Doggy Odor
by David The Dogman

If your dog has doggy odor there could be many causes. There are many solutions.

Doggy odor can be caused by the dog rolling in decomposing organic material. It's a favourite fragrance of most dogs, and is usually cured by a good bath. Doggy odor might be due to excessive skin oil. Usually shampoo will get rid of this and strip it out, some dogs will require weekly baths. Between baths you can use dry shampoo. You can cover up the smell with any number of colognes for dogs ( never use human cologne) most vets stock 'Desodorante para perros' there is also a deodorant for cats.

A change in diet could be in order. The food you are using could result in an excess of oil in the skin and coat. You could try a food with a lower fat content. Some foods contain Yucca schideriga extract. This extract from the yukka plant results in stools and urine, which is less smelly. Eagle is one brand, which includes yucca in the formula.

Better nutrition, in general, could be a solution. If your buying a cheap food form a Supermarket try feeding a better quality dog food, such as a Super Premium like Hills Science Diet or Euakanuba (Eams) Purina or Pedigree. An addition of vitamins and minerals and particularly biotin has been found to help dogs with odor.

Excessive body odor could be a sign of illness. Offensive odor is a sign of cancer, seborrhea, mange and a variety of other diseases. Be sure to have your vet check your dog thoroughly.

Yeast infections and other infections in the ears are quite common and cause odor, so seek experienced help. Mange is quite nasty smelling, and if your dog smells in the hindquarters, it could be a problem with hair matted around the rectum, or with the anal sacs. The anal sacs are located to the left and right of the anus. The sacs produce a sour or rancid-smelling, watery secretion that is brownish in colour. They usually empty to make your dogs stool with the identifying smell. Sometime the sacs empty in an explosive way when the dog is frightened or stressed. Other times the anal sacs do not empty at all, and you or your vet must empty them. The big clue is when you see your dog 'scooting' along the floor, dragging his rear on the ground.

At the other end of the dog, offensive mouth odors could be due to gingivitis or periodontal (gum) disease. This also requires treatment from your vet. Mouth odor can also be a sign of corprophagy, or stool eating. Some dogs eat their own stools as a way of conserving enzymes which are in short supply. Other dogs will eat horse manure, cow manure and dog and cat feces, because they taste good to your dog.

If your dog is displaying any bad odor then it would be a good idea to have a chat with your vet. Some doggy odor is natural and some dogs smell like dogs. Regular bathing and a better type of food could get rid of that odor.

* Source: David The Dogman with written permission.