What skin condition will cause a dog to smell worse after a bath?

maybe try using a hypo-allergenic shampoo. sounds like he may be allergic to the shampoo.

Make sure that BEFORE the bath, the dog is very well-brushed/combed. Old, dead hair can smell and shedding can cause a lot of "hair loss". It is important for air to be able to get to the skin by removing loose undercoat. But, scratching is a sign of other things, too: yeast infection, mange or other skin conditions. With a yeast infection, the dog will smell and will often have red areas from the scratching, especially on the belly area. The dog will sometimes also chew on the paws. Some things to do for a yeast infection: Use Malaseb shampoo which is meant for this (from the vet); change to a food that has low grain content; use an anti-itch spray such as Pet Solutions makes; use oil supplements such as Dermacaps. You also might try adding glucosamine to the dogs regime. Do be sure that all the dead hair is removed before the bath. You also might try a different shampoo, such as an odor-relieving shampoo.

If your dog has continuous odor, even after you wash him, it could be a sign of health problems. Here are some you should be aware of:

Mange : A skin disease caused by tiny mites. Some mange mites are normal in your dog's skin and hair follicles, while others are not and can cause mild to severe skin infections if they breed. The symptoms can cause hair loss, bald spots, intense itching, red skin, scabbing and sores that appear one week after exposure. Bacterial infections can make mange smelly, itchy & uncomfortable. Commonly affected areas are the dog's ears, elbows, face & legs, but it can spread to the entire body.

Yeast Infection (Malassezia Dermatitis) : An itchy, crusty and smelly skin disease that starts with an itchy rash and later thickens to elephant-like skin. The itch is extreme and the odor is strong. Parts of the body or the entire body can be affected. Yeast typically exists in small numbers in your dog's ears and anal glands; but, when conditions on the skin surface change in a way that proliferates yeast, infection occurs.

Seborrhea Oleosa : Excessive scaling, flaking and an overproduction of oil in the skin, which makes it stink. This is typically brought on by a yeast infection. If the symptoms are severe, your dog's skin and hair will actually feel greasy, because it is. Your pet may develop red skin or a rash and the ears may become inflamed. They may also scratch and lick excessively.

Bonzie gave you a really good answer. The only thing I would add is have you had his thyroid function checked? Low thyroid would produce both the hair loss and the skin scaling.

Hypothyroidism is very common in older dogs and it's easily and inexpensively treated with a daily pill.

To me it sounds like he has a ear infection. That can make a dog stink soooo bad. It could be a wide range of things like anal glands, paw infections, or a skin disorder. Try using a oatmeal shampoo on him. I use doggy parfume on my german shepherd and it works well.

Numerous dogs cannot digest grain. If there is grain in his dog food this causes skin problems and other issues.

Bonzie is right. How about you go to another vet for a second opinion? he is old, better be safe than sorry