My dog absolutely honks!

[handlemecarefully]

She is absolutely rank and I feel quite sorry for her because it is all I can do to bring myself to pat her atm, and she is spending most of the daylight hours outside because she is so stinky.

This is not the normal situation for her - she's generally inoffensive smelling.

She is a bitch in her first season and being inexperienced in canine matters - is the smell something to do with her being in season? Or could there be some other reason (was suggested to me that she might have rolled in fox poo)

What breed? I know greyhounds have a gland around the anus that can cause this.

Bernese Mountain Dog...

Is it a permanent thing with greyhounds or something that just happens if they are in season?

I know my mums beagle had to have her anal glands squeezed at the vets as they were blocked, yeuckk !! And believe me that poor dog stank. Perhaps its worth getting her checked. Vets bills are so expensive though, I know.
My dog always smells a bit but she is a hound and apparently they have a strong doggy smell. She has also been known to roll in dead fish on the beach and that is foul smelling. Have you tried bathing your dog? Mine goes in the shower cubicle and has a shower!!

Get her checked over ...

However the yeahina mutts regularly get sprayed in Fabreze after particularly free range walks !!

AS far as I know the glands needs to be sqeezed to get rid of the oil, sorry don't know much more.

Anal glands dont often make dog smell-more usual give signs of discomfort eg dragging bum along floor!
Def sounds like foxmuck-metallicy foul smell
or skin problem-mousey smell
Does her coat look ok?

oh god very hairy

A bath?

If it does turn out to be fox poo, rub some tomato ketchup into the offending area before you wash it - removes the smell which is otherwise very persistent. Strange but true.

Nervous about a bath - don't think she will take too kindly to it and wrestling with 6 stone of strong wet dog - eeek

I think I will get dh to get up close and personal with her when he gets home and try to locate precisely where the smell is emanating from...(he isn't as squeamish as me)

I'm not sure I would describe it as a metallicy smell, but it is certainly foul. It defies accurate definition - perhaps a bit like a fish that has been rotting and mouldering in the bottom of a bin for a bit... could that still be fox? If the consensus is 'yes' I will try the tomato sauce thing before...gulp...a bath [argggh emoticon]

It does sound as if she has rolled in something. The tomato sauce thing sounds like a good idea. I have never heard of that. If your dh can find which part the smell is from you could maybe use the sauce then just wipe over the area. I got this spray called Keep it Clean from the pet shop, which I bought for the hamsters cage but it also says it can be used sparingly on both animals and their bedding as a deoderiser to keep them smelling fresh. It is in a clear bottle shaped like a febreze bottle and you can get lemon, lavender or coconut - only £1.99 a bottle. It could be worth a try.

Oh HMC, please wash her, how are you going to pat a dog who has been just "deodoriser" after rolling on something nasty? It would smell better but the particles will be still there.

If it's to much of a trouble, is there a "Dial a wash" service in your area?

oh yes, I did mean wash her first. It was just that the spray might make her smell fresh. My dog hates her bath and she is big, but me and dh just do it together, as it is hard work, but we always bath or shower her every few weeks.

Message withdrawn

Fox poo smells really really disgusting, but like nectar to dogs! I'd try the ketchup (if you can find where she has rolled) and bath thing to see if that clears it up first. Not sure I like the idea of spraying febreze on my dogs as I wouldn't ever use anything like that on myself or my clothes, or anything else in my house for that matter!

With her having been in season, and being a hairy type maybe she has some blood left on her coat but apart from that there is no reason that you would notice her smelling any different.

The anal gland thing can be checked very easily by the vet, who could even show you how to empty them for yourself should you be so inclined! Certain foods help to keep the anal glands from getting blocked but I can't think of what they are at the moment, sorry.

Good luck!

"The anal gland thing can be checked very easily by the vet, who could even show you how to empty them for yourself should you be so inclined! "

lol I think I might pass on that particular technique.

OK - a wash it will be (with dh embroiled to hold her steady) and we'll see if the smell goes. If it doesn't then it's probably anal glands.

fox poo is possibly one of the worst smells ever and im a nurse so ive smelt some choice ones! i wash my dog outside using the hosepipe ,dont worry about cold water ,especially with your breed ,i use baby bath or shampoo and tend to put it on where the smell is worst , then let him have a run in the garden to get the worst of the wet off ,good luck