Oily Skin:
Dogs skin odor starts with oily skin and if this situation is not corrected, it can very easily lead to other complications. The skin of some breeds produce excessive amounts of oil and once this occurs, it can become very rancid. The most commonly affected breeds are Cocker and Springer spaniels, and it is a condition that is referred to as Seborrhea. Seborrhea comes in two different forms; Secca, which is dry skin, and Oloesa, which is oily skin. The oily skin condition is also referred to in some cases as general seborrhea, and is more of a symptom that it is an actual disease.
This skin condition will produce scaling in your dogs skin and if it affects a breed other than spaniels, it will generally occur around the middle years of your dogs life. It produces yellowish-brown scales that primarily affect the elbows, hocks, and the ears of your pet. However, in Cocker and Springer spaniels it can be what is referred to as a primary condition that is present at birth. It is a defect known as keratinization, which is a condition where the epithelial cells become horny or scaly as the result of deposition of keratin, and is believed to be the result of a Vitamin A deficiency.
Treatment:
Treatment for this form of dogs skin odor is usually done with medicated shampoos to reduce the amounts of oil, unless it is severe. In the more serious cases, topical and systematic therapy may be used. Retinoids may have to be used in the more difficult of cases in order to normalize the turnover of the epithelial cells in your dog. If it is believed to be a caused by a Vitamin A deficiency, supplements or power forms of this vitamin will be given until the situation is corrected.
Bacterial Infections:
The next most common form of dogs skin odor is a bacterial infection known as Superficial Pyoderma. Bacterial infections such as this are usually the result of the normal flora of your dogs skin and are not contagious to other dogs. However, they can become very nasty infections that can be extremely painful for your dog. This form of infection comes in three different forms; on the skin surface, within the skin itself, or under the skin. The actual health implication that your dogs suffer from this bacterial infection can range from mild to quite severe.
The superficial form of pyoderma as well as the surface form can cause intense itching in your dog that can result in a tremendous amount of discomfort. If it is beneath the skin, it can cause several other potential health conditions, depending on the severity. If your dog develops this form of body odor and infection, there are three very distinctive symptoms that you can watch for. The first will be the development of red, itchy, and painful skin lesions; the second will be pustules or pimples; and the third will be draining sores.
If your dog experiences any of these symptoms it has now become more than just a skin odor, it has become a potential health risk that will need immediate professional attention.
Treatment:
Treatments for bacterial infections are usually done with antibiotics. Topical therapy may also be used and will include shampoos and conditioners that include Benzoyl Peroxide or other like medications to address the bacterial infections. In most cases, this is not few days' type of remedy, as it will usually take 3 to 4 weeks before it can be fully eradicated.
Malassezia Dermatitis:
The final form of dogs skin odor is considered to be the most common, and is a yeast infection referred to as Malassezia dermatitis. This form of body odor manifests itself as a greasy, red, and very itching skin condition that has an extremely rancid odor. This is the sticky wet dog smell but multiplied several times over as it can become that bad. This infection commonly affects your dogs ventral neck area, groin area, armpits, or their perinal areas. It is in most all cases also a secondary condition that is associated with some type of an allergy.
If it is left untreated, it can very easily move deeper into your dogs skin where it becomes very dangerous. If this does occur, it can result in nodules that become purulent, which means that pus discharge occurs. If the actual underlying allergy cause is not determined, it will become a reoccurring condition that will be extremely unpleasant for you because of the smell, and potentially very dangerous to your dog.
Treatments:
Treatments for yeast infections will all depend on the severity of the infection. If it is a mild case, topical therapy may be the only treatment used. Severe cases, however, will involve systemic therapy and the best method is by using a human shampoo that contains Selenium sulfide. The most common form is known as Selsum Blue. However, this is a very difficult condition to correct in some dogs, and several countries have approved Nizoral, another form of medicated shampoo which is extremely effective.
If your dog is an active swimmer, they will also need a follow up protective actions, but this form of treatment is very cheap. A vinegar and water rinse made of one fifth vinegar to one tenth water can easily prevent this condition for reoccurring in your dog.
Dirt:
There is still one other potential cause of dogs skin odors; dirt or other unpleasant objects. Dirt that is not cleaned promptly from your dogs hair coat can also case odors to develop. However, as any dog owner can attest to, dogs can do some very crazy things. For some reason, they just love to roll in something that is downright stinky such as cat droppings, bird droppings, or other like objects.
Summary:
Dogs skin odor is something that every owner will face at least once, if not several times, during your pets lifetime. In some cases it may be something very simple, while in other cases in can be something that has real potential dangers for your dog. Identifying the underlying cause once the obvious dirt issue is ruled out, and then having it looked at by your veterinarian, can save you and your dog a lot of unpleasant experiences.
I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.
He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.
After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.
After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.
Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.
I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.
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