If your Bullmastiff smells. Find a cause.
Sometimes dogs smell neutral but when they go outside they may
return very stinky. You as an owner is very disappointed because you
know that the cause is definitely not a lack of grooming.
It is hard to trace the smells of your canine back to their
natural origins, but there are some general denominators that
factor in a sudden smelliness.
First of all you should know that each dog has a natural smell. It
is pretty strong. It even becomes stronger when a bath is not given
every two weeks. This normal, bodily scent is spread to the body by
scent glands that are located in various regions of the animals
body: behind ears, underneath the chin, and of course in the anal
region. Dogs that play in areas with sandy soils will most likely
roll around in the soil. It is uncertain what the attraction is, but
this is normal behavior and given half a chance, you will see your
pet roll around in the dirt and look more content than ever! If you
have cats that use the soil as a litter box then the dog quickly
adopts that scent. In the same way, those dogs which take on the
smell of their surroundings will rub against the ground in an effort
to spread their natural scent around as well. Doing this, they may
pick up some scent of other animals, including dogs, which have done
the same thing. Bullmastiff have a naturally oily skin which makes
it easy for dirt to get trapped against the skin. This makes an
environment perfect for bacteria to multiply and before long the
smell you notice is that of bacterial infections and also simply the
trapped dirt mixed with oil and scent from the glands. A good bath
will help you to solve this problem. Sometimes a stinky dog is a
sign that it is time for a vet visit. When the smells come from the
ears, there is the possibility that ear mites are present. These are
itchy pests that cause a lot of troubles to your dog. Take your dog
to the vet who will prescribe some medicine, and then clip the hair
around the ears to help keep them dry and clean.
Summary. Possible causes of smell:
- Irregular bath and general grooming. Weekly bath may be enough
for dogs that are kept indoors. Outdoor dogs need to be bathed
every three days. Use a conditioning shampoo for dogs with
dry-skin issues.
- Skin infections. If your dog has symptoms of hair loss, rashes
or scaly skin accompanied by an odor, see your vet. He may
prescribe to treat your pet with a special type of antibacterial
soap.
- Check for ear infections. Symptoms are the following: dried
blood in the ears, drainage, excessive scratching and a bad
smell around the ear area. See your vet for an antibiotic
ear-drop treatment. Regularly clean your pet's ears with a
cotton ball dabbed in mineral oil.
- Anal gland infection. A vet or dog groomer will do this. The
anal glands are located near the anus and need to be expressed
regularly in order to prevent buildup of bacteria and
occasionally infection.
- Regularly inspect your dog's teeth and gums for possible tooth
decay and gum disease. Bloody gums, receding gum line, foul
smell and teeth that obviously appear to be decayed should be
treated by a vet.
It is necessary to find an area that causes smell and to prevent
developing of infection if it is the reason of smell. If the cause
is simple lack of grooming that means your dog need more frequent
grooming than you think.
