Readers Respond: Tell us about your stinky pet

In other cases, a bad odor may simply indicate that the pet needs a bath.

What's your pet's stinky story? Did you find the cause, and how did you get them smelling good again?

scruffy the dog

Scruffy is a mid-small dog (terrier). He's very very gun shy. He jumps at the slightest noise. He does claw at his ears some but not always. But he as this "wet" smell always bath or not. One vet told us it was his skin another said it was the food. We've tried everthing. It's my mother's dog (she's 89 yrs old) and she don't think anythings wrong but I can smell him 6 to 8 ft away. Where do you start ? Thanks. Bob

—Guest bob

Stinky Paws

My poor lttle dachshund has stinky paws and they look terrible. He can barely walk. It is really sad. I have had him to the vet so many times, we even took him to Texas A@M hoping for help. All they give is antibiotics, it is so sad, I cry.

—NANCYHADEN

Stinky Dog Tears

Our 14 year old poodle had bad breath and stinky tears until we got a tip from a friend that it was caused by his plastic dishes. We switched to stainless steel and within a few days the tearing stopped, the odor was gone and his breath was fresh. Our friends had the same results for their 2 dogs. Don't know what causes it but happy that the problem is solved. It also can't be healthy for the dog. So, THROW AWAY THE PLASTIC and switch to glass or stainless steel bowls. I would never give a dog another plastic chew toy either.

—Guest Dan

smelly dog the cure? possibly

An update on smelly dog. Vet has identified that the area around her mouth, in the folds is festering with bacteria. So Hibiscrub antibacterial wash and antibiotics. The smell subsided alsmost immediately with the wash to day so after every meal and before bed. I did insist that that a swab was taken and grown to make sure she is on the right ABs. It was reading another smelly dog story about the folds that got me going to the vet. Thanks whoever that was

—cockersrus

Smelly dog

My 2 1/2 year old bitch cocker has the most appalling dead fish smell. She has always been a little less than fresh, but it is really nasty. She eats the same as my other cocker bitch, who smells perfect after a bath, they are both rollers-she has been spayed and has had anal glands removed. Her teeth are fine and she has plenty of energy. She was tested for diabetes so come on guys why does my little girl stink.

—cockersrus

Outdoor dog oder

My dog A small two coated dog has a very strong oder when he comes in from outside even for just a few mins. Hes not rolling in anything or ruting. the oder will subside after 20 mins or so inside. this only happens when outside (anywhere)

—Guest David H

Smelly dog

I have an 8 yr. old female yorkie who started to smell like vomit. She's an indoor dog and there is no evidence of vomit. She was groomed professionally a week ago.

—Guest Evelyn Olson

I have a stinky dog

I have a five pound chihuahua I rescued from the pound a year ago. Her skin was a mess when I got her with lots of hair loss, it is much better now but she stinks. I was feeding her some food with lamb in it but lately I have been feeding her grain free dry only. I think it is a bacterial infection that makes her stink, last night, I washed her with a microbacterial shampoo that I got at the vet and she did not stink this morning, usually she does. So I think maybe she started out as a food allergy and then she got some microbes in her fur and it just built from there. So for stinky dogs, think of bacterial infection.

—Guest birdinflight

LAMB DOG FOOD MAKES DOGS SMELL

My dog was always smelly even though she was clean she smelled like she rolled in something. Then someone at the kennel said that dog food with lamb in it makes dogs smell. I changed her food to purina one with salmon and the difference is amazing. She has no longer has any odor problem-unless she does roll in something!

—Guest cindy

Stinkey dog

Our dog is bouvier standard poodle cross, the smellies dog ever, he loves to swim and his coat is so thick it doesn't dry, about 1 hour with a hair drier, so we now shave him. so sad.

—Guest Elaine

Check for hypthyroidism

Tell your vet to do an inexpensive thyroid blood test. As with regular doctors, our vet had our dog on antibiotics and using expensive anti-fungal shampoo - in other words, treating the symptoms. When we had a stroke of inspiration and asked him to do a thyroid test, turned out our dog's level was .50 instead of desirable .92. Within days of taking thyroid supplement, she went from being a black-bellied snarfling and scratching annoyance that made the entire house smell like a barn, to a more playful and energetic dog than she had ever been before. She's also starting to look slim instead of porky for the first time in her five years, and her skin color has returned to normal. BTW, hypothyroidism underlies 50+ diseases. If you have mysterious not-wellness yourself, do a search for Barnes Basal Temperature test - simple, self-administered, but of course not profitable for drug companies which is (ya think?) why you've never heard of it.

—Guest priehl

Dog Odor

My dog has a bad odor. We give his bath regular but odor never leave for long. He is keep out side would that be a cause. Brought him inside for the last 2 days to see if that helps. Temp has been hot here in Houston. EDITOR'S NOTE - extreme summer temps can be fatal for pets kept outside. Make sure to provide fresh clean water to drink and cool off in each day.

—Guest Jimmy

Ear Problems

I had been having problems with my Chocolate Lab's ears. I cleaned them regularly, and used a solution my vet had given me - to no avail. Once I started working for a all natural pet supply shop and learned a thing or two about pet health, I changed his diet to raw foods and used a apple vinegar solution for his ears (which can be found at any health food store). He seems to be doing much better now. I have noticed that all my pets now are much happier, and healthier since I have started giving them supplements like multi-vitamins formulated just for dogs and cats, a fish oil, and digestive enzymes. Hope this helps someone else in the same predicament. :)

—Guest Marianne

Sleepy Beagles Frito Feet

I thought I was crazy,now I read about Frito feet! My beagle A.K.A buggle has a different smell when he's asleep (I call it sleepy buggle) I never noticed that it was from any particular part of his body,and had never put much thought into what it smelled like. But, after ask.com-ing why he smelled diff i read about Frito feet, and of course had to smell his paws. Sure enough its his feet that smell, and I'll be damned if it doesn't smell like corn chips. Been like this since a pup,no hair loss or licking so it never occurred to me to ask our vet-I just noticed he smelled different when sleepy. The scary part is, i always liked the smell....now I know I love stinky sleepy buggle feet :) EDITOR'S NOTE: More about "frito feet" here: http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/f/Frito-Feet.htm

—Guest Murphy

Female Yorkie with terrible feces odor

I have this little 5 year old female Yorkie that I recently acquired and she has a terrible feces odor nearly all of the time. I bathe her and it does not help. She has been spayed. She does not appear nervous. Since she does not smell this way all of the time I am curious as to what this could be that causes it. I can't tell if the glands are full. Perhaps because I am not a professional. I just need help. EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, the first thing to do is have your dog examined by your vet to rule out troublesome anal sacs or other disease. Related info: http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/tp/Stinky-Pets.htm

—Guest Margaret Flickinger

smelly bum

We have a sweet french mastiff that we rescued a few years ago. We think he is about 6 or 7 years old now. A few months ago he developed an odor that I attributed to his anal glands. I tried expressing them on a number of occasions. However, the odor persisted. He did not scoot or lick. I took him to the vet. First round of antibiotics barely worked. The second attempt was an injectable antibiotic that seemed to work for about a month. Having already gone through about $500 and not being able to afford subsequent veterinary expenses, I purchased some antibiotics on my own (I have access and bought one of those recommended by the vet originally). These too seemed to work for awhile. But, the odor is back. I really don't think more antibiotics is the solution and removing the anal glands is extremely expensive. I am not even sure it is the anal glands...

—sweetrats

stinky doggie

my dog was so smelly that I had to take him to the vet. the vet said it was his kidneys and did not check out his mouth. for 8 months my dog suffered with a mouth infection and finally had to be put to sleep. he was a 14yr old Cocker Spaniel and the infection was in the folds of his mouth. the smell was in fact rotting flesh. during that 8 month period, the vet did not once look into his mouth!!! the vet is now going through a health review board hearing due to his negligence. i have of course changed vets. i have 3 other dogs, but i don;t think i will ever get over losing my Carson. He was a therapy dog and was loved by everyone.

—Guest susant14