Very smelly dog -- do I need to use special dog shampoo? archived

yes and pronto! i can smell it over here!

OK, just hosed her down using my kid's shampoo/bath soap combo. The unholy smell still lingers, but it is much weaker than it was before. We had a minor tussle when she tried to jump out of the bathtub. I think she'll be fine, though. I have no idea what she got into, but I'm scared to know that it's in my yard.

it could be deer poop!

the PH balance for human and dog shampoos is different, and you might find that the human shampoo was drying to your dog's coat. Using it once in an emergency is probably not going to make a big difference, but it's not a good idea to do as your usual routine.

Posted By: onehandclappingit could be deer poop!

Yuck. I'm pretty sure you're right, at least about the poop part. She's a hound and likes to roll around in stink. I'm guessing it wasn't deer poop only b/c I live east of Prospect (and I've very rarely seen them on this side of the street) and I have a fence. Whatever it was, it was truly horrible. She's brought in some nasty smells before, but this one was the winner.

Hope I didn't dry her out too much with the shampoo. I usually take her to the groomer, but I'll get a new bottle of dog shampoo for emergencies like these.

Edited to delete duplicate post. (Damned blackberry)

Did one of your neighbors just mulch their garden? Some of that stuff can smell just awful (and just like manure, to put it politely)!

dogs always find something yummy to rub in. last time i had to wash and rinse my boy 3 times with the dog shampoo before the smell went away.

another good thing to keep on hand is waterless shampoo. it works really well for times like this!

You might want to try the skunk smell wash recipes that involve baking soda and or peroxide mixed in with either a shampoo or liquid soap to get rid of the really stinky stuff. Yes, those detergents are harsh on the skin but you need something to whack (oxidize) those stinky organic molecules. You can follow up with a gentler dog shampoo later.

This may sound insane but... I enjoy grooming dogs. If you need some help, I am happy to assist. What I usually do is make a double appointment at a self-wash and do the organic recipe thing that bikefixed mentioned and I wash, let them set, rinse, re-wash, let them set again... feed little treats to keep them in the tub and happy... clip their nails, keep that stuff on the coat until it stops bubbling and fuzzing up. RINSE! REPEAT!

Then dry the dog's coat to see if it remains malodorous. DO NOT FORGET THE FEET! When they roll in evil-smelling stuff, it gets under their nails, in their paws, really gross. So get a scrub brush and scrub the nails!
Repeat the next day as needed.

Where is the nearest self-wash?

This is the first I've heard of a self-wash. Makes me think of those vacuum tubes at the Millburn Car Wash.

Good news is that the dog is smelling much better today. Have not picked up any dog shampoo yet, but I'm hoping we can hold off on any new stank collection until I hit Petsmart this weekend.

I've visited them elsewhere but never used one. To me, the biggest advantage is that the tubs are elevated and there's a ramp leading into the tub so you can walk the dog up. Washing dogs in the bathtub kills my knees and back.

The best emergency dog deodorizer is a dilute mixture of white vinegar and baking soda,with mild soap or dish detergent (like Ivory or Palmolive). I believe that you can also use a dilute mixture of Nature's Miracle or Oxy Clean making sure to protect the dog's eyes ears and nose.

When Gracie was skunked I used the white vinegar because i had only a minute amount of peroxide. It worked, but the house smelled like a salad bar. Professional groomer with a specifically forulated deodorizer works best


(my money is on squirrel carcass for the culprit)

Don't go to Petsmart. There's a good pet shop in Millburn (which used to be in Maplewood), and there's another good one in South Orange. I've been going to the one in South Orange for years.

Posted By: calliope(my money is on squirrel carcass for the culprit)

I'm not sure why this disturbs me more than the poop did, but it does.

Posted By: Tom ReingoldDon't go to Petsmart. There's a good pet shop in Millburn (which used to be in Maplewood), and there's another good one in South Orange. I've been going to the one in South Orange for years.

Yeah, I did used to go to the pet store when it was in Maplewood. I haven't been to the Millburn location yet. I don't love the South Orange store.

Great idea, calli; the baking soda and vinegar fizzes much like peroxide so it zaps the bio-particles which are causing the smell.

I go to the self-wash on rt 10 , the one in montclair (ages ago) and ... forget where else I have been. just google it! sites/directions/phone numbers all appear! : ) the elevated tub and walk-up ramp do help the back and knees quite a bit, as kthnry mentioned!
Plus, the hair all over is THERE rather than in my own BR at home. The major clean up belongs to the store, not me, always a bonus!