So my 1 yr old lab comes trotting onto the house last night with a weird look and his face. As he passes by by me I get a whiff of a very musty / ammonia smell on him. At first I thought he got hit by a skunk but after going in the back yard (1 acre fenced post and rail type w/ hog wire) there is no lingering smell outside, it's just him. It's not an overpowering skunk smell, just any annoying musty one. We are out in the sticks in the Magnolia area so we have pretty much all the normal animals around (deer, hogs, coons, skunks, etc).

Are there any other animals that can spray their scent in a defensive mode? If he still smells tonight he's getting a bath weather he likes it or not.

I have heard that dogs have glands near their rear ends that can rupture and produce a really foul smell. I have only heard of them rupturing due to trauma, though.

Cats and ringtail cats spray, too. Animals in the weasel family I think do, too.

He probably rolled around in someting nasty, or even his own urine. My dog does this on occasion. (Someone please tell me this is normal)

My hound dog has had problems with her anal glands since she was about 3 months old to where they have to be expressed every month. This next week she goes in to the vet to have them removed.

All dogs have them and most of the time go through life without a problem, since they don't need them.

Fox use their glands to mark territory, Badgers have a strong scent gland.

Oh, and if you think a skunk is bad, try getting mixed up with a civit cat. I did once, ONLY ONCE!

All though, back to your dog. It may have rolled around in some tom cat spray.

For some reason, labs and hound dogs love to roll around in some of the nastiest smelling things.

Raccoon s***. Bet on it.

I can't tell you the number of times that my dog has marinated in it and it's a similar smell to what you're describing.

Never thought of marinated, but that pretty much sums up hunting dogs.

Doc, any idea on the cost of removal? I have a doxie that has had some problems.

I had a beagle in high school who would go and frolic in the neighbor's pig pen.

Fragrant pooch.

He would also wallow on garden toads til they were dead. That was kinda smelly too.

My chessy's anal glands exploded one time.

It was quite pungent. Like formaldehyde almost.

What the hell is it with dogs and frogs/toads?

Every dog I've had has done the same thing. They'd squash the damn thing rubbing against it on the ground.

I'm not sure about cost yet. I will find out tomorrow when I take her in. To me, it's not really a matter of the cost as long as my little girl gets some relief and comfort.

The vet I take her to is very reasonable with surgerys.

Also, he goes back to A&M from time to time to instruct on surgery procedures. I've had another dog that he reconstructed a knee when it was injured. She had no problems the remaining 12 years of her life.

I know anal gland problems can be an issue. A friend's beagle had to have her glands taken care of. I'm not sure if it's a male/female thing, but I know it's an issue for a few dogs out there.

To play nerd for a moment, any of the Mustelids (weasel family) can spray.

One of my beagles has anal gland issues, thankfully (I don't have the little vomit face option), the other little beagle likes to try and help express them.

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Cats and ringtail cats spray, too.

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You're cheesed out of your mind right now, aren't you?

Good Thread

It's always nice to go to pet your dog and about the time you touch him/her you smell it and realize he/she is coated in something gross.

Interesting replies .

I have not seen my dog rolling in the yard yet, although my other dog did this occasionally. I did not think about that possibility. I'll have to check out the back yard this afternoon before it get dark.

This episode is making me re-think the doggie door.

[This message has been edited by Kuz89 (edited 9/24/2009 2:07p).]