My cocker's bum and back legs are covered in a tacky gluey type substance.  Is washing up liquid the best thing to remove it or normal dog shampoo?  Or anything else? She has been clipped recently so removing more fur would mean she would be bald!  She's not in any discomfort but is sticking to everything she touches. 
Thanks

It is difficult to say what to remove it with unless we know what it is ? 

Hope you manage to find out and get it off

Reminds me of my aunt's beagle many years ago :) He got out one day and managed to roll in a lot of tarmac, as they were building a swimming pool at the bottom of the road. My uncle and the gardener had to 'wash' him in petrol (or something similar - I can't remember now) and then bath him :( For ever after that, we only had to say the word bath and he ran and hid :D

Hopefully your dog will not need such drastic treatment :)

Daisy

Thank you for replying.  She layed on a sticky pad that you catch rodents on.  I have since got back from work (husband called and told me what she did) and it is really bad.  It is mainly her back legs and is so gluey I can't even cut through it (and scared to because her fur is quite short anyway)  someone has suggested terps (sp?) but do you think I should consult the vet?  I am going to try more washing up liquid but eventually it's going to harden and start puling at her skin so I need to sort it out asap.  I am reluctaint to take her straight to the vet because even for minor things they are always keen to anaethatise her.  If someone has used terps in a similar situation I'll use that otherwise I take her to the vet first thing tomorrow.  As I mentioned, she isn't in any discomfort but I think she will soon be if I don't get it off.  Thank you for your concern, I am up to my eyes with a cold and just wanted to get home, have a bath and go to bed.  That is now not going to happen.  Aggh!

I read somewhere that somebody had used aloe vera gel to remove tar off a dogs coat,maybe you could try this.

sheila.

PS. I would not use turps it could make the dog ill .

PS. I would not use turps it could make the dog ill .See vet ASAP

Hi, try "Swarfega" hand cleaner gel.( you can get it at Tesco)  My son uses it to clean his hands from alsorts off grease and grime.He is a plumber. i have used it to get "yucky "stuff of my dogs feet.

jackie

Thanks all but managed after 2 hours of rubbing washing up liquid and careful trimming, she is finally clean. 

So glad she's all clean now Maudlily :D

Just in case anyone else reads this,

Turps is the worst thing you can try to remove tar with, it is a solvent and will be absorbed by the dogs skin, this could make it ill :(
A better alternative is vegetable oil or margerine - work it in well and then remove as much as possible with paper towels, keep going until its all coming off. The rest can then be washed off with washing up liquid.

Olive oil, baby oil - even peanut butter are great for removing sticky stuff off dogs.

Wendy