My dog stinks - why? What can I do?
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Where does this smell come from?
First, you should look for the source of the bad smell. Is it really coming from your furry friend? Or is it perhaps something in your dog's immediate vicinity that is spreading the stench? In principle, the causes can be divided into two categories:
Medical reasons
Bad breath
Take a look in your four-legged friend's mouth. Is there a foul smell coming from it? A slightly unpleasant smell after eating is not a big deal, but it should not last for a long time. It often happens that food remains get stuck in the gaps between the teeth and rot away. You should then try to remove these. Another reason for bad breath could be tartar or gum inflammation. And even if you wouldn't suspect it at first, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes or kidney failure can also be responsible for a bad smell coming from the mouth.
Ears
Yes, the bad smell can even come from the ears. This is usually caused by bacteria, yeast or mites that have made themselves comfortable in the dog's ear between the hair and ear wax.
Flatulence
Just like with humans, flatulence is usually harmless and doesn't smell like a bouquet of roses for either you or your furry friend. So far, so unpleasant if, for example, you're sitting together on the sofa and suddenly the dog's intestinal gases are blowing up your nose. It's still a good idea to pay attention to whether the frequency of flatulence is increasing compared to before, as it could be a slight intolerance to certain foods or gastrointestinal diseases.
Paws
Unlike humans, dogs have far fewer sweat glands than we do, which is why they primarily regulate their body temperature by panting . However, dogs can also sweat. Most of their sweat glands are located on their paws. If the sweat comes into contact with bacteria or fungi, it can quickly lead to "cheesy feet."
Anal sac
When the anal glands in the anal sac at the dog's anus become inflamed, they give off a fishy or manure-like smell. The inflammation also often leads to severe itching on your four-legged friend's bottom. To combat this unpleasant feeling, dogs like to slide around on the floor with their bottoms. This is colloquially known as "sledding" and is a clear sign that you should see a vet.
However, there is a second reason why your furry friend's anus can smell bad. If your dog is scared, he secretes a special substance through his glands that he would otherwise use to mark his territory. Especially with long-haired dogs, it can of course happen that the substance and thus the smell gets stuck there.
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External circumstances
Dirt in the fur
All dogs love to roll around in the “dirt”. There is nothing wrong with that, but sometimes (for us) disgusting smelling substances end up in their fur. When they return from a walk in the woods and are back in the apartment, it naturally smells bad.
Wet fur
After jumping into a lake or going for a walk in the rain, the fur is wet. This activates and stimulates the production of sebum in the dog's skin, which tries to protect itself from moisture and cold. A warm, humid climate on the skin encourages the growth of bacteria or fungi. This is exactly what your nose may perceive as an unpleasant smell.
Lack of coat care
In addition to drying (or even blow-drying) the fur, you should make sure to comb it regularly, especially with long-haired and thick-coated dog breeds . If you neglect this, you run the risk of creating a warm, moist, bacteria-friendly skin climate between dead skin cells and hair.
Attention! You should only bathe your furry friend in emergencies. In any case, it is important to use special dog shampoo and not your own, as it contains far too many fragrances. Bathing too often can also stimulate sebum production and destroy the skin's natural pH value.
Dirty berth
Your dog can transfer bad smells to his environment. The basket , dog cushions and toys can also be a source of the stench.
What can I do?
- Brush teeth with special dog toothpaste and brush
- Give a chewing bone that additionally cleans the teeth when gnawing
- Ear cleaning (or having them cleaned)
- Change the food, check ingredients, rule out allergies
- Trim claws and clean paws
- Remove dirt from the coat after a walk
- Rub or blow-dry the fur
- Comb the coat regularly
- Bathing with dog shampoo yes, but not too often
- Wash dog cushions, toys, etc. in the washing machine as hot as possible or clean or disinfect them in another way
A case for the vet?
As you already know, there are a lot of things you can do at home to combat bad smells. You should see a vet if...
- you cannot find the source of the smell and believe that there is something wrong inside the animal, perhaps an illness is the cause.
- your dog has tartar or caries. The vet must remove this.
- Inflammations of any kind, including abscesses, cause discomfort.
- Increased flatulence is still a problem despite a change in diet. Your four-legged friend may have a food intolerance. The vet will help you determine this.
Conclusion
Many reasons why dogs can smell bad can be avoided by having preventative check-ups at the vet, regular care of the fur and mouth, as well as healthy food and a clean place to lie down. If your four-legged friend does smell bad, you can usually find out the cause yourself and combat it.
But don’t be afraid to ask your vet for help if the problem persists and you can’t explain what the cause might be!
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