Why Does My Dog Smell? – Part 1

By Dr Katrina Warren on January 25, 2013 in Other

There is nothing worse than a smelly dog and if you think your dog smells a bit, chances are your friends and visitors also think it stinks. So, do Fido a favour and get to the bottom of his problem (pardon the pun) so you can enjoy the company of your furry friend once more.

A dog’s smell is like a doggy identity card. It lets other dogs know who it is, as well as its sex, where it has been, and perhaps even its mood. A dog’s sense of smell is so much more sensitive than a human’s as a dog has more than 220 million olfactory receptors in its nose, while humans have only five million. It is natural for a dog to smell like a dog, but with our relatively inefficient noses, the odour should be mild.

There are many reasons why your dog may smell bad and most of the odours described as ‘doggy’ are actually due to factors out of your dog’s control.

Below are a few of the reasons for your pet’s peculiar odour:

Rolling – Much to our horror, dogs love to roll in substances we find particularly unpleasant and a dog will smell of whatever it has decided to perfume itself with. On the beach this is frequently seaweed, dead fish or dead sea birds. In the countryside it is more likely to be cow manure. While dogs seem to love it, this habit can be stomach turning for us humans. If your dog is a roller, the main precaution you can take is to keep it on the lead. And be prepared for regular bathing.

Excess hair – Long and profusely coated breeds often become soiled with urine or faeces. And some breeds of dogs have excessive lip folds or hairy beards. A constant supply of saliva keeps these areas moist allowing bacterial or yeast infections that become the source of a doggy odour. Keep the hair around these areas trimmed short. There are also health conditions associated with excess hair that can cause dogs to develop a strong smell and these need to be treated by a vet.

Bad breath – This is often a sign of dental disease. Tooth decay, infected gums, an abscessed tooth or a foreign body such as a bone or a stick that is stuck in the mouth can all cause halitosis. Your vet can check for plaque build-up and dental decay. To prevent dental disease, try to include hard dry food in the diet as well as raw marrow bones.

Ear infections – These can be very smelly. Unlike humans, dogs cannot drain water from their ears after swimming due to a long ear canal with a 45-degree turn. Drop-eared dogs such as Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds have limited airflow to dry out the ear and moisture is the perfect environment for micro-organisms to thrive, especially yeast and bacteria. Shaking of the head is one early symptom but if neglected, pus and a foul smell become apparent. Ear infections can be very painful and must be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

I’ll be back next month with more reasons for why your dog may smell, as well a few simple solutions to your putrid problem.