All dog owners love to spend time with their four-legged furbabies. After all, playing, cuddling and bonding with your doggo are some of the main reasons to have them as a companion. However, if your furry pal is starting to kick up a stink, you may find your time together more than a little unpleasant. All dogs can smell bad occasionally. This is often little more than particularly pungent wind, but sometimes dogs can suffer from issues that mean that they simply can’t help having a stinky aroma. So, why do dogs smell bad and what can you do about it? Let’s find out.
Why do dogs smell bad?
There are many different reasons why your dog could be smelling less than wonderful. Where possible, it’s always better to address the underlying cause of the bad odour, rather than just trying to mask it with a stronger-smelling product. Pinpointing the reason is also a good idea as it will help you to decide what next steps to take to make your dog smell better. For example, if your dogs breath smells like fish it could be as simple as something they've eaten or because they have advanced periodontal disease. Either way, just giving them a bath is unlikely to make them smell any better.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your dog could smell bad.
Periodontitis. “Dog breath” is a well-known term to describe a foul mouth odour with some owners describing their dog's breath smelling of fish, or even death. One of the reasons for this is that while cavities are uncommon in dogs, canines are particularly prone to developing periodontitis – a very severe form of gum disease. In addition to bad breath, dogs with periodontal disease may also develop red, swollen and bleeding gums, infections, loose teeth and even tooth loss. This means that the description of their teeth smelling like 'death' isn't wrong, since theyre teeth are in effect dying.
Skin fold dermatitis. This skin disease affects those dogs who have lots of folds of skin, such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Pekingese and Shar-Peis. If not kept properly clean, dirt and bacteria can accumulate in skin folds, causing infections and a smelly odour.
Ear infection. Some dogs are also prone to ear infections, particularly if they have long, floppy ears. These can be bacterial or yeast infection, both of which can cause a pretty pungent smell.
Impacted/infected anal glands. Anal glands are a normal part of your dog’s anatomy, and normally they only secrete some of the foul-smelling substance they contain when your dog poops. However, if the glands become infected, they may start to emit a vile-smelling brown substance at other times.
They’ve rolled in something smelly! Unfortunately, dogs aren’t too fussy where they stick their nose – or any other parts of their body for that matter! All too often, our canine companions will walk or roll in the mud, dirty water or even the poop of other animals. And unsurprisingly, it can stink!
Top tips to make your dog smell better
The good news is that there is plenty that you can do to help your dog smell better and make it more enjoyable to spend time in their company.
Stay on top of your dog’s grooming. One of the easiest ways of improving the way that your dog smells is to make sure that they are clean, and their grooming is up to scratch. Dogs can’t take care of themselves in the same way that we can, and this can make it hard to look and feel clean. Fortunately, you can support them with this by grooming them regularly at home, while also employing a professional groomer for the trickier aspects of a good groom, such as trimming fur or claws. A professional groomer will also be able to check your dog’s ears for issues, telling you if/when you may need to take them to the vet.
Make sure you use dog-approved products for things like shampoo, since human varieties can play havoc with your dog’s skin. Wahl's is a favourite for any dog in need of a good wash. Groom Professional also provides a wide range of colognes for when your dog needs a little freshen up inbetween washes.
Look after your dog’s dental health. The idea of brushing your dog’s teeth may seem impossible, but the truth is that dogs can suffer from dental problems caused by too much plaque building up on their teeth too. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly at home is one of the best ways to prevent dental issues like periodontal disease from affecting them. Use a vet-approved toothpaste as human varieties are very toxic to dogs and take your time. Most dogs will quickly get used to it provided you brush them consistently.
Pet Care by Groom Professional have two options for brushing your dog's teeth, a and a . For easy ways to keep on top of your dogs dental health, or for dogs with particularly strong breath, Tropiclean have a and a
which will work wonders alongside regular brushing.
Wash your dog’s bedding regularly. Just like your own bedding, your dog’s bedding can quickly start to smell if not washed often enough. This can rub off onto your furbaby and make them smell worse! Try and wash their bedding as often as possible – ideally weekly if you can find the time! The Pet Care by Groom Professional is perfect for eliminating stains and leaving a nice smell, whilst also helping to protect your pet from fleas and ticks.
Clean your dog after walks. Obviously, if your dog has rolled in something smelly, they’ll need to be cleaned as soon as possible. Make time to give them a full bath if you can, as this will maximise their cleanliness and eliminate all nasty smells! No one likes the smell of wet dog so after a particularly wet walk you will want to dry them as soon as possible. Groom Professional's drinks up water in no time. Whilst the spray will not only speed up drying time, but provide a nice scent as well.
A smelly dog can be an unpleasant experience, but with the right products and techniques it’s possible to quickly eliminate bad odours and ensure that time spent with your canine buddy is stink-free!
