My Dog Has No Nose

[War Consigliere]

A few weeks ago I let my malamute off her lead in a local park and she set off at a dead sprint for a green, stagnant, stinking lagoon, bounding in and staying in for about fifteen minutes before I could lure her back to the shore. She went straight back on the lead, walked directly home, was thrown into the shower and washed three times before she was fit for polite company.

Still, the stench of what I think was blue-green algae has stayed with her ever since, even through professional washes. I think the bacteria's outcompeting the normal stuff on certain pockets on her skin - ones I can't quite place to go after with bleach - and when she walks past if the wind's right she still reeks of mildewed sneakers.

Has anyone got any recommendations beyond a sheepdip of Demestos? I can cover the smell for a few days, but I'm trying to work out how to take care of the bacteria that are causing the odour, particularly because of the dangers of blue-green algae. My vet's thrown up his hands and said that it needs to be taken care of, but he's got no idea how.

Thanks,

N.

[sheena]

Do you have access to a normal chlorine swimming pool ?? Could help, not sure what it would do to the pool.

[_PL_]

Did the vet do a skin scrape or take any kind of samples?

Bacteria respond to antibiotics and if there's a certain strain present they can hit it with specific instead of broad spectrum.

Then there's fungal, which stinks also and steamy thick warm dog hair is a great place for it to live especially after a foul dip in the lagoon. Maybe try another vet.

ETA- you're also washing her too much if there's a skin condition.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Powerlegs

[minimax]

Have you tried a different vet?

[Bjelkier]

Hope you don't take this the wrong way but it happens all the time with double coated breeds.

Are you drying the dog totally (with a high powered dryer) after it's been washed? As powerlegs says, thick coats are a heaven for fugal growths.

I'd try a different vet. Sounds like yours isn't being very helpful at all.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Bjelkier

[Barbara B]

Hi,

this may sound strange, but try rubbing tomato sauce into the coat, leaving it a while then washing out. I've heard they do this in places where there are skunks. It might work.

Barbara B

[moosmum]

Hi,

this may sound strange, but try rubbing tomato sauce into the coat, leaving it a while then washing out. I've heard they do this in places where there are skunks. It might work.

Barbara B

Thats tomato JUICE. Used to remove the smell. Unlikely to work on algae.

[Salukifan]

Wash in an anti-bacterial human wash and give a final rinse with a bucket of water with a good dose of white vinegar. Don't rinse the vinegar out.

ETA: if you think the issue is fungal, Malaseb would be the shampoo to use.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[moosmum]

Wash in an anti-bacterial human wash and give a final rinse with a bucket of water with a good dose of white vinegar. Don't rinse the vinegar out.

ETA: if you think the issue is fungal, Malaseb would be the shampoo to use.

Maybe tomato sauce would work for both smell and algae then....but you would have a realy hard time if anyone saw her in the meantime Might go pink and small like tomato:laugh:

Edited March 20, 2013 by moosmum

[frufru]

The tomato juice thing doesn't work for skunks so I would avoid that.

What Haredown said!

[Christina]

When my 3 year old tipped a whole pot of coal tar & calamine cream on his head long ago & rubbed it in nothing removed it so the hospital suggested I shaved his head.

Didn't & he looked like a toddler punk rocker with the spiked hairstyle for half a year:laugh: Would shaving your dog work ? If you could stand it. At least you would find out if the problem was in the skin or just the coat.

[Mim]

Don't shave a malamute!

I'd be seeking a second vet opinion.

Is she scratching at all?

I had a dog take herself for a swim in a disgusting pond and the smell was gone after two washes.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Mim

[frufru]

Second the poster who said you need to totally dry the coat after washing. Bacteria and or fungal microbes thrive in a moist environment. Don't leave any moisture in the coat (wear a mask) it will be like a snow storm :laugh:

Edited March 20, 2013 by frufru

[War Consigliere]

Thanks for the tips. I'm not using a hair drier because I don't own one, but I'll try and borrow one and give it a go. Is there a preferred type for drying mals? In the meantime I'll see if Malaseb or Phisohex shampoos work.

I'm not looking to shave her, even though there's an Elkhound around the way whose owner shaves him in a lion cut at the start of Summer and it looks hilarious.

The vet's working on the assumption that it's a bacterial issue based on the bacterial infections that keep coming out of that particular set of swamps. He didn't take a sample. Neither of us can quite identify which patch of skin and hair the stink's coming from.

[minimax]

Thanks for the tips. I'm not using a hair drier because I don't own one, but I'll try and borrow one and give it a go. Is there a preferred type for drying mals? In the meantime I'll see if Malaseb or Phisohex shampoos work.

I'm not looking to shave her, even though there's an Elkhound around the way whose owner shaves him in a lion cut at the start of Summer and it looks hilarious.

The vet's working on the assumption that it's a bacterial issue based on the bacterial infections that keep coming out of that particular set of swamps. He didn't take a sample. Neither of us can quite identify which patch of skin and hair the stink's coming from.

Def go a different vet then, if he thinks he knows the problem, but isn't investigating.

[Bjelkier]

You need something stronger then a hair dryer for a Mal. A good dog dryer is a must for anyone with a double coated breed. Dryers.

Trying different shampoo's won't really help until you can dry the coat properly, the moisture will remain trapped and bacteria will continue to grow.

If this was my dog I'd be getting it bathed and dryed by a good groomer who knows double coats and then if there is still an issue going to a different vet and getting samples taken.

[_PL_]

Yep, second opinion before you waste a lot of time and money.

I've never had a dog who was cured of bacterial/fungal by malaseb or pyohex alone, once there is that nasty smell. Mildly affected cases w/ short or shaved hair yes.

x2 on the pro dryer to get completely dry.

I'm also surprised that your vet didn't suggest moisture trapped close to the skin by double coat that's known to be an insulator. Or investigate prescription treatment.

Ears are another place for nasties so do ask for a check in there too.

[War Consigliere]

I found one of the patches - it's about half-way up her tail, so whenever she wags she blows stench everywhere. I can't see any skin irritation beneath it, though. I think there's another one in the shag on her withers. Assuming it's dry tomorrow, she's off for another bath.