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8-26-2010

When a Pug Smells

The title of this new topic is blunt and to the point…some Pugs will develop an odor. Some Pugs will develop a very bad odor! This can come on gradually or you may wake up one day and say,”Why does my Pug smell so bad?!?”.

There are actually several common reasons that a Pug may begin to smell badly.

So, let’s take a look at the reasons why your Pug may have a bad odor and what you can do about it.

We will look at traditional treatments and also alternative treatments.

We will discuss issues such as Skin Fold Pyoderma, Anal Sac odor, and bad breath…Along with many other possible causes.
It will be up to you to read about each possible cause, see if it may apply to your Pug and then take the steps needs to eliminate the bad smell that is coming from your dog.

And remember, it is not your Pug’s fault if they have a bad odor…And most of the time, it will be an easy fix to get your dog smelling nice again!

Yummy, Healthy Home Cooking for the Pug

Take a moment to read the details of what is inside manufactured dog food. You would not eat dog food, so do learn why you may choose to not have your Pug eat it either! Find out if home cooking is the best choice for you and your Pug. Read More

Wrinkles!

Because of their wrinkles, a condition seen frequently in Pugs is called Skin Fold Pyoderma.

Pug dogs can get one of a couple of variations of this condition:

Face Fold Pyoderma – This is when face wrinkles were not cleaned properly
Tail Fold Pyoderma – This is when the folds of a curled tail are not opened and cleaned properly

After just a short amount of time, bacteria forms…and a very bad odor can develop rather quickly!

Both types are caused by the same problem. . Skin Fold Pyoderma is seen when the skin surfaces rub together. When this happens, the skin becomes wet and inflamed which are the perfect conditions for bacterial growth and then a Pyoderma (or infection) is the result.

Signs and Symptoms of Skin Fold Pyoderma are:

•    Irritation – You may notice that if you look deep into the facial or tail folds that the skin is red, pink, swollen, has puss or has any other signs that differ from “normal” skin and fur
•    The moist skin also tends to give off a foul odor – it can be quite extreme in some cases.

Treatment

If your vet diagnosis your Pug with this condition, he may prescribe a benzoyl peroxide shampoo and gel to be used after the bath. This will aid the skin in thoroughly drying out. Also an antibiotic steroid cream such as Panalog can be prescribed to help control the inflammation, itching and possible infection.

In extreme cases when a Pug has a great excess of folds, much more than a “normal” Pug and infections are almost constant, surgery is an option….

The surgical route is done to flatten out the skin where folds occur so that moisture is less likely to build up and the infection then cannot start to take hold.

What You Must Know About Baths

While it may at first make sense to give extra baths to a smell dog…to many baths will dry out the skin of a Pug…And this can lead to a bad odor. If you bath your Pug every week, you should first stop giving so many baths. The soap your using (even if it is recommended for dogs) can really dry out your pugs skin.

So if your Pug is smelly, you will want to:

Give a bath only about 1 time a month.

For “In Between Baths” you can use dry powder baths. Too much detergent on a Pug’s skin can stimulate oil glands and produce an awful smell. You can try cleaning your dog off with medicated wipes such as Malacetic wipes.

When giving the bath, clean deep into ALL crevices, wrinkles and folds with a warm, wet wash cloth….and THEN you must use a separate wash cloth to dry out all of the crevices, wrinkles and folds. You must gently go DEEP. Any moisture left inside can quickly grow bacteria and cause the above issue… Skin Fold Pyoderma

Alternative Treatments

Colgate Men's shaving foam..just the old fashioned kind..Rub it in his coat, and wipe him dry with a towel

Try wiping your dog's smelly parts down with a some warm water w/ a little bit of vinegar and soap. The acid may help kill yeast which may be on your dog's skin and causing the problem.

Don't feed kibble with corn or soy..they both can enhance odor problems.

Cleaning Folds In Between Bath Time

Cleaning a Pugs facial folds is pretty easy. Start when your Pug is young so that they think of this as a normal activity that is always done. The only tools you need for this is a Q-Tip, a cup of warm water and some Vaseline. Dip the Q-Tip in warm water and gently run it in the folds above the nose, and below the eyes. After you’ve gotten any “stuff” out, apply a thin layer of Vaseline inside the fold above the nose and presto, you’re done…Nothing to it. You can do this once a week, or sooner if your Pug starts to smell.

Nails Can Cause Bad Odor

Make sure their nails are kept clipped and clean. Dirt, feces and bacteria can live in and near their nail beds producing a breeding ground for bad odor.

Pugs nails grow extremely fast.. You can start learning how to do this yourself from week one, or you can take your Pug someplace to have it done. Vets and groomers will do this for you for a small fee, which is good, but if you’re not squeamish, and your Pug is agreeable, why not do it yourself?

If you’re going to do it yourself, one of the best times to do this is when your Pug is in her deep sleep on your lap at night. She may wake up, but she’ll likely won’t be motivated enough to put up a struggle. Keep styptic powder in case you cut too far and clip the vein and a Q-Tip to apply it. To avoid cutting too far, simply cut the curved part of the nail only and make sure the clipper of the nails is someone in your house who has a steady hand.

Clip those nails every 2 weeks, and for your dogs comfort and health, be vigilant about this. Nails that grow too long can cause discomfort from your Pug not standing high enough on his paws, and eventually cause bleeding and breakdown of the pasterns which will cause long term discomfort when walking.

Ears Can Cause Bad Smells with a Pug Dog

To do properly clean the ears, obtain some cotton balls and some hydrogen peroxide. Dip the cotton ball in the hydrogen peroxide and gently wipe clean only the areas of the ear that you can see. Don’t dig deeply in there or push the cotton ball into your Pugs ear. How often should you do this? Check your Pugs ears for dirt, and clean them as needed. Some Pugs require little cleaning, others need it more frequently.

Bad Breath

The bad smell coming from your Pug may be bad breath.

Taking care of a dogs teeth is one of the most overlooked aspects of dog care. Milk Bones are all well and good for minimal maintenance, but it’s a very good idea to clean your dog’s teeth on a regular basis.   It is important to brush the teeth to prevent infection and tooth loss. Infection can cause terrible odor . If an infection is already present, the veterinarian will need to treat that tooth…brushing at this point will not make an infection go away.

Alternative Treatment

Along with regular brushing, adding some chopped up parsley to your Pug’s dinner can help quite a bit with bad breath.

Gas

Any Pug owner knows that Pugs burp and pass gas. But excessive passing of gas does not need to be “normal”. It is well documented that canine gas is directly related to the food being fed. Corn is the biggest culprit. If you are feeding your dog a manufactured food with corn or corn by-products in it, you may want to switch. And of course, home cooked food is always recommended.

All mammals produce intestinal gas, and dogs are no exception. Compared to cows, which produce upward of 60 quarts of gas a day, dogs are relatively modest in their output. What they lack in quantity, they make up in pungency - their gas is unusually smelly.

Part of the reason humans notice dogs' gas so much is that dogs haven't been taught to hold it in. They don't leave the room to pass it.

The intestinal tract is filled with bacteria that help process foods and aid in digestion, as part of their natural metabolism, which gives intestinal gas its unpleasant smell. The more protein there is in the diet, the stronger the smell.

Cows and other herbivores produce a lot of gas, but there isn't enough meat-based protein in their diets to create large amounts of sulfur gases. Dogs eat a lot of protein - quite a bit more than most people. They don't necessarily have a lot of gas, but when they do, its powerful stuff.

It's not only protein that contributes to high-octane gas - it's also the TYPE of protein. Many commercial dog foods get their protein from animal by-products - feathers or ground-up bone, for example. These ingredients are harder for dogs to digest than protein that comes from whole foods - such as chicken meat or eggs. The harder the body has to work to process protein, the more flatulent a dog is going to be. This is why home cooking can help with gas, since it only gives your Pug real meat.

Anal Glands

We have mentioned this before, but it is warranted to mention it again… A horrible odor can be due to impacted anal glands.
All dogs have anal glands and these can build up with nasty toxins and fluids and usually become drained when they have a bowel movement. This isn't always the case and they get backed up and slowly excrete themselves or even may excrete when the dog gets excited, or gets scared.
A warm washcloth with some lavender oil can help ease the odor and the discomfort for your Pug until the sacs are drained.

A quick visit to the Vet can help with this problem. The Vet can safely drain the Pug’s anal glands to provide relief. It can be done at home, but the odor is so overwhelming strong that many owner gasp for air and find that it is not worth doing at home.

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