Dogs are among our favourite companions - but sometimes man's best friend also brings unpleasant odours with it. A certain dog odour is completely normal, but what should you do if your dog stinks and you suddenly notice a strong body odour?
There are many causes of unpleasant dog odour, from natural factors such as sebum production to health problems such as skin diseases or dental problems and external influences such as stress. In this Guide, you will find out why some dogs smell stronger than others do and how you can get to grips with unpleasant dog odour naturally. With the right measures for unpleasant dog odours, from coat and dental care to the right food, unpleasant odours can be avoided and your dog's quality of life improved, from which the owner can also benefit.
Natural dog odour or problem - Why do dogs smell?
Dogs naturally have their own odour, which is usually harmless. Special glands in the skin that produce sebum to keep the coat supple and protect the skin are responsible for this. The sebum has a characteristic odour that can vary from dog to dog. The odour is sometimes stronger in dogs with thick or oily coats (e.g. water dogs such as Labrador retrievers).
Breed-related differences - why some dogs smell stronger than others
Some dog breeds smell stronger than other dog breeds due to genetic or structural characteristics:
- Dogs with wrinkled skin (e.g. Shar-Pei, Bulldogs) can develop odours in the skin folds if they are not kept clean.
- Water dogs or dogs with oily coats often have a more intense odour.
Why does my dog smell so strong? External factors have an influence
If the dog rolls around in dirt or faeces, or regularly goes swimming, this can have an effect on its dog odour.
Rolling in unpleasant substances - rolling in carrion or faeces
When a dog rolls in carrion or faeces, it is an extremely annoying behaviour for the dog owner, which is usually met with incomprehension. However, this behaviour is probably an instinct that dates back to the time when dogs were wild animals. It probably fulfilled various functions - on the one hand, it allowed the dog to camouflage its own scent, making it more difficult for prey and other animals to detect. On the other hand, the dog also carried the odour back to its pack, thus serving as a means of communication to show the pack members what had been discovered along the way.
Contact with moisture or dirt - smells like wet dog
If your dog has ever been caught in a heavy downpour or regularly goes swimming, you as a dog owner will certainly be familiar with it - the smell of wet dog. But why does the dog smell like a wet dog?
The skin bacteria and yeasts that live on the dog's skin are responsible for this. They carry out metabolism and in the process, metabolic products are constantly produced, which we now refer to as "bacterial faeces" for the sake of simplicity. If the dog gets wet, the "bacterial faeces" dissolve in the water and evaporate with the water as the dog dries. This creates a typical odour, known as the wet dog smell.
If you dry your dog thoroughly after it has become wet, you will shorten the time it takes for the moisture in the dog's coat to evaporate - then the dog will not smell like a wet dog for long. You will also protect your dog from catching a cold or a water rash. This is because in order to evaporate, the water in the dog's coat uses its body heat as a "drive motor", so as to speak, which can cause the dog to cool down.
This happens to any dog that gets wet; it smells like a wet dog. This is completely normal and stops as soon as the dog is dry.
The dog stinks – possible health causes of strong dog odour
If external factors such as wet fur or rolling in dirt have been ruled out and the dog still smells unpleasant, then it is time to look at the possible health causes of unpleasant dog odours.
Skin diseases - unpleasant odours due to infections or allergies
Skin infections such as hot spots or fungal infections can increase the skin odour and allergies or ectoparasites such as mites can also be responsible if the dog smells.
You can find more information about allergies in dogs and how you can help your dog in this situation in our Guide "My dog is allergic - what now?".
Ear infections are a common cause of bad odour in dogs
Dogs' ears have a warm and humid climate and are poorly ventilated, especially in dog breeds with floppy ears, such as Cocker Spaniels. The warm climate can promote the growth of bacteria and yeast, which can lead to an unpleasant odour.
With regular, gentle cleaning, you can prevent ear problems in dogs and support the natural protective function of the sensitive ear skin.
Our Canis Extra Ear Care has been specially developed to gently cleanse and care for healthy dog ears and support the natural balance of the delicate skin - without any artificial additives.
Bad breath in dogs - dental problems and their consequences
A certain amount of mouth odour is normal in dogs - however, food residues; tartar or gum inflammation can intensify this and contribute to the dog's breath smelling unpleasant.
Would you like to find out more about bad breath in dogs? Take a look at our Guide "Bad breath in dogs - causes and nutritional tips".
Anal gland problems - When the dog stinks but no external factors are visible
Dogs have special anal glands that secrete a strong-smelling secretion. This normally happens when they defecate. If the anal glands are blocked or inflamed, they can cause a penetrating, unpleasant dog odour.
There are many different reasons for blocked anal glands in dogs - you can find out more in our Guide "Blocked anal glands in dogs".
Digestive problems - the influence of diet on the dog's body odour
Food intolerances, impaired digestion, stress, endoparasites such as worms or giardia or even poor quality Dog Food can cause bloating and unpleasant body odour in dogs.
Would you like to find out more about worm infestations in dogs? Take a look at our Guide "Natural feeding for worm infestations in dogs and cats". Are you interested in the topic of Giardia in dogs? Click here for "Giardia in dogs".
Naturavetal® Info
Dog odour as a mirror of intestinal health
The health of the intestines can be seen in the skin. Because if nutrients from the food are not properly utilised in the intestines, then skin or coat problems and an unpleasant dog odour can become noticeable. If your dog has an unpleasant odour, we therefore recommend keeping an eye on food conversion and intestinal health. You can find more information in our Guide "Gut Rehabilitation in Dogs: Improving the Quality of Life for Your Dog".
Measures to combat unpleasant dog odours
As varied as the reasons for bad dog odour are, there are many options available to combat bad dog odour. We present these in more detail below.
Coat care - The basis for combating dog odour
You have various options for grooming your dog's coat, depending on the "grooming needs" of your dog. Because if your dog has rolled around in carrion, you will unfortunately have no choice but to give them a good wash if you want to get this unpleasant dog odour under control.
Our Canis Extra Care Shampoo is a high-quality dog shampoo for a thorough yet gentle cleaning of the dog's coat. Thanks to its special formula, the dog shampoo also cares for sensitive dog skin - making our dog shampoo suitable for dogs of all sizes and breeds.
Canis Extra Coat Spray can be sprayed directly onto the dog's coat to treat unpleasant odours. It is effective from the very first application, neutralising unpleasant odours and giving the coat new freshness thanks to its purely natural formula with the power of Aqua Pinus Sylvestris Wood Extract, the plant extract of pine heartwood, neem oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil and Swiss stone pine oil.
Our Canis Extra Mineral Spray can also contribute to holistic coat care by soothing skin irritations, while Canis Extra Organic Coconut Oil gives the coat a supple shine and maintains healthy skin. Canis Extra Paw and Skin Balm cares for calluses, paw pads and protects the paws from heavy wear and tear.
Dental care to prevent bad breath in dogs
Some dogs are more affected by dental problems than others are. For example, misaligned teeth can cause food residue to stick to the teeth more easily and the pH of the mouth also has an influence. You should therefore always adapt your dog's dental care routine to its needs. Here, we introduce some natural options for caring for your dog's teeth.
Regular oral and dental hygiene with appropriate cleaning, e.g. with Canis Extra Dental Care, makes a significant contribution when it comes to dental hygiene in dogs. If you get your dog used to brushing its teeth from an early age and make it a regular "wellness ritual", then your dog can really enjoy its time with you and its dental hygiene will benefit enormously. Afterwards, your dog can enjoy a tasty chewy snack, such as our Rabbit Ears with Fur.
Algae such as Canis Extra Chlorella, Canis Extra Spirulina and Canis Extra Seaweed Meal can positively change the pH value of the saliva through their cleansing effect from the inside out. This is because, in addition to the natural composition of the food, it plays a key role in keeping the teeth clean.
Would you like to find out more about bad breath in dogs? Take a look at our Guide "Bad breath in dogs - causes and nutritional tips".
Ear care for less odour
Dogs' ears are susceptible to contamination, moisture build-up and earwax because the climate in the ear canal is warm and often poorly ventilated. This can lead to problems such as itching and head shaking, redness, irritation and unpleasant odours or deposits of earwax.
Healthy ears are much more than just an aesthetic factor - they are crucial for your dog's well-being and at the same time a reflection of their health. Our Canis Extra Ear Care has been specially developed to gently cleanse and care for healthy dog ears and support the natural balance of the delicate skin. We advise sensitive dogs, dogs that tend to have skin problems and puppies to, firstly test our ear care with a small droplet on the ear and, if unsure, to use our Felins Plus® Ear Care for cats, as this does not contain tea tree oil.
Diet and dog odour - How food affects a dog's body odour
Feeding has a much greater and more extensive influence on dog odour than you might imagine, and in many different ways.
Feeding a diet that does not meet the dog's individual needs can have a negative effect on its dog odour. Food with many synthetic additives, such as artificial vitamins or preservatives, can lead to an oversupply or disturb the intestinal flora, so that the metabolism or the detoxification organs are overloaded or the body's own defence system is weakened. The dog can then begin to detoxify via its skin, or its natural skin barrier can be weakened. The result can be an unpleasant dog odour. An oversupply of protein can contribute to the dog developing a sebaceous, unpleasant-smelling coat. Allergies, food intolerances and the constant itching that can accompany them can cause the dog to have constant skin problems and these can also be accompanied by an unpleasant dog odour. If the dog cannot digest the food properly, for example due to a weakened intestinal flora or parasites, it can develop constant flatulence or soft faeces, which in turn can have a negative effect on the anal glands.
We generally recommend feeding your dog a natural food such as Canis Plus®, by avoiding synthetic additives in dog food you create the basis for natural body odour in your dog.
We also recommend that you contact our team of experts by telephone - because every dog is different and has its own individual needs. During a telephone call, our experts can find out more about your dog and its history and, on this basis, create a feeding concept for your dog that suits its individual needs. So please feel free to contact us.
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Behaviour and feeding
If your dog is constantly under pressure and stressed, this can not only put a strain on it´s digestive tract, but can also be responsible for unpleasant dog odour. In our Guide "The connection between nutrition and behaviour in dogs", we take a detailed look at this topic.
Hygiene in the dog's environment
In addition to regular grooming, hygiene in the dog's environment also plays an important role when it comes to unpleasant dog odours.
Their drinking and food bowls should be boiled regularly with boiling water, and their collars, leads, resting places etc. should also be checked for dirt and cleaned if necessary.
Canis Extra Ambient Spray is used in the dog's environment. It promotes hygiene by helping to neutralise odours from lying areas such as baskets, blankets etc.
Should you go to the vet if your dog has a strong odour?
If your dog's body odour suddenly changes for no reason, we advise you to consult a vet. The change in odour can be a warning signal and indicate underlying organ problems that you should not ignore. You should also consult a vet if your dog constantly smells unpleasant and this does not change despite a change to a natural feeding concept and suitable care measures, and if other symptoms such as itching, redness, dandruff or even changes in behaviour occur.
Preventive measures against dog odour
A natural feeding concept always comes first when it comes to avoiding unpleasant dog odours. Whether you feed our Canis Plus® Cold Pressed Dry Food, our Complete Tinned Meals or our Meat Pots or Meat Rolls, with home-prepared vegetables or our air-dried flake mixes and a source of calcium depends on your preferences and your dog's individual requirements.
You should also adapt your dog's grooming regime to your dog's needs and, of course, to the season, as different dog breeds have very different grooming requirements, which can also change depending on the season.
Examine your dog regularly and check its skin, teeth, ears, eyes etc. If you notice anything that you cannot categorise, you should consult a vet. Of course, you should also visit your vet regularly for routine check-ups. This also has the advantage that your dog learns that the vet can be a pleasant stopover whilst out, because if you only ever go there when your dog is really unwell, it is very likely that your dog will associate this and at some point start to react with fear to visits to the vet.
Watch out for signs of stress and offer your dog support if they are constantly suffering from stress. Also, make sure that the dog is properly exercised and gets enough physical activity, because a healthy, balanced dog often has fewer problems with unpleasant dog odours.
Further information and frequently asked questions (FAQ) about unpleasant dog odours
There are many reasons why dogs smell. Natural sebum production, skin, ear or dental problems, blocked anal glands or an unsuitable diet are all possible causes of unpleasant dog odour. Moisture can also increase dog odour.
Our Canis Extra Coat Spray offers quick help with unpleasant dog odours. It can be sprayed directly onto the dog's coat if it smells unpleasant. It takes effect after the very first application, neutralising unpleasant odours and giving the coat new freshness thanks to its purely natural formula with the power of Aqua Pinus Sylvestris Wood Extract, the plant extract of pine heartwood, neem oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil and Swiss stone pine oil.
Regular, natural grooming of the coat, teeth and ears as well as a healthy diet help to prevent unpleasant dog odours. If the odour suddenly appears or is very intense, a vet should investigate possible health problems or infections.
A fishy odour can be an indication of blocked or inflamed anal glands. In this case, the vet should check the anal glands and empty them if necessary. Bacterial infections can also cause the fishy odour.
For more information about anal glands in dogs, take a look at our Guide here.
We advise you not to wash your dog too often and for good reason. Healthy dog skin actually cleans itself and uses its own pH value and skin flora to do so. If you have to bathe your dog, you should use a suitable dog shampoo such as Canis Extra Care Shampoo. If your dog constantly smells unpleasant, there may be various reasons for this. Our team of experts will be happy to help you get to the bottom of it.
Yes, diet can have both a positive and negative influence on a dog's odour. It can be the reason why your dog smells unpleasant. By switching to a natural feeding concept, you can create the basis for a natural and healthy odour in your dog. Find out more about the benefits of our natural Canis Plus® here.
If your dog smells strongly despite regular grooming, if the smell suddenly appears or is accompanied by symptoms such as itching, hair loss, ear infections, behavioural changes or bad breath, you should consult a vet.
Would you like to find out more about when you should see a vet? Our Guide "My dog is unwell - when should I go to the vet?" provides detailed information on this topic.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone. We are here to help you with comprehensive advice. You can reach us Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by phone at 0208 - 531 7804 or mail info@naturavetal.co.uk.
