what is spraying my dog?

[3SistersFarm]

I have something that is spraying my dog. It's not a skunk, it's not that bad but it is bad. It smells like a gas leak (not the farty kind either) I haven't seen any skunks around here anyway but I have seen raccoons, possums rats, and a ferret looking thing.??? I do have a barn cat too that doesn't like my dog. Will any of these spray? I can't figure out what it could be but it has to go, it would be nice to know what I'm after.
My dog has access to everything with no fences but he's very loyal about hanging around the house or following us, very laid back dog, (Chowmix)
TEE

[TexasArtist]

Are you sure it's a "spraying". The reason I ask is because I have seen my dogs go out and try "rescent" an area not by peeing but by getting down on their neck and pushing along. Most times it's a female in heat and they want to try and say "I'm top male around here and I take this as me woman!" Perhaps that's what's happening??

[Old Vet]

If he smell like some rotten thing he probably rolled in what ever it is that made him smell that way.I have one dog that always does this and it makes him smell bad all the time.

[Windy_jem]

Keep an eye on him and see where he goes. He's probably rolling in some stinky mess somewhere!

[3SistersFarm]

i never thought of that. He's never "rolled in stuff " before (5years now) but then again I did just get his hip fixed maybe he started the rolling because he can now.
So I should be looking for something dead instead of something spraying. good points, dare I smell him; if it's stonger on his back you're probably right. If it's on his head I might be.
....OK I smelled him. he thought I was nuts but I think you might be right.
I feel kind of silly now.
TEE

[ksfarmer]

I would agree that more than likely your dog is rolling in something, however, ferrets, weasels, and mink do have scent glands and can give off a musky odor.

[Cheribelle]

So do fox, and deer. Mine rolls on poop, you can tell by the green neck

[BaronsMom]

Oh, our lab aims for the first pile of fresh, green deer poo she can find. Then, rolls in it until she gets it all embedded in her neck and collar...

ewwwww


When we were growing up, our dogs like rolling in "dead" stuff...

[fretti]

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

I would agree that more than likely your dog is rolling in something, however, ferrets, ...do have scent glands and can give off a musky odor.

They do have scent glands but probably 95% of them are descented very early in life. Even if they do have their scent glands, they can't spray. They aren't wild creatures and have no ability to survive in the wild, unlike their wild cousins like mink, stoats, weasels, fishers, skunks, etc.

I think your dog is rolling in something it considers lovely, like cow poop, a favorite.

[GoldenMom]

Dogs have anal glands too. Sometimes when the glands are full and leaking some, the dog can smell "glandy". Some people describe the scent as fishy smelling and it would be more prevelant in the rear end area.

[Toads tool]

Cat's can also spray urine, rather far. I guess they can do it rather easily especially if they are fighting.

Immature skunks can also spray but they don't smell like skunk, bad, but not skunk.

What smells good to us probably smells stinky to the dog and visa-versa.

[fantasymaker]

He snells like propane? My top guess would be that its your neighbor sending you a message that your dog is working the night shift at his house.
Even old stay at home dogs travel in the cool of the night.

[Terrabus]

I had a long haired dog that used to love rolling in poop. She was part lapso-apso and would roll and roll in cow dung. Then she wanted to be a lap dog again.

I have never had a more aggravating dog in my life.

[PKBoo]

We keep a bottle of shampoo in the barn next to the hose - that's how much our dog loves to roll in stinky stuff! It can be anything: sometimes she smells like faintly sweet fermented berries, other times smelly poo, or the worst - something dead!! This is her favorite roll of all!

[ldc]

My doxie mix prefers the scent of "dead" also!!! ldc

[3SistersFarm]

thanks all, I'm looking for dead now.
my dog goes to the groomer so it's not the anal glands. He's inside at night and he would never wander to neighbors unless we were there.
It could be the barn cat too, "Barney" is a male cat.
TEE

[Lizza]

I read somewhere that dogs like to roll in whatever their enviroment smells like because it makes them better hunters. So the stinky poop/dead decaying thing makes a great "camoflauge" so to speak. Makes sense, only now it's just an annoyance for the owners since Old Red probably isn't going to try and hunt his own dinner

[3SistersFarm]

I found what the smell was. it was a skunk (a little one) in the trap. I didn't think my dog was a roller. Now I have to find the rest of the family.
I did see some red poop in the hen house. BTW
I'm looking for a website that has a "name this poop" if anyone knows of one or wants to start one.
Thanks all.

[airotciv]

If it is dead or rotten, they will roll in it. Glad you found the problem, my dogs roll in everything that smells.

[DixyDoodle]

Yeah, I bet your cat is getting snuggly and maybe marking his buddy.