We all love our dogs, but not necessarily their doggy smells. While some pets simply enjoy eating, romping or rolling in foul things, bad odors can also be a sign of serious health problems in your pet. Knowing the source of your dog’s bad smell, then, is important in ensuring your companion stays healthy.
 
Wet dogs certainly have a bad odor, but that’s completely normal. Tiny organisms, such as yeast and bacteria, live in your dog’s hair and adding water releases more of their smelly compounds. While wet-dog smell is common, there are skin conditions that can cause a foul odor to come from your pet’s skin. Dermatitis, a chronic condition associated with allergies, can cause inflammation and malodors, especially in breeds with wrinkled skin. To prevent infections, wash your pet regularly or use baby wipes to cleanse his skin folds.
 
Dog breath can also be a sign something’s wrong with your pet. While a smelly mouth makes sense if Fido has just feasted on rotten fish, bad breath that crops up out of nowhere or is long-lasting can be a sign your pet has an internal infection. Gum disease, tooth infections and cavities are obvious culprits, but kidney disease and diabetes can also cause bad breath. A pet with kidney failure will have breath with an ammonia-like odor, while those with diabetes are more likely to have a sweet, almost fruity aroma to their breath. If you dog has any of these symptoms, or you see red, swollen or bleeding gums, take him to the veterinarian immediately to diagnose the problem. If your dog’s stench is emanating from the other end, he may simply have bad gas— but prolonged flatulence can also be a sign something’s wrong with your pet. If his gas persists, take your pet to the veterinarian to ensure his problems are not health- or diet-related. If he simply has a lingering odor, however, your pet may be suffering from impacted or infected anal sacs. The walls of these sacs are lined with glands and fill up with a foul-smelling substance, which is normally excreted when a dog uses the bathroom. When this system is compromised, it can lead to a horrible smell. Your veterinarian can examine your dog and manually expel the fluid from these sacs if he is suffering from gland-related problems.
 
If Fido is healthy, there are several ways to ensure he stays smelling fresh. Wash him regularly— about once a month, depending on the breed— and brush his coat when he’s shedding to remove odor-causing dead skin cells and hair. Invest in dry shampoo or use baby power between baths to help absorb any lingering odors to keep your pet smelling his best.