Why Does a Dog Stink After a Bath?

Dog ownership is rewarding in many ways. Dogs love you, no matter what, are always happy to see you, and will remain faithful and loyal to you as long as you are there for them. But when you have a stinky dog, it can be a little off-putting. Some dogs, no matter how often you bathe them, continue to smell. Read the tips below to find out why your dog still smells so bad after his bath, and what you can do to change that.

  1. Vet Check

    • It's possible that your dog smells bad because she is ill. It's important to rule out illness as a possible cause, so take your pooch to the vet for a checkup. If illness isn't causing your dog to stink, then perhaps your vet can suggest some ideas to put an end to the problem.

    Shampoo

    • The type of shampoo you use when you wash your dog can affect the post-bath smell. Most shampoos only mask smell with pleasant odors. Luckily, there are dog deodorizing shampoos on the market that have ingredients to remove the underlying dog smell, rather than just masking it.

    Grooming

    • Brushing your dog regularly will remove loose skin and hair that may be trapping odor. As an added bonus, brushing your dog will decrease the amount of hair he sheds, making it much easier to clean your house!

    Doggy Wipes

    • If your dog stinks after a bath, you may be tempted to bathe her more often. Research suggests that dogs should not be bathed more than once a month, as more frequent bathing can create skin problems. However, there are doggy deodorizing wipes on the market for in-between bath times when your pup starts to stink.

    Bath Basics

    • Make sure you're rinsing your dog thoroughly after shampooing him. Leftover product can irritate his skin, which may cause infection and increase the stink. Also, make sure you're drying him properly---use a blow dryer on the coolest temperature to ensure your pup is completely dry. This will help avoid the wet dog smell which can linger for a while.

    Ears

    • It's important to regularly clean your dog's ears; the longer the ears, the more prone to ear infections the dog will be. If your dog has very long ears (like a basset hound or cocker spaniel), they will likely drag in food bowls, in water bowls and on the ground. Dirty ears or ear infections stink. Use pet ear cleaning products, found in your local pet store, to clean pup's ears.