I smell, can you help me?

[happybratpack]

My name is Samantha and I'm really smelly. Even a day or so after I have a bath I'm starting to not smell so much like roses anymore. Mom has tried several different foods, I'm healthy and feel fine, but wooosh do I smell. I've read that Basset's can have a distinctly "houndy" odor but was wondering if anyone knew anything to help? I'm afraid of becoming a pack outcast and of losing my sleeping place on the leather sofa. I tend to leave my smell behind on whatever I'm laying on.

P.S. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, Mom just wants me to smell a bit better.

 

[minnieandme]

At first glance I thought you were talking about yourself Now I see you're talking about your dog. I don't have a dog so I can't help you. Maybe you can call your vet and see what they say.

 

[lulugirl]

"houndy" odor

 

[Mumbling Jumba]

We had a dog that had a run-in with a skunk and we called the forest preserve district and they suggested the following:

Buy 4 or 5 bottles of scented douche (This is not a joke)
Pour them over the dog and let it dry naturally.
Wash the dog as usual

Its get rid of all odors and does not hurt the dog. They said that this would get rid of even deep stinky odors as in the skunk and low and behold it worked.

Unfortunantly for us the dog swallowed a bunch of skunk spray and everytime he belched for the next month the house stunk of skunk.

 

[Hercules10]

Samantha, are you spayed? And do your parents embarass you by doing the ~ahem~ gland thing with your behind?

 

[crazee4mickey]

We had a basset--our most dear Buford--for 15 years and as adorable as he was, he did have a "distinct" odor.

He had regular baths and his ears had to be kept very clean because they were the worst for getting infections or dirty...then the smell, WOW!

You would pet him and your hand would smell so incredibly bad!

We gave Buford his own couch and just tried to keep him clean but they definately have their own smell that's for sure.

I guess eventually we just learned to put up with it because he was such a dear old gentleman.

Good luck on finding something to help you smell better Samantha! Remember if the humans try to banish you off the leather furniture, stand your ground!
ETA:
We now have a chocolate lab and he is odor free--I do believe it is mainly a basset thing!

 

[SC Minnie]

Unfortunantly for us the dog swallowed a bunch of skunk spray and everytime he belched for the next month the house stunk of skunk.

 

[Aimeedyan]

What food do you feed? That usually makes a huge difference in smell. Were they high quality foods that you tried?

Some breeds just plain smell, even with a high quality diet... poor guy =(

 

[happybratpack]

Samantha's Mom checking in here -

She's fixed and her glands seem ok. I haven't tried the douche technique though. (can't believe I even just wrote that) Her "gullet" area is so at this point I'd be willing to give her a douche bath. I have four other dogs and nobody smells quite like Sam. I'm worried that I'M starting to smell like Samantha too since she wants to be touching all the time and is almost permanently attached to my pillow.

It's almost like she picks up the smell from everything she touches or walks through. I guess it's just a Basset thing, love her love the smell I suppose.

I was rolling at the skunk burps!!! I'll pass on the news that Buford got his own couch, maybe she'll buy into that idea.

 

[kdzgon]

Definitely have the ears checked, and ask the vet to show you how to clean them. My DD has a bassett with a very strong hound smell, but it is much better nowadays since she learned to care for his ears properly.

I'll ask tonight what else she did - Max's odor was definitely overwhelming and (most times) is not too bad at all nowadays.

 

[StanH]

Ditto the ears.....

 

[DisneyBlonde]

You may smell but you're soooo cute!

I have a cat I can't knock the smell out of, it's like having a port-o-potty in the room. When you figure this out let me know.

 

[tink38]

Samantha's Mom checking in here -

She's fixed and her glands seem ok. I haven't tried the douche technique though. (can't believe I even just wrote that) Her "gullet" area is so at this point I'd be willing to give her a douche bath. I have four other dogs and nobody smells quite like Sam. I'm worried that I'M starting to smell like Samantha too since she wants to be touching all the time and is almost permanently attached to my pillow.

It's almost like she picks up the smell from everything she touches or walks through. I guess it's just a Basset thing, love her love the smell I suppose.

I was rolling at the skunk burps!!! I'll pass on the news that Buford got his own couch, maybe she'll buy into that idea.

It sounds like she has a yeast infection. Try using Nizoral shampoo on her every other day and see if that works. You mat also want to take her to the vet or call them to see which shampoo they recommend.

I had a bassett hound (her name was Norma Jean) and she smelled to high Heaven from yeast infections in the gullet area.

I hope that helps!

 

[themarquis]

do you use scented shampoos on her? my family dog was always washed with ... mmm ... I think it was herbal essences ... that seemed to knock the smell off him. Think my mom used herbal essences conditioner on him, too .. not sure why!

 

[ilovepcot]

deleted

 

[clutter]

You can tell if it's the ears, just lift them and whiff!!! If you it's the ears. Unfortunately, the drops for yeast in the ears can make the smell worse. Ditto the anal glands. My former bassets were notorious for backing up!!

However, it's probably just the hound smell. As they age, they get houndier.

 

[Melisa1]

How old is your baby? I have a 13 year old Shih-tzu and he smells great after a bath, but a few days later its horrible. I am thinking it could have something to do with age .
Also, check the ears for an infection, if they smell bad your dog my have an ear infection. The anal glands are another.
My dog seems to like to lick himself in a certain area .....and has developed yeast infections there - that can be smelly too!

 

[ducklite]

In addition to her ears, make sure her oral health is OK. Dogs with a plaque buildup or bad teeth can have a noxiously foul odor in their snout area.

Food can play a part of it, and like the others suggested, the ears on a bassett and other long eared dogs can be a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Once you get any problems cleaned up (a trip to the vet is the best place to start) your vet can give you a number of OTC remedies to keep the ears clean and non-stinky.

Anne

 

[PlutosFriend]

Another "check the ears" vote here I have a cocker spaniel and she has terrible ear issues She can get so smelly when they are infected or have yeast. Dogs with floppy/droopy ears are prone for ear problems since air can't get in there easily. Take a cotton swab or an old rag and wet it, fold the dogs ear back and sort of wipe it out. If there is gook on there, you will know!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I have a great, cheap doggie shampoo! She'll smell wonderful - for awhile at least!

Get Apple Cider Vinegar and liquid Dial Soap. Mix half and half and then dilute with water. Make sure to rinse well after you scrub her down.

I got this a long time ago from someone who shows Goldens. It's not so strong that it'll strip the essential oils from the hair, but strong enough to do the job.