What are the reasons for your dog's bad smell and how to treat them?

Your dog may develop a bad smell due to various reasons such as not bathing for a long time, skin diseases, anal gland inflammation, bad breath, and ear odor. Different treatments are required for different causes.

Long time without a bath:

Some dogs have a heavy body odor, and if the owner doesn't give them a bath for a long time, it can lead to a bad smell. If this is the case, the owner can wash the dog with pet-specific shampoo and dry the fur promptly. It is generally recommended to bathe dogs every 7-10 days in spring and summer, and every 15-20 days in autumn and winter.

Infectious skin diseases:

If a dog has an infectious skin disease, it may also have an unusual smell. The owner can carefully examine the dog's fur to see if there are symptoms such as redness, scaling, and crusting. If so, it's time to consult a veterinarian for medication. Once the dog is cured, the smell will naturally disappear.

Anal gland inflammation:

Dogs' anal glands need to be cleaned regularly. If the owner doesn't clean the dog's anal glands regularly, the gland secretions can build up and cause inflammation, releasing a bad smell. In this case, the owner should squeeze out the retained secretions in the anal gland and clean it thoroughly. If it's difficult to do at home, seek help from a professional at a pet hospital to avoid damaging the dog's anal gland.

Bad breath:

Leftover food and oral diseases can cause dog bad breath. The owner can掰开狗狗的嘴巴,检查牙龈、牙齿、口腔黏膜等有无异常, and check for food residues in the gaps between teeth. If the bad breath is caused by food residues, use dog-specific toothpaste and toothbrush to brush the dog's teeth. If it's caused by oral diseases such as stomatitis, oral ulcers, or periodontitis, consult a veterinarian immediately for medication.

Ear odor:

If a dog's ears are not cleaned for a long time, the secretions in the ear canal can easily ferment and produce a bad smell, especially in dogs with drooping ears. Once the ears are thoroughly cleaned, the smell should disappear. Additionally, when the ears are infected by bacteria, fungi, or ear mites, a foul smell occurs, accompanied by increased ear discharge, itching, shaking head, and scratching the ears. In this case, take the dog to a pet hospital for a microscope examination of the secretions and choose the appropriate ear medication.