Dog stinks

[junipertree2]

It's simply that. 7 year old Jack Russell, speyed female with no health problems, just smells very unpleasant. Having her glands cleared by a vet has made no difference. It's just a rank, unclean smell, like sweaty socks left in a laundry basket for a week. She gets a weekly bath but in less than four days it is as bad. I really dread her lying on a bed because it affects the bedclothes. Any suggestions?

Could it be her diet? Has she always smelled bad or is it a recent thing? If it’s recent thing it may be worth getting the vet to check her general health.

Sorry I see you say she has no health problems, it sounds like it’s just that damp dog smell that a lot of dogs have, not sure what the answer is other than what you are doing, does her bedding get washed regularly?

It's got worse over the last year . Funnily I have just been Googling 'dog smells of dirty socks' and it seems to be a thing....either a bad reaction to grain in food or sometimes a more serious underlying cause like adrenal or thyroid disease...

Oh dear let’s hope it’s the food issue, I think I would get her to the vets sharpish though as if it’s a food issue it may take a while for it to get out her system and you can’t afford to wait to see if it’s a food issue in case it is an adrenal or thyroid problem which needs immediate treatment, I hope you get to the bottom of it and that it’s not serious.

Is it a yeasty smell op? Our lurcher has little hair in places like his armpits and belly and his bare skin gets clammy. He sometimes smells a bit like a fusty old trainer. You can get Malaseb shampoo for it from the vet.

I’d take DDog to the vets for a check up. Throw a blanket on the bed so you can wash that/keep off the bed (prob too late for that now, I know!)

Many food intolerances come out in them smelling - what do you feed her? Could you switch to a different flavour or switch to say, a potato based food instead of rice to see if it makes a difference?

Look up natural diets for dogs and try that. I know a couple of ppl who abandoned commercial dog food and just give their dogs fresh human quality meat and a few other human style bits like veg. Dogs no longer smelled after the switch.

It sounds like an allergy to me.

Dogs should not be bathed that often and it's probably not helping things.

As above, I would try a medicated shampoo when you do bath her and talk to the vet about allergies perhaps.

Oh and yes, stop bathing him so often as it can cause real issues with their skin. Dogs really don't need bathing often (if at all) - mine only gets bathed if he's really muddy or he's rolled in something

She was at the vet only last week - he didn't mention the smell! I will talk to him about the diet. It does very much sound as if it may be that, if not a blood test in order, thanks everyone.

What food is she on? If it’s absolutely not her skin (you’ve checked her armpits and groin and any skin folds) then I would go for a very simple raw food, something like Paleo Ridge Classic (although there are a lot cheaper options out there if costs are a factor) and possibly ask the vet to run some blood tests for thyroid etc.

I came on to mention malaseb shampoo also. Have you also checked her ears?

Bathing every week is OTT and you are likely to be disturbing the skin flora. What shampoo are you using?

It does seem to emanate from beneath her legs and feet more. Am I right in thinking this may be yeast? I've been looking on dog owner forums and a couple of posters have mentioned that. Will go to Pets at Home later and ask advice, the receptionist at the vet bit is really helpful and they have absolutely loads of dog food and shampoos in the store.

Have you got an independent pet shop nearby? They’re often extremely experienced and knowledgeable about this sort of thing. I’m sure the receptionist is very good - but if you do have an independent place nearby then it might be worth trying them first.

@junipertree2

It does seem to emanate from beneath her legs and feet more. Am I right in thinking this may be yeast? I've been looking on dog owner forums and a couple of posters have mentioned that. Will go to Pets at Home later and ask advice, the receptionist at the vet bit is really helpful and they have absolutely loads of dog food and shampoos in the store.

Sounds like it could be. My dog had a very bad skin condition lol his life that smelt so bad when it flared up. There was no cure for it but we controlled it with medicated baths, coconut oil and bouts of antibiotics. Sometimes he'd lick and that would make the smell worse. It was as you describe, sweaty socks junk of mixed with dead animal , no other way to describe it!

I'd recommend speaking to your vet again.

Not sweaty socks junk obviously, bloody autocorrect

I was just coming on to ask the same question. Our 12 year old spaniel has got really smelly.

I would change her food and get some malaseb shampoo from the vet as it sounds like a yeast infection. My dog is always yeasty due to allergies and has a bath twice a week. My DS fed him some cheap dry food as we ran out and his skin got worse as did the smell

I've got 2 spaniels and their feet smell like parmesan cheese if left. They get a footbath most days in very dilute Hibiscrub (from Amazon, a bottle lasts about 2 years). It's their feet getting wet and drying slowly.

Definitely not regularly rolling in fox poo? My delightful lab does this at any opportunity and it takes a LOT of washes to get rid of the very overpowering smell!

It could be folliculitis. You need to see your vet and get an appropriate prescription.