February 8, 2012
Posted in Pet Health

Every pet owner has had the awful experience of smelling a stinky dog. Whether it rolled in something rancid or just has a wet coat from romping around outside in the rain, smelly dogs are nothing to write home about. Sometimes a dog's unpleasant odor can mean something more serious is going on inside its body, so owners should beware of the signs to better determine whether their dogs need a bath with strong pet shampoo or if they need to go to the vet.

In many cases, strong odors tend to mean that they have an infection or bacteria build up in their pores. Common areas where these smells tend to originate are in places that are typically moist and dark, including the mouth, ears, skin folds and under dogs' tails. Bacteria tends to fester when a dog gets wet, so you might want to make sure to dry your dog off completely after it goes swimming or takes a bath. This might help limit its chances of getting an uncomfortable and smelly infection.

Ear infections can be one of the worst problems that occur in dogs. Because of this, you should take extra care when cleaning your pup's ears. Ear infections can arise if the dog is allergic to its pet food, if it swims often, if it has long ears or if the animal has ear mites. To avoid these issues, try cleaning your pup's ears once a week with pet products like Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser or 1-800-PetMeds Ear Cleansing Solution. Both work to clean, dry and deodorize the dog's ears while making it harder for bacteria to grow.

Dogs' skin and coats don't typically produce an offensive odor, so if Fido is suddenly starting to stink to high heavens, something might be wrong. Dogs with unhealthy skin tend to develop a thick layer of oil. This layer can then start to take on dirt and grime that gets stuck and ultimately clogs its pores. Healthy skin cells shed and reform about every three weeks, however if your pup's skin is abnormal the process may slow down or speed up . When skin cells divide too slowly, it tends to become dull and easily damaged, leaving it wide open for bacteria. When cells divide too rapidly, the skin tends to develop a thick layer of crust that traps oils and bacteria, causing smells.

To clear up these undesired infections and smells, try bathing the dog with skin soothing shampoo such as Allermyl Shampoo or 1-800-PetMeds Oatmeal Shampoo & Aloe Vera. Starting the dog on omega-3 supplements like Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet might also help repair the skin while supporting eye, heart and brain health.

Related posts:

1. Stinky dog? Poor health may be to blame
2. How to heal dry eyes in dogs
3. Benefits of a grooming routine
4. How to handle your dog’s coat
5. When ear scratching is too much