My dachshunds stink. What causes persistent dog odor after baths?

Hello, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Most groomers will express (empty) the anal glands; I wonder if that's the odor your smell. I recommend washing around Wynter's anus gently with mild soapy water and see if that resolves the odor. If it continues, you may need to bring Wynter in to the vet to get checked out, as a persistent odor is often a sign of infection (of the skin, ears, lip fold, etc). Hope this helps!

Hi there. Dogs don't sweat through their skin, only their paw pads - so if Mollie has a persistent odor, this is likely due to some other problem such as a bacterial or fungal skin infection, impacted anal glands, an ear infection, or some other issue. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam to determine what is causing the odor. He/she should be able to prescribe a medicated shampoo or other treatment for the underlying problem, depending on what is found.

This sign, if the smell is generalized and coming from the skin, could be caused by skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and eventually antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to see any detail in the picture. However, it does look like there is an infectious process going on. This may be in the skin per se or possibly in the anal sac region. I would recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to diagnose it so that it can be treated. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The smell comes from normal bacteria and yeast on the dogs skin and fur. The water causes them to release smelly chemicals. I am not sure if it actually ammonia though. I hope this helps!

It's likely Sahara has either a bacterial infection, a yeast infection or severe allergies. Less frequently, an underlying endocrine disease may also be the root cause. When bad odors won't go away with a bath, it generally indicates a problem. I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian so that she can have the correct diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the itching and odor should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having Sahara wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

She could have an infection or she may need her anal glands expressed. You could bathe her with a dog shampoo and see if the smell resolves. If not, have her examined by a vet to determine the cause of the odor