How do I make my basset hound stink less?

I Don't Smell Anything

When you enter somebody's front door

Where you've not been invited before

Your nostrils may twitch

To a stimulus which

It is only polite to ignore

It is faintly or pungently found

Any place that has Bassets around

And stinkily scenty

To all congnoscienti

Betokens the genus of hound

Fastidious folk soon get tired

Of the odor when deeply respired

To all but the strong

The Basset Hound pong

Is a taste very slowly aquired

Antiseptic deodorant foam

Can't stop it corroding the chrome

Defying detergent

It triumphs resurgent

As part of the fabric of home

When all that you own is imbued

With that which your bassets exude

Blow your nose like a trumpet

And like it and lump it

Or live in a tent, in the nude.

________________________________

Basset Hounds do tend to have an odor.

First of all, I suggest having her checked by the vet to rule out medical issues. Causes of odor in Bassets include:

Ear infections

Skin problems

Yeast infections (causes "stained" fur in groin, armpits, wrinkles, dewlaps, between toes etc.)

Dental issues

Lip fold infections/debris

Anal gland problems

Another issue to look at is diet. Many people report a reduction in the odor of their basset when switching to a corn-free diet.

Regular brushing will help keep the skin and coat healthy. If the dog's skin is healthy, you can try a shampoo with a strong scent, like La Pooch or Lambert Kay Fresh N Clean with baking soda.

If there is a skin problem, use a shampoo recommended by the vet. Otherwise you can try using a Listerine rinse, or a vinegar rinse, after you bathe the dog. Just mix Listerine or Vinegar half-and-half with water, pour over the dog (making sure you get it everywhere) and allow to dry. If you can blow dry your basset, paying special attention to the wrinkles, that will help as well. If you can find a really good groomer in your area, one that will dry your basset with a high velocity dryer, it might be worth the cost.

Okay - first off Bassets do have a 'houndy' smell. But this should never be unduly offensive. The fishy description suggests this is anal glands which need emptying. Normally they should expel naturally, with a normal stool. However, they can become infected/impacted and this needs physical emptying - if you can't do it yourself, your vet will be 'delighted' to oblige. Haha. Depending on what he finds (whether what comes out is 'normal' or not) he may well pack the glands with antibiotics.

The other area that can cause a problem is ears. Bassets are quite prone to yeasty infections in their ears, but I'd not describe the smell as 'fishy'.

They can also have a skin infection, caused again by yeast/fungal problems - malassezia. There is a good shampoo called Malaseb (which we Basset people must be keeping the manufacturers in business with buying in recent years). However, don't bath her more than absolutely necessary. This can aggravate the problem, and dry her coat out big time. Any skin condition needs to be properly identified (vet) before treating.

But I'd focus on the anal glands first!!

sometimes there can be an underlying health reason for a dogs bad odor. I would advise a trip to the vet. What food are you feeding? If she is not on a quality food that may be your problems too.

And I hate to tell you, but bassets have a natural sort of skin odor about them. You can bath once a week with a good deodorizing, yet gentle shampoo. Espree makes an oatmeal and baking soda shampoo that is wonderful! you can also buy some doggy cologne for in between baths. Espree makes some that is all natural, it is a leave in conditioner too. You can use it everyday if you want! They make a deodorizing spray too that is gentle and even rids skunk smell.

If that fishy smell just came out, and she's having diarrhea and/or vomitting, run her quickly to the vet. She may already be suffering from Canine Parvovirus.

If she has been like that for some time now without the diarrhea or vomitting, but have soft and smelly stool, take her to the vet just the same for a check for amoebiasis or other internal parasites.

If she is very normal and just simply smells, for the last time, take her to the vet and let him take the stink glands out. They're within the anus and will require surgery.

Has the vet checked her anal glands? Sometimes they need to be expressed and the vet should know how. They can stink to high heaven. Ear infections could be doing the same thing, but I'm sure your vet checked for that. Besides all that, dogs are dogs and will smell accordingly.

It could be the food. Now, I know one Rott who used to board with us & when she was eating dog kibbles that had fish in it, she stank as hell till house flies are buzzing around her! Whatever you do to her, she will smell again. So we advised the owner to switch her food to another brand that is not fish & she did not stink anymore. So 1st thing, check her food & switch it to a higher quality food. If still no improvements within a month, then bring her to the Vet to get her checked.

That is normal for bassets.

Try special shampoo or somthing