How to Make Your Dog Smell Sweet

Dogs are known to smell bad sometimes. Whether it's coming from their fur, mouth or skin, dog odor is unpleasant. While it's sometimes hard to pinpoint the exact cause, there are ways to make a dog smell a lot sweeter. Vinegar, water and shampoo can help take the stink off a dog. And good hygiene and regular grooming will help prevent odors from forming in the first place.

Things You'll Need

  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Spray bottle
  • Dog toothpaste
  • Dog shampoo
  • Oatmeal shampoo
  • Cotton balls
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Instructions

  1. Preventative Measures

    • 1

      Brush the dog's teeth. Just like humans, dogs need to have a healthy and clean mouth. By brushing the dog's teeth regularly, you can help prevent odors and other problems that may result from bad oral hygiene. Be sure to use a special dog toothpaste available at pet stores or veterinarian offices. Regular toothpaste should not be used.

    • 2

      Clean the fur regularly near the dog's mouth. Sometimes food can become trapped in this area, causing odors when it becomes absorbed into the fur. Good fur maintenance is important overall, but this area is especially susceptible to odor-causing materials being absorbed.

    • 3

      Feed your dog well. Low quality foods may not contribute to odor directly, but they don't contain the added nutrients in higher quality foods -- which keep dogs' skin and coats healthier. Avoid giving dogs spicy or processed foods that may produce an odor or cause skin allergies.

    • 4

      Check for infections. Often, the odor may seem to stem from the problems mentioned previously, while they're actually caused by a health condition. If you see redness or other signs of infection along with the odor -- especially in one or both ears -- take your dog to the vet. Most infections and other health conditions are treatable.

    Odor Removers

    • 5

      Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 gallons of water in a bucket.

    • 6

      Put cotton balls in the dog's ears. This will help ensure the liquid does not enter the ears and cause discomfort during the bath.

    • 7

      Pour clean water on your dog's fur, and towel dry it. Then pour the water and vinegar mixture on the dog's fur.

    • 8

      Towel dry the dog again. However, do not rinse off the vinegar and water mixture. Leaving it on to dry will help eliminate the dog's odor. A change should be noticeable once the solution is dry.

    • 9

      In between baths, pour an equal amount of vinegar -- apple cider or white -- and water into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well, and spray the mixture onto the dog's fur. Let it air dry. Repeat this until the dog's odor begins to fade.

    • 10

      Moisten a cotton ball with a few drops of white vinegar, then wipe inside one of your dog's ears. Repeat with another cotton ball to clean your dog's other ear. This helps eliminate bacteria and makes their ears smell better.

    Shampoo Baths

    • 11

      Rub lemon juice on your dog, and then thoroughly rinse it off.

    • 12

      Using a regular dog shampoo, give it a bath. Thoroughly work the shampoo into the dog's fur, to help eliminate the possible causes of odors.

    • 13

      Wash your dog with a special oatmeal shampoo, if regular shampoo doesn't work well or if he has itchy skin. Repeat this every other day for four weeks.

    • 14

      Ask your veterinarian if there are any medications your dog should take, along with receiving extra baths.