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<\/p>\nIt\u2019s the puzzle every dog owner dreads: why does my dog smell? There are lots of things that can turn dogs into the source of bad smells. The long list includes: rolling in something, their diet, bad breath, getting wet, and much more. Pinpointing the source of the smell is the first step to neutralizing it. So in this article, we\u2019ve got a full rundown of the things which can make your dog smell. Read on to narrow the list down for your dog.<\/p>\n
Lots of dogs have a distinctly doggy odor. Some more so than others! When dogs have medium or long hair or a lush double coat (like Labradors!), it traps a layer of warm, humid air close to their skin.<\/p>\n
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This can amplify their natural body odor, and make it more noticeable to human noses. Meanwhile dogs with short, single coats sometimes smell a little less obviously – although it\u2019s not a given! Furthermore dogs of all types also tend to emit distinctive odors from their mouth, ears and feet. These aromas are caused by the natural and normal colonies of bacteria and fungi which live there.<\/p>\n
Usually these smells aren\u2019t overwhelming in healthy dogs. But lots of things can turn a dog\u2019s mild aroma into an eye-watering whiff. Let\u2019s start by looking at the role of diet.<\/p>\n
They say \u201cyou are what you eat\u201d, and that applies to our body odor as well! Onions, garlic, spices, and red meat all make a perceptible difference<\/a> to human body odor. Either because of smelly compounds they contain, or because our bodies make smelly compounds as a by-product of digesting them.<\/p>\n Of course, our dogs shouldn\u2019t be snacking on garlic or onions, and they\u2019re rather better adapted to digest red meat than we are. But nonetheless, there are innumerable anecdotes from dog owners that a change in diet sometimes also causes a change in body odor.<\/p>\n It might be due to compounds released during digestion changing their natural \u201cmusk\u201d. And of course, it can also be a result of their diet causing bad breath or flatulence. So we\u2019ll look at those sources of doggy smells next.<\/p>\n Halitosis, or bad breath, is a frequent canine criticism. The source of the unpleasant smell in canine halitosis are volatile sulfur compounds<\/a>, which smell incredibly unpleasant to humans! Chronic bad breath can be caused by plaque, calculus and tooth decay in the mouth. It can also be caused by a large number of the wrong type of gut bacteria.<\/p>\n Bad breath can be improved by cleaning your dog\u2019s teeth every day with a toothbrush and a specialist doggy toothpaste<\/a>. If your Lab has large build ups of calculus, they might need a professional veterinary clean to kickstart their new regime! Halitosis originating in the gut can often be resolved by a change of diet, or by adding probiotics and\/or prebiotics<\/a> to their existing diet. We recommend consulting your vet before attempting to fix halitosis through a change of diet.<\/p>\n Perhaps your dog\u2019s breath is as sweet as a daisy, but they\u2019ve got problems at the other end. Excessive gas is a pungent, and sometimes even uncomfortable problem for lots of dogs. It is usually caused by swallowing air whilst eating or drinking<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vigorous exercise, and rushing to finish food in the presence of another dog can make the problem worse. Several foods are also linked to increased gas, including<\/p>\n But the most common cause in pet dogs is probably the fiber used in kibble to make it dry. Flatulence in dogs can sometimes be remedied by changing the protein source in their diet, replacing the carbohydrate with plain rice, and offering four small meals instead of one or two larger one. Always ask your vet\u2019s advice before attempting to remedy any health problems with a change of diet.<\/p>\n Even healthy dogs have all kinds of microorganisms living all over them, which release a benign but distinctive aroma. For example Pseudomonas <\/em>and Proteus<\/em><\/em> bacteria living on their feet cause the distinctive foot smell which is a mix of corn chips and popcorn.<\/p>\n But allergies are frequently linked with bacterial and yeast infections<\/a> that have a pungent smell all of their own. This is particularly the case in dogs who have food allergies which cause digestive upset (more smelly gas!) and dogs with atopic dermatitis. If you think your dogs might have allergies which are causing an unpleasant body odor, seek veterinary advice. Your vet might recommend an elimination diet to identify allergens in their food, or topical skin treatments (such as shampoos and lotions) to restore healthy and (relatively) odorless skin.<\/p>\n Of course, infections aren\u2019t limited to dogs with allergies – even dogs with a perfectly balanced immune system can fall foul of a nasty bug. Some of these, like an infected wound or fungal ear infection<\/a> are often pretty whiffy too.<\/p>\n Dogs with floppy ears, and especially dogs with floppy ears who like to swim are particularly prone to ear infections. Their ears are perfect for trapping warmth and moisture so that bacteria from mucky water can flourish. So make sure to dry your Lab\u2019s ear gently but thoroughly after they\u2019ve been practicing their water retrieves! Ear infections and infected wounds need veterinary attention – they\u2019re likely to prescribe a course of antibiotics.<\/p>\n Next up – a delicate subject for many a dog owner, but an important part of canine anatomy which it\u2019s important to keep healthy! Healthy dog feces are very<\/em> firm. So to help them pass through the anus comfortably without straining or tearing the skin, dogs have anal glands which secrete a slippery lubricant. The smell of this lubricant is pretty distinctive – a kind of metallic, fishy smell. Once you\u2019ve smelled it once, you\u2019ll certainly recognize it a second time!<\/p>\n Fortunately the smell is not usually perceptible under normal conditions in healthy dogs. But a sudden increase in smell is a common sign that a dog is having problems with their anal glands<\/a>.<\/p>\n Such problems include failure of the glands to to empty properly during pooping, and anal gland infection. These issues can be caused by factors including diet, and structural anomalies in the sacs (such as being positioned too high up inside the anus). Treatments include adding fiber to their diet, topical ointments, manually emptying the sacs, and in extreme cases, surgical removal of them<\/a>. So, you guessed it, consult your vet!<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen so many reasons to consult your veterinary surgeon in this article so far. So we\u2019re going to finish on a couple of straightforward and easy to resolve reasons why your dog might smell. And the first is – they\u2019re wet.<\/p>\n Wet dog smell can really hit the back of your throat. Labradors have thick double coats, which are perfect for protecting them from cold wind and rain, and even keeping their skin warm while they swim. But such dense coats take a while to dry out once they\u2019re soaked through. If your Lab still pongs an hour or more after a wet walk or swim, it\u2019s likely they\u2019re still damp.<\/p>\n Drying them as thoroughly as possible, and keeping them in a warm, well ventilated room until they\u2019ve dried out will help.<\/p>\n Finally, every dog\u2019s favorite reason for smelling terrible – they\u2019ve found something to roll in. Be it fox poo in the woods or a rotting fish on the beach, dogs lead rich and exciting olfactory lives. And what better way to celebrate finding something that really<\/em> lights up their noses than by rolling in it and taking the stink home as a souvenir? We don\u2019t get it, but they don\u2019t get why we spend so much time on our phones or read books either. It\u2019s a live and let live world out there.<\/p>\n When your dog rolls in something nasty, we can<\/strong> guarantee you\u2019ll feel much better about it if you\u2019re already prepared to clean them up. So keep old towels in the car and by the back door, and have a bottle of shampoo at home for short notice baths and showers.<\/p>\n Most dogs have a natural cologne which is just part of them. In healthy dogs it should be fairly benign and inoffensive. If their smell becomes intrusive or unpleasant it can be a sign of something wrong with their health.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ruled out environmental causes like rolling in something, then your veterinary surgeon can help you rule out or confirm medical causes, and plan treatment. And if you\u2019d like to compare notes with other Lab owners about what\u2019s normal and what\u2019s not, do drop into our forum<\/a>!<\/p>\n It\u2019s the puzzle every dog owner dreads: why does my dog smell? There are lots of things that can turn dogs into the source of bad smells. The long list includes: rolling in something, their diet, bad breath, getting wet, and much more. Pinpointing the source of the smell is the first step to neutralizing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":28551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faq"],"yoast_head":"\nHow This Causes Smells<\/h3>\n
Why Does My Dog\u2019s Breath Smell?<\/h2>\n
When Gas Makes Your Dog Smell!<\/h2>\n
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Most Common Cause<\/h3>\n
Why Does My Dog Smell? Could It Be Allergies?<\/h2>\n
Dog Odor Caused By Infection<\/h2>\n
Sources Of Doggy Smells – Their Anal Sacs<\/h2>\n
What Problems?<\/h3>\n
Wet Dog Smell<\/h2>\n
Why Does My Dog Smell? Have They Rolled in Something?<\/h2>\n
Why Does My Dog Smell?<\/h2>\n
References & Further Reading<\/h2>\n
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