Causes of Dog Body Odor

Dogs can often emit unpleasant smells, and it is important to determine the cause. Some smells can be relieved with a simple bath, while others may have medical reasons behind them. Regularly bathing and grooming your pet can keep it smelling fresh, and annual visits to the veterinarian can treat any other conditions causing bad smells to arise.

  1. Environmental Factors

    • Often the unpleasant smells radiating from your dog can be associated with something it rolled in. Although it may smell horrid to humans, the smells of dead animal carcasses and animal feces do not seem to bother dogs. According to the School for Champions website, this is a natural instinct based on the relationship of domesticated canines to wolves. Wild dogs would roll in these things to mask their own scents so they could hunt undetected. It can also be done to inform other dogs in the pack of something interesting they may have found. The best way to treat this smell is by bathing your pet and allowing it to fully dry before going back outside.

    Skin Diseases

    • Skin diseases can be to blame for much of a dog's body odor. If bathing your pet has not stopped the issue, it is probably time to visit your vet. The Hillsboro Veterinary Clinic website states that "Pyoderma, a bacterial skin infection, yeast infection and seborrhea, or excessively oily skin, may also cause a foul smell." These problems should be treated by a veterinarian and by regularly bathing your dog in a prescription shampoo.

    Dental Disease

    • Bad breath, which can be associated with dental, or periodontal, disease, causes odor to emit from a dog. The smells are from bacteria in the mouth. According to the Pet Health 101 website, "by 3 years of age, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have oral disease. Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease of pets." The best way to prevent dental disease is by regularly brushing your dog's teeth and taking it to annual veterinary checkups.