Does your dog smell nice? They should! But unfortunately smelly dogs are an all too common problem. And there’s lots of reasons why it could be happening.

Your dog should have a natural odour, but it should neutral and not overpowering. Dogs shouldn’t smell bad. If they do it is likely an indication that their overall health is not great. The good news is that if you have a smelly dog there are things you can do to help, and this will improve their overall health too.

A quick google shows the internet’s general wisdom to simply wash smelly dogs more often. This is terrible advice. The smell might go away in the short term, but if it’s coming back in a few weeks then there’s an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.

Here’s the 3 main reasons that dogs chronically smell:

Yeast infection
Dental disease
Poor diet

Dogs don’t sweat like us

Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through the areas on their bodies where there is no fur: their nose and paw pads. This is why the smell coming from these areas is generally the most intense. However, dogs also have a gland associated with their hair follicles which has an individual chemical scent and may contribute to the odour.

Dogs with allergies are more likely to be smelly. This is because allergies can increase the production of apocrine sweat which has a smelly musty odour. Allergy dogs are more likely to suffer from yeast infection or bacterial skin infections, which both result in an unpleasant smell.

A strong smell coming from the ears or paws is often the result of a yeast infection. You can treat this with drugs, but there are negative effects with doing this and the yeast will probably grow back when you stop the injections or tablets.

In my experience the only way to treat a yeast infection is to feed a genuinely low carb diet. Keep in mind that all kibble contains 30-60% carbs (yep, even the expensive “premium” stuff).

A properly formulated fresh diet that is low in carbs (less than 5%) is the best long term strategy.

How to help a dog with a yeast infection

Dental Disease

Dental disease can also be the source of odour. Dogs with poor oral health often have incredibly bad breath known as halitosis. This is caused by a build up of calculus on the teeth, which increase the number of bacteria in the mouth.

If your pup has “dog breath” then they likely have poor oral health. Bad breath is an indication of poor oral hygiene and needs to be addressed. Keeping your dogs teeth clean with regular bones is a good starting point. But often you will need to visit the vet to have their teeth cleaned first, and then regular bones will help maintain the mouth after.

Adding kelp to the diet can also help keep dental calculus at bay - but remember that regular bones are the most important part of your dogs oral hygiene.

Smelly Coat

Dogs naturally produce oil on their skin and hair which has an odour. While a coat that isn’t kept clean can trap dirt or debris, the oil your dog produces is more likely to be the cause of chronic smell - especially if you are washing your dog lots.

Giving your dog a bath will make them smell nice again, but if they become smelly again in a few weeks that means the natural oils are out of balance, or their microbiome needs help. Regular bathing is just helpful to remove the symptoms of odour, but it doesn’t fix the underlying cause - which is most likely diet.

Keep in mind that every time you wash your dog you strip them of the natural oil on their body. Dogs are largely self cleaning, and the oil they produce for their hair is a big part of this.

Having the right fat balance in the diet, and feeding food with oils that aren’t rancid are critical to your dog producing healthy, nice smelling skin and hair.

Our experience with Nelly

In the 9 years we’ve had Nelly, she has been washed exactly 3 times. And each time it has been because she has rolled in something unbelievably gross at the park. Normally she smells amazing!

We put this down to her incredible diet of Whoa Nelly. She is super healthy and her coat keeps itself clean. Pretty good for an 11 year old dog.

How to improve smell

At risk of sounding like a broken record, the way to keep your dog smelling great is a high quality diet. It’s important that the fats are balanced and protected from oxidation with Vitamin E.

If their diet has been mostly processed up to this point, it’s all good! Making a change to fresh food is the best thing for their overall health. It can take time for their odour to improve but it does get better.

The other main point is to make sure your dogs teeth are kept clean with regular bones and vet visits (if necessary). Good oral hygiene is very important to the overall health of your dog.

Obviously regular grooming is important, especially with breeds that have longer fur, so it’s about finding the right balance with how often they need a wash and trim. But if your dog is becomes smelly a few weeks after a bath you really need to look at their diet.

The best way to keep your dog smelling nice is to keep them healthy. And of course that means you’ll keep them around for longer too 🐾