Causes of a Dog With a Bad Odor

A healthy dog emits a variety of unappealing odors. His skin glands produce pheromones that give off that characteristic doggy smell. Micro-organisms living in the surface layers of his paw pads can emit a corn chip odor. His ears will naturally smell slightly yeasty. If your dog begins to smell very bad, however, it's time to check his behavior, health, and diet.

  1. Rolling in Smelly Things

    • Dogs love stinky things. They're fascinated by poop of all kinds, and many of them love nothing better than to roll in rotten animal carcasses. According to "PetSpeak: You're Closer Than You Think to a Great Relationship with Your Dog or Cat," the reason dogs roll in smelly things remains one of the great mysteries of nature. If your dog suddenly develops a strong odor, it could be something she's been rolling in, not a problem with her health. A bath should take care of the problem.

    Ear Disease

    • Otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear and ear canal, is common in dogs, especially those whose ear flaps hang down to cover the ears. According to Dr. Anthony Yu, associate professor of dermatology at the Ontario Veterinary College, infections are caused by bacteria or yeast overgrowth. Both bacteria and yeast can cause a strong odor. According to Yu, ear disease often results from underlying issues like allergies and can become serious if untreated. Consult a vet if your dog's ears smell especially bad.

    Skin Problems

    • Dogs can develop bacterial or yeast infections on their skin. If your dog has long, thick hair, cut and groom away any mats and make sure that his coat is clean. Skin folds like those of a shar pei or bulldog can trap moisture and house infections. Clean skin folds regularly with a moist cloth. Seborrhea is a more serious skin condition that dogs can develop. According to the "Merck Veterinary Manual," seborrhea causes scaly, greasy, inflamed, and smelly skin in dogs. Food or environmental allergies are also a common cause of skin conditions that can cause your dog to smell bad.

    Infected Anal Sacs

    • All dogs have anal glands or sacs underneath the skin on either side of the anus. A secretion is usually released from these sacs when a dog defecates, leaving a distinctive scent along with her feces. According to Pet Education, a dog's anal sacs can become infected, causing her to smell worse than usual. A veterinarian can tell you if your dog has an anal sac infection.

    Flatulence

    • According to "Organic Pet Digest," dogs get gas for the same reason people do: food sitting in the intestines is incompletely or improperly digested. There are many holistic brands of dog food on the market that eliminate unnecessary grains and use a high-quality protein source to ease digestion. Make sure that your dog's food agrees with him. Experiment with changing protein sources. If your dog gets gas on a lamb formula, try a chicken-based food. Encourage slower eating by leaving your dog alone with his dinner.