Has dog lost scenting ability?

[Chief Long Hair]

One of our top SPO Midwest/ UKC field trail prospects was recently kicked across his muzzle by the front hoof, complete with shoe, of a horse so hard that we thought it had killed him. It knocked him out completely for about 10 minutes. When he came to, his front legs were locked solid, stiff as boards, and started crying a lot. A large pool of blood also oozed from his nose but soon quit, no blood was noticed coming from his ears. It took about 2 hours for him to gets some of his senses back enough to at least drink some water. He was eating solid food within a few more hours.

This was on a Sunday so we decided to wait until the next day to see if he lived. If he did, we would then take him to the vet. The vet found no broken bones, no sign of a concussion, but he was in obvious pain. The vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug to reduce the swelling and ease the pain. She also said to keep him still for 2 weeks, in other words don't run him. Then came some disturbing news. She then told us that a hit such as this could destroy his scenting ability for good. She also said that since he is only 13 months old that he may well recover with no side effects.

It took him 2 weeks to get back to his ole self and barking and playing with the other dogs. 3 weeks have now passed and we have been taking him out to run with other dogs for about a week. He'll go out and stay out but won't hark in and is very obvious that he is not trailing.

My question is, has anyone had a similar experience or know of one such as this and if so could he have lost his scenting ability for good?

[cris axtell/coal hill ken]

i wouldn't give up to quickly.it may take time.try holding him back to get him more excited.

[mn_beagleboy]

I just met a french man who claim that he has been raising hound all his life before coming to the US. He told me that onion can affect a hound's nose. Hounds that been eating table scrap that have some onions have can lost their scenting ability. Is this a fairy tale or is it true in the US here?

[Chuck Terry]

A vet I used in the past always insisted that poor dental health could negatively affect scenting ability. The onion could have some affect as well. I hope the beagle kicked by the horse will be fine! I, too, am encouraged by the fact that he is so young. Hopefully, the swelling will fully subside and he will fully regain his sense of smell. When I was a kid my friend's family had a pointer that was bitten on the muzzle by a rattlesnake. "Skip" lived but never could smell well enough to hunt quail again. Then, again, I had a beagle take a two fang hit from a timber rattler on his muzzle. "Earnie" was running rabbits again within a week and a half despite having a basketball head with his eyes swollen almost shut. He suffered no noticable loss of scenting ability. Best wishes to you and your beagle!