Why Do Dogs Stink When Wet?

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

There’s always a distinctive smell coming from your pooch after he gets wet. Have you ever wondered why dogs stink when they get wet?

You’ve just come in from the rain after having walked your now sopping-wet pooch. You enter the house, remove your boots, and stand back as he rigorously shakes all that wet away, and begins to wag his tail. While he’s a happy boy, you’re thinking “whoa, what on earth is that funky smell?” Well, that’s the smell of wet dog and until he has been thoroughly dried, he’s going to spread that dank scent throughout the house and onto any soft surfaces he cares to rub himself against.

Related:Best Dog Wipes

So, what causes that distinctive “wet dog” odor? It’s actually as bad as you’d think. It’s a stinky combo of microorganisms such as yeasts and bacteria that naturally occur deep down, on your dog’s skin and just settle in for the long haul. And, like most natural organism, they excrete volatile compounds (AKA poop). Just add a little water and what you have is the answer to why wet dogs stink. Yes, that odor is in fact a cocktail of reconstituted feces from those millions of microorganisms.

Now that you know what causes the smell, how do you prevent it from infiltrating your home, your car, and clothes? I mean, dogs will continue to jump in lakes, pools, get caught in rainstorms, run under hoses, and have baths, right?

There are a few tricks you can use to banish doggy smell, such as:

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

Kai Ken

If you picture a small dog with a dark coat, pointed ears and a fluffy tail, you have the image of a Kai Ken. They are considered a fairly rare breed.

Best Small Dog Beds

Small dog beds are specially designed to offer superior comfort and support to small breed dogs. Take a look at our selection of very best small dog beds!

Bronze Winged Parrot

With its unique and attractive colors and a curious an intelligent personality, the Bronze Winged parrot makes a wonderful pet for families or singles.

What’s With Cats and All That Stretching?

Cats are able to contort their bodies into all kinds of positions when they stretch. Here''s what experts say about cats and their nimble stretching habits.

Dusky Parrot

Stable populations, low-maintenance needs, and a wonderful temperament are the major reasons behind the rising popularity of Dusky Parrot pets.

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Maury

Get ready to fall in love with Maury, our Adoptable Dog of the Week from Adoptapet.com. Maury is an adult male Basset Hound from Albuquerque, NM. He is neute…

Healthy Hound Grain-Free Dog Treat Recipe

We love our dogs and we want the best of everything for them. This heart-felt sentiment is the inspiration behind the Healthy Hound Grain-Free Dog Treat Reci…

10 Misty Raincoats To Keep Your Pooch Dry

Raindrops keep falling on your dog''s head. If you don''t enjoy Fido''s natural eau-de-wet-dog stink, keep him covered with these drip-dry rain jackets.

American Rabbit

The American Rabbit comes with either a white or blue coat. Most are rather docile with some just barely sipping into the ""lazy"" side of the scale.

Cotonese

Cotonese was developed by crossing two small dogs of similar traits, the lovely Maltese and the sweet Coton de Tulear. Find all about this desinger dog!

Purr-fect Guide to the Sounds Your Cat Makes

Purr, meow, hiss, yowl - you can understand what your kitty is trying to tell you. Here''s our guide to interpreting the sounds your cat makes.

Barking Bacon and Apple Dog Treat Recipe

I love bacon. And you know who else loves bacon? Oscar! And chances are, your dog is a big fan, too. Our Barking Bacon and Apple Dog Treat Recipe not only ga…

This Vacuum Is Something Every Pawrent Desperately Needs

For those of you who want to make manual scooping thing of the past, this dog poop vacuum sucks in waste and makes the poop scooping business mess-free!

Best Dog Treats

Dog treats are much more than snacks for your pooch: you can use them in training, as a supplement, or to keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh.

Pitbull Petrified Of Suspicious-Looking Pineapple [Video]

We all have opinions when it comes to the foods we don’t like. Some of us will make loud gagging noises when the offending food is mentioned. Others wi…