Why does my dog stink?
This is a question that we often get from sitters and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!
2 Answers
Diet can also play a role, causing bad breath (which, given they lick themselves, can spread to the coat) or gas. Changing protein source or formulation may help, even if you're already feeding a high quality food. Stress also causes physiological changes which can contribute to overall odor.
Wrinkled breeds that have many skin folds, like the Pug, Shar-Pei, Bulldog and Pekingese, need meticulous bathing and drying to clean away dirt and debris from between these folds, that would otherwise attract bacteria that develop an odor.
Odors can also result if your dog hasn't been bathed in a while and rolls around in dirt/grass, dry worms, rabbit/bird feces and other such things that dogs enjoy, or has full anal glands that need to be expressed, or has dental issues with bad/rotting teeth.
Another cause is a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin - common in the ears and result from either open wounds on the skin, a compromised immune system, parasitic infestations, or allergies. These infections cause skin inflammation, bumps or hair loss, along with an unpleasant odor that can't be removed by soap, bathing and conditioners. Your vet can test him for a skin infection and may prescribe oral medications. If that's the issue,then he'd need to be washed with medicated shampoos and medicated creams to get rid of that offensive odor.
Some dogs just give off a stinky odor, no matter how much you bathe them. Sometimes the oils on their skin just smell. To counteract the odor, try using puppy wipes and doggie "perfumes" between baths. If your dog doesn't normally smell, it can be an indication of health problems like infection.