Dog Grooming Hints

A smelly dog can be almost offensive, and the odor can be caused by many factors. It may just be that the dog is unclean and needs a bath, or it could be the symptom of an underlying problem. Before learning how to deal with a smelly dog, you need to know what is causing the odor.

UNCLEANLINESS

Dogs love running around and rolling in everything! It is a sign of marking their territory, leaving their scent through glands in the skin. It is also a way of removing dead hair when they are moulting. Sometimes, however, they will roll in mud, dust, fox or badger mess and worse. It clings to their hair, especially if they are a long or wire haired breed and makes them smell awful.

Regular bathing is not always necessary but is a good idea, to keep your dogs coat nice and healthy. Once a month is regular enough, as dogs generally keep themselves well groomed with their tongues and teeth.

Use a special dog shampoo available from your local pet shop or vet. Human shampoos, even some baby shampoos, can be too harsh for their skin and cause allergic reactions such as rashes and hair loss. Make sure you rinse thoroughly to remove all of the soap. There are herbal shampoos available, which claim to help deter parasites and flies, but do not rely on these alone.

Bad breath can sometimes become very severe. Ensure you brush your dogs teeth regularly to prevent this. Some pastes are available that you can simply place on their foods. Cleaning their teeth will not only freshen their breath but also promote good dental hygiene and lessen the chance of dental problems. Giving dogs biscuits every day can also help.

UNDERLYING PROBLEM?

An infection is the most common source of a bad smell. Burst abscesses have a foul almost rotten odor to them. When grooming your dog look for signs of an abscess. A small swelling that seems tender to the touch, or a cut that seeps pus or serum is a sign that an abscess is or has formed. Antibiotics usually clear these up pretty sharpish.

Blocked anal glands can also cause dogs to smell. They tend to scoot around on their behinds and will wash their perineum constantly. This can also be a sign of worms though. Your vet will be able to unblock the gland for you. Sometimes they can become infected, but again a short course of antibiotics will help clear this up. Some dogs are prone to getting blocked anal glands and need regular attention.

If your dogs breath smells it could be, as mentioned above, that they simply need their teeth cleaned, however it can also be a sign that a tooth needs removing. If teeth are left uncleaned and become rotten, the infection can get into the blood stream and cause more problems for organs such as the kidneys and liver. If the smell becomes like ketones, or pear-drops, it is a sign of kidney disease. This will be diagnosed with the aid of blood and urine tests.

Flatulence, or wind, can be caused by dietary problems. Try changing their food slowly and see if this helps. If not your vet will happily perform an allergy test to help determine which foods your dog should avoid.

GENERALLY SMELLY DOG

Unfortunately some dogs are just prone to being smelly. Following these simple rules may help:

1. Regular grooming and teeth brushing. If necessary hire a professional groomer.

2. Watch their diet. Cut out any foods that seem to cause problems with gas, constipation or diarrhea.

3. Regular check ups. Once a year, when your dog is due its vaccination, the vet will give them a general check over. Ask them to check the dog’s anal glands and point out any smelly issues.

Dog Grooming & Routine Care

All dogs need regular grooming. It improves the appearance of short coated dogs, and is essential for those with long coats. It also does much to stop unwanted hair on the furniture and carpets. Start as soon as you get your dog or puppy. If you get dogs used to grooming from an early age they will accept it as a normal routine and become to enjoy it.

For the shorter haired dogs a fairly firm clothes brush will be sufficient, but if you need one that’s a bit stiffer your local pet store should have a wide choice of brushes. Regular brushing will remove the loose hair and give a shine to the dogs coat. For long haired breeds a strong steel comb as well as a brush is essential. So many owners think they are grooming their dogs when they are actually only running a brush over the surface of the tangled coat. A daily grooming should prevent the formation of matts and tangles, even in spaniels and poodles.

Parasites

Remember while grooming your dog to look for parasites such as fleas and lice which may have been picked up by your dog. To see how to deal with these, please visit our pet website which is shown below.

You may also find grass seeds in the coat, and especially between the toes. These, if not removed, may penetrate the skin causing painful abscesses. A daily examination of the coat will also give you the opportunity to check for skin irritations that may need attention.

Foot Care.

The feet should be examined daily, especially the hairy types of dog such as spaniels, for the presence of thorns. It is better to keep the hair between the toes and under the pads trimmed short, and to wash the feet after exercise in muddy weather. The accumulation of grit and hard packed mud under the pads may contribute to the formation of cysts or boils on the feet. Keeping your dogs feet clean is a must.