why does my mini yorkshire terrier smell bad and he scratches alot

1. 48

   nessie6789posted 15 years ago

   why does my mini yorkshire terrier smell bad and he scratches alot
   
   itchy flakey skin and he stinks

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2. 78

   pippapposted 15 years ago

   It is very possible that he has a skin condition.  Skin conditions can cause scratching because your dog is itchy.  Constant scratching can cause mild infections that clear themselves; but, could be part of the cause of his "smell'. 
   
   At the very least, your dog requires baths with shampoos and conditioners that are specially formulated for dry, itchy skin. 
   
   However, a trip to the vet is in order to rule out there being a parasite or something that is causing the problem.  The vet would also know the best way to treat your dog's skin.

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3. 81

   Whitney05posted 15 years ago

   Yorkies are prone to skin allergies and conditions. Try using an oatmeal or medicated shampoo from the vet. They are also prone to smelling bad, which is why a bath every 2 weeks is necessary. They're low to the ground, and pick up loads of smells while outside. A vet can rule out any conditions and health problems (which I would recommend, as if it's an allergy, you need to know what the allergy is for), but for the most part, it's probably just a normal yorkie condition.
   
   By the way, there's no such thing as a mini Yorkie. They're average weight starts at 2 pounds for adults.

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4. 75

   nadpposted 15 years ago

   My first Yorkie, Casey, had similar skin conditions.  He was always scratching and chewing on his feet.  Often he would get "hot spots" - patches of his skin would turn bright red and be all irritated.  I discovered that what seemed really well to clear these up and keep  him more comfortable was to clean them with tea tree wipes a couple of times a day.  You should be able to find them in the pet store.  Or sometimes I just used a few drops of tea tree oil on a damp cotton ball.  Also Bacitracin ointment helped to clear up these spots.  But it was a constant problem.  We lost Casey 3 years ago - he was 13.  He had lots of congenital problems when he was born and we were told he'd only live to about 5 years old.  So we were so lucky to have him for so long.  Last year we got another Yorkie - a little girl named Ziva.  She's adorable - 3 lbs full grown.  She doesn't have the skin problems, which is nice.  But she's a lot feistier than Casey ever was and is constantly getting into something.  When we take it away from her that's okay - she just findsw comething else to get into!
   Good luck with your Yorklie.  One thing is for sure - they'll give you lots of love.

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5. 81

   akirchnerposted 14 years ago

   Sounds like a food allergy or skin condition.  I would definitely take to a vet and ask about what could be causing it because yorkies should not smell or scratch a lot.  Foods cause so much havoc these days because of fillers.  Good luck curing that - it must be so uncomfortable for him.

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