If you are shaking your head and thinking my dog smells, do something about it

Have you ever thought to yourself, ?my dog smells!? If so, you’re not alone. An unsavory aroma plagues many pooches, but that doesn’t mean their owners have to deal with it. Fortunately, you can nix such an awful sent with the help of a few remedies.

Scrub and Shine

Sometimes a stinky pup only needs a bath to get things right again. After a while, dirt, grime and whatever your pooch rolled in tend to build up on the skin and fur, making that gross scent. A little scrub-a-dub-dub with dog shampoo should give your canine a pleasant aroma.

Using pet shampoo is essential, as human shampoo could irritate your four-legged friend’s skin, which can cause a whole host of other issues. Additionally, you must make sure you completely rinse out any suds, as leaving some on could also create irritation.

If your pooch has sensitive skin or allergies, considering washing with oatmeal shampoo or one that is formulated for those type of skin problems. Pet stores often keep these in stock, or you could consult your veterinarian.

Check Those Ears

Believe it or not, ear infections can create quite a stink with your pup, literally. Yeast infections in the ear canal and folds can create a foul scent that can follow the pooch wherever it goes. You may think the odor is coming from the pooch’s skin, but it is actually its ears.

If your canine’s ears smell bad, there’s a good chance they are infected. To resolve the infection, you’ll have to visit the veterinarian. The doctor can clean out the ears, then prescribe you medication to clear up the issue.

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Cleaning your pet’s ears on a regular basis may prevent the infection from occurring, which can stop your pooch from omitting an unflattering scent.

Mouthing Off

The term ?dog breath? isn’t an insult for no reason; canines aren’t necessarily known for possessing sweet-scented breath. This is due to tartar and plaque build-up on the teeth. That brown and black mask over your pal’s chompers not only looks terrible, but smells even worse.

Unfortunately, once tartar turns into plaque, scrubbing with a toothbrush won’t send it packing. Your pet’s veterinarian will need to perform scaling for complete removal. Once the plaque is gone, however, that scent will be too.

You can prevent the build-up from making a comeback by brushing your pet’s teeth daily. However, you must make sure you use toothpaste that is formulated for canines. Pups don’t spit and if you use human toothpaste that contains fluoride, doing so could make your pet sick. Additionally, canine toothpaste is also flavored, which may make your pal actually like the process.

Not So Great Glands

Canines have anal glands underneath their tails. These glands are full of foul-smelling liquid that is used to provide lubrication during bowel movements. If there is an infection or if they become too full, they can start to leak, which can make your pooch a terror to be around. Other tell-tale signs of gland trouble is constantly licking back there or scooting the rear across the floor.

Take your pup to the vet if you think this may be the problem. The doctor can empty the glands and check for infection. Having them expressed regularly could prevent the odor and any future infection. Groomers often offer that service, so check with yours to have it performed when your pet gets a haircut. This task is also something owners can usually do themselves, therefore, ask the doctor or the groomer to show you how, if you’re interested.

Hopefully, you will no longer think to yourself ?my dog smells? after you have checked these common causes of bad odor and had them resolved.