The short answer: All dogs smell of dog and a wet dog smells more. But a healthy dog rarely starts to smell strongly from one day to the next. When the smell is new, stands out or comes back straight after a bath, it usually sits in one of five places: the ears, the skin and skin folds, the mouth, the anal glands or the coat itself. Sniff your way around before you wash. Where the smell sits says more about the cause than how strong it is.
Why dogs smell
Dogs barely sweat through their skin. Instead the sebaceous glands produce an oil that protects the coat and on that oil live bacteria and yeasts that belong to the normal skin flora. Their by-products are a large part of the ordinary doggy smell. When the coat gets wet more of them are released, which is why a dog smells more after rain and baths.
The ordinary smell is even across the body, fairly mild and fades once the coat has dried. It is worth investigating further when one of the following appears: a smell that sits in one place, that is sweet, rancid, rotten or fishy, or that returns within a few days of a bath.
Five places to sniff
1. The ears. Often the first place to check. According to Agria, the ears usually smell bad when a dog has, or is about to get, an ear infection and more discharge forms which may be discoloured. Dogs with floppy ears, narrow ear canals and dogs whose ears often get wet, such as retrievers that swim, are at greater risk1. Recurring ear infections are also often the first sign of allergy; according to Agria, 80 per cent of allergic dogs have ear problems2.
2. The skin and skin folds. The yeast Malassezia normally lives on the skin but can overgrow, especially where it is warm and moist: in the lip folds, between the toes and pads and around the anus or vulva. The dog often itches and the skin can become greasy3. The smell is often described as sweet, musty or like stale crisps. A dog with recurring yeast problems often has an allergy or another skin disease underneath3.
3. The mouth. Bad breath most often comes from tartar and gum inflammation. A smell from the mouth can also come from an infected lip fold, which is easily mistaken for bad breath. Less often it is internal disease: breath that smells of ammonia can be linked to kidney failure and a sweetish, acetone-like smell to diabetes, but the dog then usually has other symptoms too4.
4. The anal glands. Two small glands by the anus with a secretion that smells very strong and fishy to us. Normally they empty when the dog passes stool. If they do not, they can become overfilled and inflamed. Typical signs are scooting, licking the rear end or a fishy smell where the dog has been lying5. Diarrhoea, constipation and food allergy can contribute.
5. The coat itself. The coat may simply be dirty. A dense undercoat that never dries properly after a wet walk turns musty and a dog that has rolled in something smells for a completely different reason. Here a brush, a bath and proper drying are enough.
Key insight: A smell that returns two or three days after a bath almost never sits in the coat. It comes from something that keeps producing odour, such as an ear, a skin fold, the mouth or the anal glands. More baths then often do more harm than good, as the skin dries out and loses its protection.
The smell as a clue
| Smell | Where | Possible cause |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet, musty, like crisps | Ears, paws, skin folds | Yeast |
| Sharp, rotten | Ears | Ear infection |
| Fishy | Rear end, bed | Anal glands |
| Rotten, sour | Mouth | Tartar, gums, lip folds |
| Ammonia or acetone | Breath | Internal disease, always the vet |
| Musty, damp | Whole coat | Coat has not dried |
When to see the vet
The same day if the breath smells of ammonia or acetone, if the dog is also drinking a lot, vomiting or lethargic, or if blood or pus is leaking from the anal area. These can be signs of an abscess in an anal gland or of a disease that needs prompt treatment.
Within a few days if an ear smells, is red or the dog is shaking its head. If a paw, a lip fold or another patch of skin smells, is red or greasy. If the dog is scooting or licking its rear a lot. And if the mouth smells more than usual and you can see deposits on the teeth. Ear and skin infections are treated with prescription products. The earlier, the easier1.
What you can do yourself
Dry thoroughly. After rain and baths: towel until the coat is damp rather than wet, ideally followed by a while in a warm room. Do not forget the ears, paws and skin folds.
Wash in moderation. A mild dog shampoo, lukewarm water and thorough rinsing. Bathing too often dries the skin. How often depends on breed, coat and lifestyle; more on that in our article on how often to bathe a dog.
Check the ears every week. Sniff and look. A healthy ear barely smells of anything. Clean only when needed; according to Agria, too much unnecessary cleaning can increase the risk of ear infection1.
Brush the teeth. Agria recommends daily tooth brushing4. Start with a minute a day and a dog toothpaste.
Wash the bed. Blankets and beds absorb smell and flakes. Wash them every week or two.
Do not empty the anal glands yourself unless you have been shown how. It can hurt and damage the glands. If your dog has recurring problems, the vet can show you how it is done5.
Related products
ANNU ALOE Pet Shampoo. A mild shampoo with aloe vera for regular washing, when the skin is healthy and the coat just needs to be kept clean. Read more about ANNU ALOE.
ANNUBACT Pet Shampoo. A shampoo with neem and basil for skin that needs more thorough cleansing than ordinary shampoo can manage, as a complement once the vet has looked at the skin. Read more about ANNUBACT. Both are covered by our 42-day guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog smell bad even after a bath?
If the smell returns within a few days, it usually comes from the ears, skin, mouth or anal glands rather than the coat. Find out where it sits and show your vet.
Why does my dog smell of fish?
The most common cause is the anal glands. The secretion smells strongly fishy and the smell is often noticed where the dog has been lying or when it licks its rear end5.
Do older dogs smell more?
It is common, but usually for a reason: tartar, skin folds, ears or poorer grooming as the dog gets stiffer. It is rarely age itself.
Does it help to perfume the dog?
No. Perfume masks the smell but can irritate the skin and makes it harder to notice if the smell changes. Find out where the smell comes from instead.
That was the short answer. If you have a question about your own pet, email us at info@herbiovet.se. We reply within one working day.
Read more:
Sources
- Agria Djurförsäkring, Ear infection in dogs (otitis) (in Swedish).
- Agria Djurförsäkring, Allergy in dogs (in Swedish).
- AniCura, Yeast infection in dogs (in Swedish).
- Agria Djurförsäkring, Dogs with bad breath (halitosis) (in Swedish).
- Evidensia, Anal gland inflammation in dogs (in Swedish).