... I have no clue what the smell is. I have noticed that as the summer has started, she's losing massive amounts of hair, and I wondered if that was connected, maybe, to the smell.

Would a bath help, you think? She hates it, so I try not to bathe her too much, but if it helps, I'll do it.

Also, how often should she be bathed, otherwise? And how often should we brush her?

Thanks so much. We love our dog and just want to take care of her the right way. The books all say different things, but I thought the CC ladies would know!

[chefker]

I think beagles tend to have oily skin - that could be what you're smelling, or maybe blocked anal glands? We've had to deal with gland unpleasantry lately (well actually, the vet dealt with it - I wasn't about to go there!)

Those are the two possibilities that come right off the top of my head at the moment, anyway.

ETA: Bathing frequency - I have a basset, and he's fine with a bath once a month; twice a month in the summer when he's outside more and more active.

[Foley42]

My first thought was anal glands also, but I don't think that has anything to do with the hair loss. Our Beagle's anal gland secretions will take your breath away. It doesn't smell like urine or feces...smell her butt (haha) no seriously smell her butt.

Does Molly drag her butt on the carpet? If so, that can be a sign that she's trying to empty her anal glands.

Google "anal glands" and it will show you how to excrete them. My uncle (a Vet) excreted Abby's and sooo much yellowish/brown stuff (not poop) came out...I was amazed. FINALLY DH and I have figured out how to do it ourselves. It's disgusting, but I'll be damned if I'm smelling the anal glad stuff all day long. (insert *gag* here)

[greenbunny]

Not a dog owner, but my first thought was food allergies. My Summer had a really unpleasant skin odor before we figured out that she needed grain-free food. Have you noticed her doing a lot of scratching or licking since you've noticed the smell?

[penybryn]

I have basset hounds and one get a yeast infection in her skin. Causes her to scratch alot, especially around the neck/chest area. When she comes out of the crate, she has a weird yeasty odor. I changed her food to NutroMax lamb and rice. I also give her a bath once a week with CVS brand Selson blue. Strange but has been working.

[jesvet]

I think a lot of people just write off "that's how dogs smell" but so often there is some underlying issue, which everyone here hit on.

Anal glands- those stink to high heaven.
food allergies
yeast infections
thyroid conditions (which can also cause hair loss)

Other stuff too. I'd start with a vet visit to rule out some of the infectious stuff, and then ask about medicated shampoos (if she has seborrhea) or even maybe a food trial.

I have a stinky Golden whose stink resolved with a change in food, and it was so worth the effort! :D

[rubyredslippers]

The shedding is just what dogs do this time of year. Especially if she had been an outdoor dog before you got her--she built up a nice winter coat, and now spring is here, and she doesn't need it any more.

Have you washed her bedding? I wash bedding and collars when I bathe the dogs.

[K-L-U]

I have a dachshund and his anal glands get pretty bad sometimes. My DH has learned to squeeze them. I would hate to have to pay for that. It probably happens once a month or so. You can try that as some of the others have mentioned.

The other option is to take your dog to the vet and see.

[Sarah]

Thank you so much, everyone. I tried a new food, gave her a good scrubbing with peppermint shampoo, brushed her really well, and checked the anal glands (shudder). I don't know what it was, but she seems a lot better smelling. Maybe as the summer wears on she'll stop losing so much hair, too.

Thanks!!

[Susan]

Wow, I commend those of you who can "express" (as my vet calls it) your dog's anal glands yourself! I think it's well worth the money to have my vet do it!! ;)

[K-L-U]

Susan, oh I wish we could have the vet do that. Sometimes we have to squeeze them more than once a month and that is a lot of office visits. That is why the hubby does it. :)

[Susan]

Susan, oh I wish we could have the vet do that. Sometimes we have to squeeze them more than once a month and that is a lot of office visits. That is why the hubby does it.


Oh, I hear you - we don't really go to the vet as often as we should to get it done. The smell kind of tends to come and go, but when it's really bad, that's when we get the anal glands expressed. I'm just too chicken to learn how to do it myself!

[jesvet]

I do it at work too, I just don't want the smell in the house. :D

Susan- it isn't difficult (as long as the glands are healthy!), just kind of gross. OK, quite gross.

[Sarah]

Update- The smell has gone away, mostly, and I am pretty sure it's not the anal glands or the skin problem, as I sniffed around near her bum region (ew, sorry if TMI) and it's fine, and I checked the glands.

Another question to piggyback on here- I haven't been brushing the dog much, because as I said, until recently she didn't shed at all. Now she sheds COPIOUSLY. I took her outside today and I must have brushed for 20 minutes straight, and huge hairballs were still coming off the brush. How often should I brush her? Is it normal for her to lose this much hair all the time, or will it maybe slow down as the summer progresses and she loses her winter coat? And should I keep brushing her every day or something to help that process along?

She's a beagley type mix, although I think she's got some dacshund (I cannot spell that word) or something in there. Her hair is medium length, but longer than a beagles, by far.

[jesvet]

It's cyclical, so the shedding process waxes and wanes.

You may want to go to a petstore and ask for suggestions- there are different types of brushes that will help strip the undercoat faster, but the name slips my mind right now.

When dogs are shedding like crazy some people brush them multiple times a day...more for long coated dogs but you can do it that often if you need to.

[Sarah]

Thanks! I noticed that since I have been brushing her daily, she's been shedding a lot less (duh, right?).

Thank you all so much!