Minimising dander/smells etc

[Oneverytiredmummy]

Hello everyone!

I'm just wondering if anybody can recommended anything to minimise smells and dander in the house from dogs.

I've been cleaning twice a day sometimes in the areas that puppy is but it's affecting DS asthma. Windows are left on vent. Puppy is none shedding (poodle) but obviously still has some dander so it's about minimising that. He is a bit stinky (general doggy smell) but can smell it in the areas he goes most.

He's not allowed upstairs in bedrooms but has most of downstairs to wander (sleeps in his crate in the living room). We don't have carpets downstairs just a rug that I shampoo monthly.

I don't want to be bathing him every week as it'll dry out his skin (or if anybody does this can they recommend a nice smelling sensitive shampoo that has worked and not caused irritation).

TIA

I'm not sure there's anything you can do to minimise either of those things effectively, unfortunately - other than what you're already doing.

You can get doggy dry shampoo that you just spray on and brush through, but if it's the dander that's causing the problems, I'm not sure that it'll make very much difference.

How often are you having him groomed? And in what style? A nice short groom (10mm or less all over, keeping topknot, ears and tail if wanted) at 4-6 weekly intervals would be my recommendation for a client struggling with allergies.

Bathing weekly is fine for some dogs, but others find it too much so it's just a case of try it for a month or two and see how you go.
I'd suggest a nice, gentle shampoo like Duoxo s3 Calm which is formulated for sensitive skin so shouldn't cause any harm when being used regularly. Use a shower pouffe to lather the shampoo on aswell, it helps to get it right down to the skin making it for easier to wash the dander away.

There’s a product called petal cleanse that you apply to the dog weekly that’s supposed to help allergies quite a lot.

Smell… tbh, IME having to wash bedding monthly because it smells isn’t typical especially with a breed that’ll be getting fairly regular grooms. What food is he on? That can make dogs a bit whiffy.

Thank you all of you for your replies, really appreciate it.

@KnitAndKnackered I've shaved him down to 22mm all over (except his top knots) and shaved his muzzle right down just incase it was that that was smelling.hes brushed and combed every day and comes to work with me (I'm a dog groomer but nothing I usually would recommend to customers is working for us). But thank you for the suggestion of taking him shorter, I'll try that and see if it improves anything and I will have a look at buying some of the shampoo too. Thank you very much.

@tabulahrasa thank you, I'll have a look at that. At this moment in time I'm willing to try anything. He's on step up chicken puppy food at the moment (food he was on from the breeder). I've never known a dog to smell this strong. I've been washing his bedding twice a week because it's that strong of a smell. Are you able to recommend any decent foods please?

That’s not an awful food - I’d be tempted to try grain free and see if that helps at all, you get supplements for skin issues as well, might be worth trying?

Theres nothing else going on? I’m assuming he’s fine medically, but for instance one of my current dogs kept peeing on his front legs till he started cocking his leg properly or manky ears? Ears can be pretty smelly

A poodle puppy really shouldn't smell so badly that you're having to wash bedding twice a week. It sounds like there might be something else going on or you're just extra sensitive to the smell as you have someone with allergies in the house.

@tabulahrasa ok thank you very much for your help. I'll look into that today.
I don't think there is anything medically wrong, I did pop him to the vets and they didn't mention anything other than keep ears clean (which we do daily) and try bathing him. He itches occasionally but nothing excessive. Just at a loss with the smelliness, it just seems very excessive to me compared to all my other dogs I've had and other dogs. My dad suffers with asthma too and he's mentioned it does affect him a bit too. But @sunsetsandboardwalks you might be right, it might just be a me and asthma sufferers in house that are just more sensitive to it and it's not that bad.

Thank you everyone whose commented though, some great suggestions and I'll try these. 😁

Have you thought about having him allergy tested to make sure he's not reacting to his diet?

@sunsetsandboardwalks I am thinking about it, I know poodles can be quite sensitive to foods etc so might be worth looking into that. Thank you 😊

It just came to mind as chicken is a surprisingly common allergen for dogs and you say he's on chicken food - may be worth switching to the fish version for example, and seeing if it helps? Mine smells awful on lamb for example, but is fine on other proteins!

@sunsetsandboardwalks I've managed to order some Harringtons fish. Was surprised by the lack of alternative options to chicken that aren't expensive! 🤗thanks for the suggestion hopefully may help

With regards to allergies, dogs produce numerous allergens, some of which are present in their saliva and urine. So, while someone allergic may react to fur/dander, they could also react to the dogs saliva (which can be airborne droplets in the dogs breath and become airborne particles when it dries on surfaces). Unfortunately poodles and poodle crosses get called “hypoallergenic” but all this seems to mean is they don’t shed which doesn’t make a difference to people’s allergies if they’re reacting to more than just the fur.