Apologies Walter...but here we go again.
Since the really hot weather (and our Wolfhound does suffer despite our best efforts in the heat) we have noticed he has become rather smelly. Prior to this he has been a fragrant dog (as far as dogs go) but he now has a specific patch about 5inches wide and long on the top of his rump (his croup) which is sticky to the touch and stinks to high heaven. Nowhere else on his body smells like this and we have washed it and there is no improvement. The area has no heat difference to the touch and causes no irritation or distress. There is no scurfing, dandruff or redness to the underlying skin. He is wormed regularly on Drontal plus xl according to weight, and flea treated regularly with Frontline again to weight. He has not rolled in anything but does favour puddles and ditches. It is extremely localised to the one area. He is well in himself and apart from the feel and smell, would be completely normal. Any ideas?
Many thanks
Ken

This is almost certainly an acute allergic reaction - probably to a flea bite. Even if you de-flea him regularly, using one of the excellent flea preparations which are now available, it does not prevent a flea jumping on and taking a bite before it gets 'hit' by the de-fleaing treatment. In some cases the dog is hypersensitive and a reaction like the one you describe results. The best treatment is use of a steroid ointment, and possibly a small dose of steroid by injection of rby tablets. Your vet will be able to provide either.

Many thanks again Walter...We shall consult the vet straight away.

Good.
let me know how you get on.

Hiya Walter.....Well after Vet's examination ( we had our yearly booster and health check today) it was concluded that our dog had excess Sebum and we were given a shampoo for the problem. The vet agreed that an allergic reaction could have manifested itself in a similar way, but it would have been hard to diagnose without seeing the dog. Many thanks again for your help....Apart from that the dog was given a tip top clean bill of health and is said to be in extremely hard/fit condition.....75kg at 2 years old!A lean, mean, rabbit chasing machine!

Hi, Sounds great - some of the modern shampoos are excellent at removing XS sebum, but they have to be used regularly.
We too have a rabbit-chaing deerhound in the family!
Walter