Have you ever noticed that even if you just bathed your dog, he always seems to have that distinct doggy smell?
You love your dog and you want him to be a part of your family and a steady presence in your home, but if he smells bad and makes your home smell bad, you may be more reluctant to be as close to him as you’d like to be.
How can you make your dog smell good? In addition to bathing routinely, use odor-eliminating sprays that nourish the coat and skin, add immune-boosting supplements to the diet, and improve oral health by brushing several times per week, having professional cleanings, and using dental sprays with enzymes.
When your dog consistently smells bad, your relationship can suffer. You won’t want snuggle time or loving doggy kisses if you can hardly stand to be in the same room with him.
Let’s get to the root of the problem and discover ways to banish foul dog odors so that you can enjoy your dog’s presence once again.
Why Do Dogs Smell?
If you know for a fact your dog is clean since you just bathed him, you may be flabbergasted as to why he smells so bad.
There are a few reasons why dogs may smell even after they’ve been bathed:
- The skin’s natural oils.
- Allergies.
- Bad breath.
Of course, if your dog’s bed or your carpet is dirty and smelly, the bad odors can transfer to your dog as soon as he lies down, even if he’s fresh out of the bathtub.
It might be worth your while to get down on your dog’s level and sniff around to determine if the funky smell may be blamed on something other than your dog.
However, the three reasons listed above are the most common causes of dog odor.
Natural Oils Vary by Breed
Dogs produce oil in their skin that has a distinct odor many of us interpret as a bad doggy smell. Different breeds have different smells and different levels of oil.
Some breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers (find interesting Lab facts here) or Rottweilers, may produce more oil in their skin than others.
On the other hand, dogs that have hair rather than fur, such as the Maltese or Poodle, may be less likely to have a strong odor and produce a lot of oil.
What To Do About It
If you have a dog that naturally tends to have a lot of doggy odor, you may choose to use a product to cover some of the smell and keep your dog smelling fresh for longer.
Products that condition the coat may also help your dog to produce less natural oil rather than compensating for a dry coat.
Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control
If you want to deodorize your dog without adding a lot of additional smell this might be a good option for you.
The odor-neutralizing formula is gentle enough for you to use it over and over again. It is free of soaps, parabens, dyes, and ingredients that may irritate your dog’s skin.
It offers a clean smell without being heavy on perfume, which is a great option for a product that you want to use a lot.
This is a very affordable formula, but keep in mind that you may find you use a lot of it to keep your dog smelling his best.
Pros:
- Maintains your dog’s natural oils and conditions the coat.
- Free of soap, dyes, parabens, and irritating ingredients.
- Odor neutralizer and deodorizer.
- Extremely affordable formula that you can use frequently without concern.
- Clean smell that most people like.
- Won’t interfere with topical pest control products.
Cons:
- Spray is more of a stream that a mist.
- You may find that you go through a lot of the spray without noticing.
De-Stress Lavender & Chamomile Freshening Spray
If you want a product that will smell great and soothe your dog at the same time as it removes offensive odors, this spray is a fantastic option.
It features a number of ingredients that are great for your dog’s coat, like oats and vitamin E.
The blend of essential oils fight bacteria and leave behind a pleasant, fresh scent.
In addition to making your dog smell better, the carefully formulated ingredients help calm anxiety and its associated behaviors, such as barking, chewing, and licking.
Pros:
- Soothing smell that will relax you and your dog.
- Helps calm irritated skin.
- Packaged in a light-resistant glass bottle to keep the essential oils fresh.
- Aloe vera, oats, and vitamin E to soothe your dog’s skin.
- Gentle detangling features to break up mats and knots in long-haired dogs.
- 100% dog safe – no need to worry if your dog licks his coat after application.
Cons:
- Some users do not care for the smell.
Allergies
If your dog is experiencing environmental or food allergies, you may notice dry, flaky, itchy skin that has a strong odor.
Dogs who are experiencing a yeast infection of the ears (common in dogs with allergies) will have a distinct smell around the ears which may transfer to the fur around the head.
What To Do About It
If your dog is experiencing severe allergies or an ear infection, it is essential that you contact your veterinarian immediately.
These problems can be very painful and dangerous for your dog.
However, if symptoms are not severe and you are not certain what the problem is, you may want to try a simple product to boost your dog’s immunity.
Vetflix Herbal Pet Supplement
Studies are still very much lacking when it comes to supplements, but that is no reason to believe that these herbs will not be beneficial for your pet.
Many people do find supplements to be highly effective for their pets, so there’s no reason not to give these herbal remedies a try and see if they have benefits for your dog.
Ingredients like vitamin C, milk thistle, turmeric, and elderberry are generally safe for your dog, and they also have a fairly high probability of success.
Pros:
- Liquid dropper formula with light-resistant packaging.
- Herbal immune-boosting ingredients include elderberry, vitamin C, milk thistle, echinacea, and pumpkin.
- Very easy to dose by adding to your pet’s food.
- Unlikely to cause a negative reaction and may have significant benefits to your dog’s immune system.
Cons:
- Ingredients have not been extensively tested for allergy or immunity benefits.
- Some dogs are not fond of the taste on their food.
Bad Breath
Many dogs experience dental problems and gingivitis. This can lead to very bad breath.
Dogs with bad breath may leave the smell on their coat when they lick their fur, especially after bathing.
This is why some dogs may smell bad shortly after a bath, even if they don’t have many natural oils.
What To Do About It
If your dog hasn’t had a dental cleaning in some time, it may be time to talk to your veterinarian about dental hygiene.
Many dogs suffer from various sorts of dental decay that may cause pain as well as bad breath. Therefore, it’s important to address your dog’s bad breath as soon as possible.
Many veterinarians recommend a dental hygiene maintenance routine in addition to regular dental cleanings at the veterinarian’s office.
If you’ve never brushed your dog’s teeth before, now is definitely the time to start!
Check out our complete brushing guide and demonstration video to learn how to do it correctly.
Even a simple dental spray may be able to make a difference in your dog’s breath and prevent odors from transferring to the coat.
Premium Pet Dental Spray
Dental care for your pet is very important, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a challenge to provide good dental care.
In addition to professional cleanings and routine brushing, use this spray to naturally eliminate bad breath and improve your pet’s oral health.
This versatile product can be sprayed directly on your dog’s gums and/or sprayed into the drinking water.
It works on an enzymatic level to address the root causes of your dog’s bad breath, making it much more likely that you’ll be able to make a real difference in how your dog’s breath smells.
Pros:
- Easy-to-spray design that most dogs tolerate.
- Minty smell that is a vast improvement over bad breath.
- Alcohol free.
- Natural tartar and plaque control.
- Works on the enzymatic level to address the root cause of plaque, tartar, and bad breath.
- Works in both the water bowl and as a direct spray into the mouth for double the effect.
Cons:
- May be difficult to spray into small dogs’ mouths or short-nosed breeds without spraying into their throat.
- Some dogs don’t enjoy the taste.
Last update on 2024-04-26 at 03:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
