Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM
Every pooch has a distinct doggy smell. Their odors can range from tolerable at best to revolting at worst.
If your dog belongs to the latter category, stick around to find out what commonly causes a smelly dog and learn natural homemade remedies to combat the repulsive stink.
What Contributes to Smelly Dog Problems?
Health issues are some of the top reasons why some dogs smell bad, such as:
1. Dental Problems
Numerous kinds of oral disorders bring about halitosis or bad breath in canines. Its most common cause is periodontal or gum disease.
This dental condition resulted from the excessive accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, leading to inflammation and bleeding of the gums.
Other dental problems such as gingival hyperplasia, rotten teeth, and oral tumors can be culprits of smelly dog odor too.
Regularly brush your dog’s teeth to prevent bad breath. If daily brushing isn’t possible, schedule regular dental cleanings and provide therapeutic dental chews as an alternative.
2. Anal Sac Problems
Anal sacs serve as marking glands, which secrete a malodorous fluid to provide other dogs essential information about your dog’s age, sex, and health.
Normally, the fluid in anal sacs is naturally expressed during elimination. However, this process sometimes gets disrupted, causing the fluid to amass inside the organ. It eventually leads to impaction or infection.
A smelly dog with this issue needs to get his anal sacs expressed by a veterinarian. We advise against performing this procedure at home without an expert’s help since it can severely damage his marking glands.
3. Yeast and Bacteria
Oftentimes smelly dog odor becomes more pronounced after bath time. This occurs because of the natural habitation of yeast and bacteria on their skin.
These microorganisms are generally harmless. However, they emit volatile compounds that produce foul odors after coming into contact with water. They are responsible for the unsavory wet dog smell.
Drying a smelly dog completely after bathing helps minimize this problem.
Breeds with excessive skin folds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs are very prone to wet dog smell since their wrinkles collect moisture. The same goes for dogs with oily skin or greasy coats like the Chinese Shar-Pei and Basset Hound.
For predisposed breeds, consider using a dog-specific shampoo with antifungal and/or antibacterial properties.
Frequently wiping their skin with a clean towel is recommended to reduce smelly dog odor and prevent infections.
4. Skin Infections
We have mentioned earlier that the bacteria and yeast residing on a dog’s skin do not cause trouble most of the time. That is because their immune system keeps their population in check.
But when your dog develops an illness, his immune resistance weakens, allowing these microorganisms to multiply. As a result, bacteria or yeast infection takes place, which can lead to the manifestation of smelly dog odor.
5. Ear Infections
An overgrowth of bacteria and yeast does not solely cause infections on the skin. They can also take place in the ears and produce smelly dog odor.
Certain dog breeds are prone to ear infections due to their ear shape, like floppy or hairy ears that trap dirt, creating a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. Dogs with atopic dermatitis are also at higher risk.
Dog breeds with these ear types such as the Basset Hounds, Spaniels, and Schnauzers will require more stringent ear care. They should be given weekly ear cleaning and examination at home to avoid ear problems.
6. Flatulence
Also known as gassiness or dog farts, flatulence in dogs manifest for a variety of reasons. The most prevalent cause would be due to dietary issues such as food allergies or intolerance.
Switching to a more suitable dog food such as high-quality brands that use real meat as the primary ingredient or hypoallergenic options can help. Always work with a veterinarian when making dietary changes to prevent further upsetting your furry pal’s digestive tract.
Dietary indiscretion or indiscriminate eating can induce stinky flatulence as well. Making sure a smelly dog has no access to the trash can or kitchen leftovers should be given effort.
Natural Homemade Smelly Dog Odor Neutralizer
Reducing a dog’s stinkiness relies on determining and resolving the cause behind it. However, his rank scent may take a while to subside while he undergoes treatment.
Also, take note that sometimes smelly dog odor has no root cause and just comes naturally in some canines. With this in mind, it is a good idea to use homemade scent neutralizers to manage dog stink.
1. Baking Soda as a Natural Home Remedy for Smelly Dog Odor
Baking soda has deodorizing compounds that have proven to be effective in combatting various types of nasty smells like in wounds and food waste.
The odor-neutralizing ability of baking soda makes it a useful tool for keeping smelly dog scents to a minimum.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons baking soda
- 6 tablespoons activated charcoal
Instructions
- Mix both ingredients in a medium-sized bowl to make a dry dog shampoo.
- Take a small amount of the anti-odor dry shampoo and spread it evenly on your dog’s fur.
- Gently massage the dry shampoo all over his coat and carefully work around his face.
- Leave this home remedy for smelly dog odor for around 10 to 20 minutes.
- Use a doggy brush or a clean towel to remove excess powder from your furry pal’s coat.
Additional information
- Baking soda can be sprinkled on your dog’s blanket and bedding to remove any smelly dog odor from it.
Notes
- Brush your canine companion’s coat before using this homemade dry shampoo. Doing so will make it easier for the powder to penetrate his coat.
- Do not use large amounts of the anti-odor dry dog shampoo or else it will be difficult to brush out from your dog’s fur.
- This home remedy should not be used as a permanent substitute for bathing as it does not provide the same cleansing level.
2. Green Tea as a Natural Home Remedy for Smelly Dog Odor
Studies speculate that the neutralizing powers of green tea are due to its polyphenolic content such as catechins. It is a dog-friendly and convenient home remedy that you can use against doggy stink.
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons loose-leaf green tea
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- Hot water
- Cold water
Instructions
- Place the two ingredients in a muslin bag.
- Fill half of a tub with hot water.
- Soak the muslin bag inside the tub for around 25 minutes before removing it.
- Add cold water to the tub until the temperature is comfortable and safe enough for your dog to take a dip in.
- Use the green tea–Epsom salt bath to bathe your dog.
- Repeat this antismelly dog green tea soak once every two weeks.
Nutritional information
- Mixing green tea into your dog’s drinking water can freshen up his breath.
- Green tea contains anti-inflammatory agents that alleviate minor skin conditions like itchy skin.
3. Essential Oils as a Natural Home Remedy for Smelly Dog Odor
You can create your very own doggy perfume using aromatic essential oils. Spritzing it on your furry companion aids in reducing and concealing smelly dog odor.
Ingredients
- 20 drops jojoba oil
- 10 drops vanilla essential oil
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
- 3 drops cardamom essential oil
- 5 tablespoons distilled water
Instructions
- In a medium-sized glass bottle spray, add all the ingredients.
- Cover the container firmly before shaking it gently to thoroughly mix the essential oils and water together.
- Spray the anti-odor dog perfume on your hands, then work it through your dog’s coat.
- Use a brush to evenly distribute the oils on his fur.
Additional information
- The scent of vanilla essential oil promotes calmness and relaxation in dogs.
- Frankincense is useful for alleviating canine GI issues and relieving skin irritation.
- Cardamom essential oil can be also used as a remedy for stomach problems in pooches like nausea.
Notes
- The anti-odor dog perfume works best when applied on your dog after he is given a bath.
- Store the doggy perfume in a dim and cool place as heat and sunlight quickly degrade the essential oils.
FAQs About Smelly Dogs
1. Are Dogs Smelly?
Not all dogs are smelly. Canines normally have a distinct doggy smell, but some pooches emit this scent stronger.
Watch out for excessively smelly d og odor as it could mean your dog’s health is in jeopardy. The pungent scent can be caused by ailments like:
- Dental problems
- Skin conditions
- Ear infections
- Anal sac impaction
- Flatulence
However, smelly dog odor can also be a harmless scent your dog exudes after taking a bath.
If you suspect that your dog smells bad due to an illness, get a proper diagnosis from a veterinarian to find the most suitable treatment.
2. Why Do Dogs Roll in Smelly Things?
There is no straightforward explanation as to why dog roll in smelly things. However, experts do have their theories.
The most popular hypothesis surmises that this peculiar behavior is carried out to mask a dog’s scent from both predators and prey.
Regardless of its true cause, a pooch that rolled in stinky things needs an immediate and thorough bath to get rid of the offensive smelly dog odor.
3. How to Get Rid of Smelly Dog Odor at Home?
You can get rid of smelly dog odor at home using baking soda dry shampoo, green tea soak, and essential oil dog perfume.
Baking soda and green tea have deodorizing compounds that mitigate smelly dog odors. Essential oils, on the other hand, have aromatic scents that are good for masking a dog’s stench.
4. Can I Use Perfume on My Smelly Dog?
You can use perfume on your smelly dog provided that it is specifically formulated for dogs.
Avoid human perfumes because they contain ingredients that are harsh on Fido’s skin. They may trigger skin allergies or irritate the sensitive skin of some canines.
Summary
No pooch is free from giving off a distinctive doggy scent. However, some dogs tend to exude a more pungent stench than others.
It could be brought on by a variety of reasons such as health issues or a natural aftereffect of bath time. Natural smelly dog odor neutralizers like baking soda, green tea, and essential oil can make your pooch smell better.
However, if his strong stench is brought on by an underlying ailment, veterinary treatment should be sought out to completely address the issue.
One of the main causes of smelly dog odor is halitosis. Our 4 Natural Home Remedies to Banish Dog Bad Breath provide aid in combatting this dental problem.
