cb130103
JH
Posts:22
 |
| 02/05/2013 11:38 AM |
|
Drake is now almost 6 months. The first 2 months I have had him, it was VERY light shedding. We could roll on the ground, I could hold him, wrestle with him, etc. and have almost no hair on me. For some reason the past two weeks he has been shedding insanely! If he stands up and shakes, you can see the hair floating in the air. If he lays down on you and gets up, its EVERYWHERE!
I still love my boy unconditionally, and the hair situation isnt a deterrent in my eyes for the bred. I'm just curious as to why all of the sudden, and if any of you have tips on reducing the shedding? He is 1 month on Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream for Puppies and LOVES it.
ALSO
His backside has become really smelly. It's very predominant when he is sleeping around my chest area. My girlfriend has actually kicked him out of bed because she said it stinks. Of course in my eyes, its not that bad, but other people have noted on it. For instance, if he sleeps on a pillow and you get close, it has a slight fecal smell. Are there any sprays or whipes or any tricks you all do to deal with this. Anyone else notice these issues?
Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
RyanGSP
MH
Posts:430
|
| 02/05/2013 12:36 PM |
|
Shedding like that can be one of 2 things
#1 he could be shedding his puppy coat
#2 the foodis whats causing him to loose his coat. Just because he likes it doesnt mean its good for him or his body agrees with it.
IMO he is loosing that puppy coat thats why all the hair. I use a rubber finger brush (kong) and brush my dogs every couple days or everyday if its bad. Takes care od most the hair though you will never get it all.
The smell I am thinking could be his anal glands. My gsp had them infected and it was a smell not to be reconed with. So I would see if you can massage those maybe they are full? How is his stool? Firm or runny? Any gas? |
|
|
|
|
Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7844
|
| 02/05/2013 1:23 PM |
|
| I agree with what Ryan just posted. The only addition is I have found younger GSPs have trouble with the anal glands and they need to be expressed from time to time. The smell is awful and you can even smell it on their breath when there is an issue. I express the glands on all of my dogs on a regular basis. There are videos on how to do it on YouTube. However, it is a stinky process. Allot of folks just take their dogs to the vet and let the vet do it. It is pretty easy to tell if this is the problem. If you take your right hand and wrap it around the top of the tail right at the base your pointer finger and thumb should hit on the left and right of the tail. Right in that area you can usually feel the anal glands. If they are full they will feel just like a marble. As I said, puppies tend to have more issues with the anal glands. As the dog ages and grows they glands tend to express naturally when they run and poop. By the way if these glands get really full they may express naturally which may also be what is going on with your puppy. It is nasty stinky in any case. |
|
Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
|
|
cb130103
JH
Posts:22
|
| 02/05/2013 2:00 PM |
|
So when you say Drake may be shedding his puppy coat, does that mean the adult coat will come in and not shed as much?
His stools are VERY long, and round and solid. Not to sound gross, but honestly that little man makes some seriously large landmines. He eats 1.5 cups in the morning, 1 cup at noon, and 1.5 cups at night. How do I know if the food is upsetting him or not agreeing with him by him losing his coat?
Also, how often would the glands need to be expressed as a puppy? What items are needed? does fluid come out? Not sure on what the process entails. I'm at school and have not watched the video yet. |
|
|
|
|
smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
|
| 02/05/2013 2:38 PM |
|
Bella is growing out of needing to be expressed often but it's still a regular part of bath routine just in case. These are active dogs and they really tend to express naturally. Yes, fluid will come out. It's not at all pleasant which is why I do it at bath time. If you don't feel comfortable any groomer or vet will for a reasonable fee.
My first thought was also losing puppy coat or even seasonal prep for warmer weather. These dogs do shed but not absurd amounts in comparison to other breeds, and IMO the low coat maitenance well makes up for it. I love that this time of year with mud and snow, Bella is dry within minutes and dirt can just be brushed out. She also rarely has a doggy stinky coat. |
|
|
|
|
RyanGSP
MH
Posts:430
|
| 02/05/2013 3:09 PM |
|
Yes the adult coat is coming in. He will still shed a good amount but it wont be nearly as bad.
Dogs shed lots 2 times a year in spring and fall when they shed their heavier winter coat and shed the lighter summer coat for winter. Keep up on the grooming and it wont be so bad.
If his poops were runny, loosing hair, licking his bads, his coat stinks or is greasy are all signs of bad food or food not agreeing with him. Your feeding a pretty good food and the fish will help with his coat. Try expressing the anal glands, if that doesnt help you may want to consider changing foods. You can also mix a vanilla or plain probiotic yogurt in his food. This will help with his digestive system, clean up runny eyes and help with his coat. |
|
|
|
|
Jena
SH
Posts:58
|
| 02/05/2013 7:19 PM |
|
Stella is shedding pretty good right now. When I vacuum I tell her that it's her twin because there is so much hair! Ha. Dog humor! I try to keep brushing her to help with lose hairs. I dont think they shed any worse than other breeds.
As far as anal glands - Stella's were bad when she was a pup. She has since grown out of needing then done as often. IMO I would have a vet tech perform the expression. Groomers tend to be a little more rough. The groomer actually made Stella bleed the last time. |
|
|
|
|
Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7844
|
| 02/05/2013 10:06 PM |
|
| Actually I can usually tell when my dogs need their anal glands expressed by their breath. The breath will smell kind of like stinky fish. Hard to describe the smell, but it is distinctive. When you express a golden brown liquid comes shooting out and it stinks bad. So if you do it yourself don't stand behind the dog. Sometimes if the glands are getting impacted the liquid will be much thicker and sometimes lighter in color. Dogs will often lick there behinds or scoot when they are having pr boles, but not always. With younger dogs I usually end up expressing them at least once a month and sometimes more frequently. |
|
Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
|
|
MossyGirl
Posts:10
|
| 02/07/2013 12:28 PM |
|
| Wear latex gloves and keep a wad of paper towels handy: two tips I might suggest as well when expressing their glands. |
|
|
|
|
NixiesMark
Texas
MH
Posts:120
|
| 02/08/2013 8:15 AM |
|
| Is it terrible that I've never heard of this? Is it a strong smell that I would notice? Is it unusual for a dog not to have problems with this? It seems so and I must've missed something! Very enlightening! |
|
|
|
|
smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
|
| 02/08/2013 9:01 AM |
|
| Nixie's mom, I hadn't until we got Bella. As a pup she needed it quite often. Now, not so much. Yes to the gloves and paper towel! |
|
|
|
|
Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
|
| 02/08/2013 9:57 AM |
|
| My entire life I have never had a dog that needed this done... sounds gross! How do you know if they need it? I am wondering cuz it was mentioned bad fish breath... I was at my sisters and her pit and her boxer have horrible breath and I told her it smells fishy... but they don't drag their butts or anything... can you visually see that they need extracting? |
|
 |
|
|
smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
|
| 02/08/2013 11:39 AM |
|
| For me, it is smell (in the air not her breath). Bella also knows it immediately and will "clean herself" ASAP as any may seep out (gross visual I know). Granted, I always had little dogs that had to be groomed regularly and I didn't realize that was a standard part of grooming so it was being done i just didn't know. |
|
|
|
|
Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7844
|
| 02/08/2013 2:59 PM |
|
| You can't see it visually and not all dogs scoot or lick. I have been doing it on my dogs for years as just a necessary part of grooming. Most vets never mention it. Not sure why. Some dogs have more problems than others, probably just the difference in genetics. The easiest way is once you recognize the smell you will never forget it. Otherwise, on either side of the base of the tail if you put your pointer finger on one side and the thumb on the other you will feel something that feels like a marble on both sides. Those are the anal glands if you feel that marble they likely need expressing. I you are unsure get your vet to show you where they are and how to express those glands. There is a way to do it internally and externally. The internal way gets them completely expressed. The external works well on some dogs and not as well on others depending on exactly where the glands are positioned. There is another post on this site where I posted some videos on how to do it that I found on the web. So you might want to look back. I posted it within about the last year or year and a half. |
|
Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
|
|
Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
|
| 02/08/2013 5:19 PM |
|
| Do u smell it only when expressed? My sisters dogs dont have bad butt odor but their breathes are horrible! The vet has checked their teeth and they are healthy and clean... my sister constantly brushes their teeth cuz of their bad breath... i am wondering if she had their anal glanfs expressed if their breath would get better... |
|
|
|
|
smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
|
| 02/08/2013 8:24 PM |
|
| Splat, I think what Texasbelle means by their breath smelling is because they are cleaning themselves. A little may seep out and Bella will clean herself. So, I would think if the dog's bad breath was from that your friend would notice them licking their backsides. If Bella is playing or gets REALLY relaxed sometimes a little may seep out. I will think she needs to be expressed but there is nothing there. That is what I mean by previously mentioning that active dogs must "express" naturally often. I too think genetics must play a role and probably diet. Bella is on a good food, but still as puppy needed it often. |
|
|
|
|
Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7844
|
| 02/09/2013 12:18 AM |
|
Actually it is bad breath and not from licking. It is an odor of stinky fish and depending on how bad the glands are the breath can be pretty bad. Once you express the glands the breath improves almost immediately. Also the glands can express on there own and the smell is nasty. Puppies glands are the ones that seem to express on their own more so than adults.
The breath does get better after the glands are expressed. Also the glands can get impacted and even infected. So if a dog has a breath issue and nothing is wrong with the teeth, definitely get the glands checked. |
|
Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
|
|
Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
|
| 02/09/2013 6:19 AM |
|
| I am so going to tell her to look into it! Cuz I said his breath smelt like fish... it is so bad! I know dog breath and this isn't dog breath! |
|
|
|
|
cb130103
JH
Posts:22
|
| 02/10/2013 7:12 PM |
|
Well, Drake is on Taste of the wild, Pacific Stream, so he always has a sort of fishy smell to him, haha.
I expressed the glands myself about 4 nights ago. I put on latex gloves and put Vaseline on the area. I went almost the entire length of my finger in the rectum and massaged both sides. I did not feel anything too obvious. My vet (along with texasbelle) said to expect a marble inside. Regardless, I then cleaned the area with soap and water and Drake was EXTREMELY happy afterwards.
Nothing squirted or ran out. Before cleaning the area afterwards, the back of his rear legs were wet as if a liquid ran down them. |
|
|
|
|
smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
|
| 02/10/2013 7:19 PM |
|
| We don't express internally. You can feel the "marbles" if the glands are full from the outside. We push our thumb and index finger upward and toward the anus and what is in the glands will ooze out. I know it sounds an odd thing to want to watch, but you can find you tube videos that show you. My moms Yorkir was recently so impacted that she did need to be expressed internally by the vet, but that has never been necessary for Bella. |
|
|
|
|