Why do golden retrievers smell bad?

When a golden retriever strides into our lives with a brisk pace and a fluffy coat of fur, its enthusiastic appearance instantly captures our hearts. However, as time goes by, many golden retriever owners find that the originally lovely little guy sometimes emits an unpleasant odor. This not only affects their image but also makes intimate interactions a bit awkward. Why do golden retrievers have body odor? Today, let's explore the reasons behind it together.

Golden retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs with a thick and long double coat of fur. This fur is like a fine filter. When they are outdoors, it is very easy to absorb dust, pollen, and all kinds of debris. Once in a humid weather, if the fur remains wet for a long time, it provides a hotbed for the growth of bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms will produce a pungent odor during the process of decomposing skin secretions and dirt. Especially in the hot summer, the high-temperature and high-humidity environment makes the bacteria multiply even faster, and the problem of body odor becomes more serious. Just think about a summer afternoon, when you bring your golden retriever back from the park, the smell of a mixture of sweat and bacteria on its body fills the room instantly, which is really a headache.

Golden retrievers have relatively more skin folds, such as those on the neck, face, and between the toes. These areas have poor air circulation, are prone to accumulating dirt, and are not easy to clean. Once water remains in these places, it will cause skin inflammation, and then an unpleasant odor will be generated. Take the facial folds as an example. When a golden retriever eats or drinks, food residues and water can easily remain, creating a good living environment for bacteria. If not cleaned in time, a sour and foul smell will soon emanate. When we lean in to stroke its face and smell that unpleasant odor, we are filled with worry, fearing that its health will be affected.

Ear health is also an important factor contributing to the body odor of golden retrievers. Golden retrievers have drooping ears. This special ear structure makes the air circulation in the ear canal blocked and the humidity increased, providing an ideal place for the growth of ear mites and bacteria. When there is an ear infection, the golden retriever will not only scratch its ears frequently but also emit a foul smell from the ears. There was once a golden retriever owner who suddenly found a strange smell filling the house. Finally, after investigation, it was found that it was caused by the golden retriever's ear infection. Seeing the golden retriever restless due to ear discomfort, the owner felt very distressed.

Oral hygiene also has an important impact on the body odor of golden retrievers. Just like humans, if golden retrievers do not pay attention to oral cleaning, food residues will remain between their teeth and gums, allowing bacteria to grow, forming dental plaque and tartar, and then causing bad breath. When they breathe out warmly towards us, that unpleasant smell rushes towards us, making us instantly lose the desire to get close. At such times, looking at the innocent eyes of the golden retriever, we can't help but blame ourselves, feeling that we haven't taken good care of it.

In addition to the above physiological and hygiene reasons, diet is also closely related to the body odor of golden retrievers. If you feed a golden retriever low-quality dog food for a long time, the possible inferior ingredients in it cannot be fully digested and absorbed by the golden retriever, which will lead to indigestion and make the smell of the feces more pungent. Moreover, some foods will produce a special odor during the digestion process, which is emitted through the breath and skin. On the contrary, a reasonable combination of high-quality diets rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals helps maintain the physical health of golden retrievers and reduces the generation of body odor.

In addition, diseases are also potential factors that cause the body odor of golden retrievers. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and kidney diseases can lead to metabolic disorders in golden retrievers, making their bodies emit a special odor. If you find that your golden retriever not only has body odor but also is accompanied by symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, and weight loss, the owner must be highly vigilant and take it to the pet hospital for a comprehensive examination in a timely manner. After all, every golden retriever is an important member of our family, and their health concerns us deeply.

The unpleasant odor on golden retrievers is not impossible to solve. As long as we pay more attention in daily life, regularly groom their fur, clean the skin folds, clean their ears and mouths, choose high-quality food, and pay attention to their health status, we can minimize the generation of body odor. In the process of getting along with golden retrievers, we have gained endless joy and companionship. Taking good care of their health and reducing body odor is not only responsible for them but also makes our lives more harmonious and beautiful.