Smell coming from a dog...

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Lindsey Edwards — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:04:45 GMT

Had a case very similar in a cavalier - history of frequent ear/skin, anal gland and dental issues followed by o descriptions of distressing smells by multiple members of household, which I could never locate on exam. Healthy other than mild/moderate anal glands never infected or bloodied. Bloods reasonable (don't have to hand), folate and cobalamin askew.

Stuggled hard to dissuade owner from dentals and anal gland removal because neither appeared significant for history and didn't warrant either anaesthesia or owner disappointment when 'condition' did not resolve.

Persuaded owner to temporarily change to hydrolysed diet and B12 injections due to bloods - reported back within 5 days she was never going to feed anything else to him ever again! As a long shot might be worth a try - I'm convinced adverse food reaction was behind glands, 'smell' and history of poor skin health. Appointments reduced to annual wellness/booster visits with delightful, appreciative owners!

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Sammy82 — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:24:19 GMT

I think strictly speaking gagging is dry boak

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Linda Filshie — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:22:22 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]

[quote user="Kirsten Simpson"]

This is doing my head in plus they say the smell makes them boak so much. Sigh

[/quote]

Is it just me that doesn't know what 'boak' means?

[/quote]

Puke. Vomit. Emesis.

I distinctly remember Martin Sullivan at Glasgow using the words "frothy boak" when talking about some medical case in a lecture.

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Sammy82 — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:20:45 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]

[quote user="Kirsten Simpson"]

This is doing my head in plus they say the smell makes them boak so much. Sigh

[/quote]

Is it just me that doesn't know what 'boak' means?

[/quote]

gag/vomit

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:15:53 GMT

[quote user="Kirsten Simpson"]

This is doing my head in plus they say the smell makes them boak so much. Sigh

[/quote]

Is it just me that doesn't know what 'boak' means?

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Sammy82 — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:08:28 GMT

Did her urine smell funny at all? I vagualy remember an old Alsation with a bladder tumour ( sorry don't remember details) who's urine smelled really strong and weird like rotten fruit, but no ketones. I think a full urinalysis (incl. sediment) is a good start. Maybe a vaginal examination would help as well, even though she has been spayed she might have a vaginitis/vaginal growth/ stump pyometra...

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Kirsten Simpson — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:09:13 GMT

Hmm pretty sure I checked the lips, something to check again I suppose but she has quite a neat mouth! Flatulence, no I think its more than that as when she licks herself, it seems to transfer to her mouth. Ive sent the urine off for urinalysis + culture to be sure its not a weird infection. It's hard to smell the dog all over as they wash her so much she smells like talcum powder! This is doing my head in plus they say the smell makes them boak so much. Sigh

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Andrew Mellor — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:06:29 GMT

Could it just be flatulent if it has IBD ?

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:48:23 GMT

The RSPCA Shelter next to my practice is currently looking after a load of terriers that were involved in badger baiting, owner awaiting trial. All sorts of facial injuries, including once lovely girl that is missing one side of her nose. When she sniffs things she places the top of her nose (where the hole is) against what she's smelling.

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Linda Filshie — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 19:24:37 GMT

Ok, not a helpful contribution from me, but this does remind me of he old joke:

"My dog's got no nose."

"How does he smell then?"

"Terrible!"

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:34:44 GMT

Just a slight cautionary tale. One of my best friends brought her lab in for a similar nasty smell several times. We followed a similar line to you, emptying anal sacs, checking mouth etc. After the third visit we were stumped. She phoned me the following day to say she had cleaned out her vegetable rack in her kitchen that night and found a rotting celeriac. This was precisely the smell the poor dog was blamed for, and binning it sorted the problem! She was very red faced and we have teased her about it for years now. Always hard to suggest their kitchen smells though to your owner!

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:12:05 GMT

Well there's no substitute for sniffing the dog all over - surely you'll find the source then. I find lip fold dermatitis is one that gets overlooked. However persistent anal gland problems sound still highly likely and a wet urine stained vulva sounds like a give-away! How about ketosis some people can smell it a mile away (I'm one of them) yet others can't even smell a bottle of nail varnish remover under their nose.

Funny things smelly dogs. Some clients bring in dogs that you can smell before they even come in the consult room yet the festering chronic otitis or malassezia dermatitis isn't even what they brought it for and they accept it as normal. Others bring the dog in because it smells yet even with your nose 2 inches from it you can smell nothing other than a vague normal doggy smell.

Re: Smell coming from a dog...

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:06:27 GMT

You say mouth fine but did you check for lip fold pyoderma? Have seen a few of those , especially cockers, which smell rancid even though there can be very little to see!!!

Can't think of anything else I'm afraid...