Why is my dog ​so smelly even after bathing?

You happily bathe your dog and look at its cute wet appearance. You thought you could welcome a fresh little cutie, but not long after, the familiar odor spread quietly again. What is going on? I believe that every dog ​​lover has been deeply troubled by this problem. The little disappointment after full of expectations makes people feel puzzled and helpless about the stubborn smell on the dog. ​

The source of the smell on the dog is actually quite complicated. Skin problems are one of the important factors. Dogs' skin is different from humans. Their skin is thinner and their hair is dense. When a dog's skin is inflamed, such as seborrheic dermatitis, the skin will secrete too much oil. These oils mix with dust and microorganisms in the air to produce an unpleasant smell. Even if you have just bathed it, the continuous secretion of oil will make the smell reappear soon. It is also possible that the dog is infected with fungi or bacteria. For example, excessive growth of Malassezia can cause itching on the skin. The dog can't help scratching, further damaging the skin barrier and making the odor stronger. Imagine that the dog is uncomfortable because of skin discomfort. We feel distressed when we see it, but we are at a loss for what to do with the smell. ​

The ears are also an easily overlooked source of odor. The dog's ears have a special structure, and the ear canal is L-shaped. This structure makes air circulation poor and easy to accumulate dirt and moisture. If it is not cleaned regularly, earwax accumulation and bacterial growth will emit a pungent odor. Maybe you only pay attention to the dog's body when bathing, but ignore its ears. Every time you bathe your dog, you expect it to be refreshed, but if the problem in the ear is not solved, the odor will still break this beauty. For example, when you get close to the dog and get intimate with it, you suddenly smell a strange smell. It is likely that the ears are "playing tricks". ​

Oral hygiene should not be underestimated. The health of a dog's teeth and gums directly affects its breath. If a dog eats soft food for a long time and does not pay attention to brushing its teeth, food residues will remain between its teeth, breeding bacteria and causing bad breath. This bad breath is not just a problem of the mouth. As the dog breathes, the whole body will be filled with the unpleasant smell. When you play with your dog, it pounces on you enthusiastically, but as soon as it opens its mouth, the smell makes you "retreat three steps" in an instant. I believe that at this time you will deeply understand the impact of oral hygiene on the dog's odor. ​

In addition, the dog's diet is also closely related to body odor. If the dog's dog food is not nutritionally balanced and lacks necessary fatty acids, the health of the skin and hair will be affected, resulting in odor. Or the dog accidentally eats some food that is not suitable for it, causing gastrointestinal discomfort, indigestion, and emitting unpleasant odors through breathing and excrement. Just like we have a special smell after eating certain irritating foods, the impact of the dog's diet on its odor should not be underestimated. ​

There are also some breed reasons, such as cocker spaniels, pugs, etc., whose skin has many wrinkles and is easy to hide dirt. Even if they are bathed frequently, it is difficult to completely remove the odor of these parts. For these special breeds of dogs, owners need to spend more time and pay attention to their hygiene. Despite this, odors may still appear from time to time, causing headaches for owners.

When we find that the dog still has odor after taking a bath, we should not simply blame the dog, but should patiently find the cause and give the dog more detailed care from multiple aspects such as skin, ears, mouth, diet, etc.