For most people, the unpleasant smell of a dog is very annoying. In fact, the smell of a dog can make people rethink getting a dog, or even letting it into a car. Bad dog odors include many things and can vary widely, including bad breath, farts, the smell of unkempt fur, or feces that have stuck to their fur or been stepped on by your dog. In the end, no matter how cute a dog is, if it smells, you'll have a hard time getting close to it. Thus, it is important to keep your dog smelling good.
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Method 1 of 5: Bathing the Dog
Step 1. Buy dog shampoo
For a dog whose coat smells, hasn't bathed in a while, or looks dirty, a bath is a great place to start tackling the odor problem. Buy shampoos that are formulated to get rid of odors, and don't just cover them with artificial fragrance.
- Conditioner is optional, depending on the dog's coat type.
- If your dog has a skin problem, such as an overgrowth of fungus, check with your veterinarian to find out which medicated shampoo is right for your dog.
Step 2. Wet the dog's body completely
Starting at the tip of the head, and working your way down to the tail, apply warm (not hot) water to your dog's body.
The dog should be wet to the skin before you shampoo
Step 3. Apply shampoo to the dog's body
Press the shampoo bottle, pour the contents into your hand. Start lathering from the top of the dog's neck to the tip of the tail.
- Apply shampoo on the outside of the ears, legs, chest, stomach, hair, and the rest of the body..
- Be careful to avoid the dog's eyes and ears.
Step 4. Rinse off the shampoo
Use warm water to wash the shampoo off the dog's hair. Again, be careful not to get the dog's eyes and ears in the water.
Step 5. Repeat this step to apply conditioner, if you wish
Step 6. Let the dog shake his body to get rid of the water
Step back and let your dog get as much water out of his coat as possible.
Step 7. Dry the dog as soon as possible
Use a towel to dry your dog as much as you can. Some dogs may allow you to use a low-temperature hairdryer to dry their fur.
- The wet dog smell that many people don't like is mostly caused by bacteria that feed on the dog's natural oils. Just like other types of bacteria, these bacteria can live in warm and humid environments.
- The best way to control your dog's odor is to bathe him regularly, and keep him dry between baths.
- Keep in mind that bathing your dog too often will remove too much oil from his skin, causing health problems. Check with your vet, adjust it to the climate where you live, the length of the dog's coat, etc.
- It's best to prevent your dog from rolling over until his body is completely dry, as wet fur absorbs odors very easily.
Method 2 of 5: Caring for Dogs
Step 1. Clean the dog's ears
Dirty ears are a common cause of bad odor. Clean your dog's ears when they look dirty inside, but don't clean them too often, as this can cause irritation.
- Purchase wipes, mineral oil, or ear cleaner at a pet store.
- Clean ears where you can see wax (usually dark brown) in the crevices. If you smell a very strong odor near your dog's ears, it's likely that your dog's ears are infected, and not just filled with dirt, and should seek veterinary care.
- Ear infections are common in dogs, and are often accompanied by skin problems on the dog's body. If your dog's ears show signs of infection such as odor, redness, swelling, or discharge, be on the lookout for skin problems.
- Both skin infections and ear infections are often caused by an allergic reaction to food or something from the environment, such as pollen.
- Gently press the solution into the dog's ear and rub in a circular motion. Or better yet, use your thumb and middle finger to reach the ear canal just below the ear canal. Then, open and close your finger to open the plug of earwax with the help of an ear cleaning solution.
- Dogs usually like this cleaning step, and lean in close to the direction of the ear massage, then make a moaning sound of liking.
- Finally, use a cotton ball to gently clean any fluid that comes out of the ear canal.
- During this step, do not force anything into the dog's ear canal. Do not use earplugs.
Step 2. Brush or comb your dog's hair daily
This will get rid of the dirt and dust that is causing the bad smell.
Step 3. Clean the dog's teeth
A dirty dog's mouth will cause bad breath. For your dog's health and good smell, you need to brush your dog's teeth regularly, ideally every day.
- Look for a dog toothbrush that is the right size for your dog's mouth. You can get it at a pet store, order it from a catalog, or from your vet. Look for a toothpaste that is suitable for dogs (never use human toothpaste on your dog). Dog toothpaste is often flavored deliciously like meat or pet food.
- Press a small amount of toothpaste onto the brush.
- Gently open the dog's lips, so you can see the teeth.
- Brush all the teeth in the dog's mouth for one minute. Be sure to brush both sides of each dog's teeth.
- Some dogs may not like having their teeth brushed right away, and need to be trained and introduced slowly. Start by putting toothpaste on your finger, and then apply a piece of gauze. As your dog begins to feel comfortable with this process, replace it with a toothbrush so he can gradually get used to it.
- Don't forget to reward your dog for being patient during this process.
Step 4. Don't give your dog any fragrance
Avoid spraying perfume, deodorizer, or house deodorizer on your dog.
This may temporarily mask the dog's odor, but will not eliminate or address the cause. Also, these products are not made specifically for dogs and may not be safe, which could exacerbate the problem and even injure your dog
Method 3 of 5: Reducing Dog Farts
Step 1. Consider dog food
If you don't eat healthy and natural foods, the smell of your dog's fart may be caused by the unhealthy food. Pay attention to dog food, and check the ingredients listed on the packaging.
- Most packaged dog food contains a number of unhealthy additives, which cause digestive problems in most dogs.
- Even dogs that eat "healthy" foods can experience digestive problems. It's not uncommon for dogs to have food allergies, causing them to fart. Some foods can cause digestive problems as well.
Step 2. Change dog food
If your dog eats a low-quality food, replace the cheap, low-nutrient dog food with a better quality natural food. Many inexpensive pet food products contain indigestible fillers and cause bad odor, dull coat, and fart and bad breath in dogs.
- High-quality natural products can be found at pet stores or online. You can also replace your dog's food with homemade. Talk to your veterinarian for dog food recipes you can follow.
- Change your dog's food gradually. Start by adding the new food little by little to the old one at each meal, then increase the amount gradually until you have completely replaced it.
- If your dog's farts get worse as he changes his food, this is a sign that you're changing it too soon. Change the food more slowly over a longer period of time, so the bacteria in your dog's gut can get used to the new food. A proper diet change period is three to seven days, reducing the amount of old food little by little each day.
- Most dogs cannot digest lactose. If you add anything containing lactose to your dog's diet, your dog's farts may get worse as a result. Get the lactose out of the diet, and your dog's farts should improve. On the other hand, plain, nonfat yogurt with live bacteria can be beneficial for some dogs. Seek advice from your veterinarian first.
- Help your dog's digestive system work more efficiently by adding whole grains, such as cooked brown rice. Better digestion means better breath and less fart.
- Stop giving leftovers to dogs. A variety of leftovers is not ideal nutrition for dogs, and can cause bad breath and fart, as well as nutritional imbalances in dogs.
Step 3. Don't let the dog eat from the trash
If this is the case, try to prevent it as the food in the trash can may not fit even if it is rotten, as well as being coated with a lot of other foul-smelling items.
Step 4. Get your dog to exercise regularly
Walking, running, and playing are great ways to reduce a dog's fart by stimulating his bowel movements.
Method 4 of 5: Treating the Anal Gland
Step 1. Get the dog checked
If you believe your dog's bad smell is coming from his anal glands, take him to the vet. Your vet can tell you if your dog's anal glands are overfilled or infected.
Step 2. Learn to empty the anal glands
If your vet states that the source of your dog's odor problem is his anal glands, ask a dog salon or veterinarian to show you how to properly and safely empty your dog's anal glands.
For more information on this method, try reading the article How to Clean a Dog's Anal Gland
Step 3. Be aware of possible psychological problems
If your dog bleeds when he's anxious, excited, or scared, there may also be a psychological issue you need to look out for.
Talk to your veterinarian or dog trainer for a solution, as this problem is behavioral. You may be able to reduce this problem by making your dog calmer each day
Method 5 of 5: Cleaning the Dog Bed
Step 1. Wash the dog bed sheets in the washing machine
Keeping the dog bed clean and free of fleas and dust will help keep your dog smelling good. Place the sheets, pillows and blankets in the washing machine. Wash with cold water.
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If possible, use unscented detergents, or avoid detergents altogether. Dogs smell much sharper than humans. So, the scent that is considered fragrant to humans will feel very piercing to the dog's sense of smell.
- Washing with hot water and baking soda will suffice to remove most odors without fragrance.
- Vinegar and hot water can also be used.
- If you absolutely must wash with detergent, there are many choices of products that are less scented or unscented.
- Avoid using fabric softener as it can irritate your dog's skin and generally have a strong scent.
Step 2. Dry the bedding
Put all dog bedding in the dryer (choose a low temperature) or dry outside in the sun.
Step 3. Clean items that cannot be washed
Sleeping equipment that cannot be machine washed, such as beds, or large mattresses, should be rinsed with a water hose. If it is very dirty, brush it with a sponge or toothbrush and a mild biodegradable dish soap.
Step 4. Repeat
Clean dog bedding weekly or biweekly depending on how often the smell returns.
Tips
- For skin problems in some areas, see a dog dermatologist if possible. This can help your dog if the source of the smell is his skin or fur.
- Keep the dog's brush clean. Wash it in hot water and let it dry before using it again.
- For a dog bed with removable sheets, try putting some lavender between the sheets and the mattress for a clean, fresh smell. Doing this can also have a calming effect on the dog.
- There are medical products that can reduce dog farting. Talk to your vet if changing your dog's diet doesn't solve your problem.
- Make sure the products you put on your dog's coat don't cause odor problems along with the dog's natural odor. Scented shampoos, for example, may actually make the odor worse, not treat it.
Warning
- Be sure to seek professional help the first time you clean your dog's anal glands. Failure to do so can lead to serious infections.
- Some dogs are naturally smellier than others. You may just need to get used to the smell, especially as your dog ages and his coat is thicker or larger.
- Avoid chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, tomatoes, avocados, macadamia nuts, and foods containing caffeine or xylitol. These materials can be harmful and toxic to your dog.
- Human toothpaste contains fluoride, which may be toxic to dogs if ingested. Do not use this toothpaste to clean your dog's teeth.
- Frequent odor problems may be caused by a more serious health problem. If neither of these methods are effective, then you may need the help of a veterinarian. Pay particular attention if your dog farts frequently, has a persistent odor of urine, has any unpleasant odors accompanied by yellowing of the eyes and gums, a swollen stomach, or vomiting, or problems with the dog's teeth and gums that you can see.
