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

Central Asian Shepherd Dog

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is a large and powerfully built dog. Its legs are well-boned and muscular. Its back is broad and powerful, and head large.

How To Load a Kong Like A Pro: Sausage Gun Hack

Perfect for dogs that need to be kept busy, treat toys are a godsend to pet parents. But did you know that there''s an art to stuffing treat toys - it''s a sausage gun!

Understanding Canine Parovirus

Knowing all the important details about Canine Parovirus can help you diagnose, seek treatment and prevent this deadly illness from affecting your dog.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

As well as a hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a fiercely protective guardian of its family. Even though it''s protective, this dog is gentle with children

5 Fundamental Training Tips for Sport Dogs This Fall

Follow these five fundamental training tips to ensure you''re making the most of autumn, and your team is in awesome shape for winter dog sports.

Up The Creek: Adventures In Canine Canoeing Part 2

In Part 2 of his canine canoeing expedition, Kevin Roberts and his crew run into some problems finding the right campsite and take part in a stare-off contes…

How To Keep Senior Dogs Comfortable This Winter

When the temperature drops, your senior dog feels the cold right down to his bones! Make winter comfortable for your old pooch with these preventive tips.

First Ever DNA Test for Cats Hopes to Prevent Health Issues in Felines

Basepaws, a genetic startup from California, became the first company to offer DNA testing kits for cats. Their goal? Making feline lives better.

Top 10 Etsy Dog-Inspired Gift Giving Guide 2014

I don’t know about you, but I can spend many an hour perusing the eclectic items found on Etsy.com. If you’ve never experienced the joy of thi…

Bocker

Despite being sweet and easy going, training a Bocker (a mix of Beagle and Cocker Spaniel) may be a challenge as they like to do things their own way.

Kentucky One Step Closer To Outlawing Dog Fighting

Kentucky is the last state in the U.S. to end dog fighting – but a new bill is hoping to change all that. We’re pleased to report that the state…

Adoptable Dog of the Week-Candy

If you are looking for a small-sized pooch that has a lovely, adaptable personality, then this Dachshund and Terrier mix is ideal pet for you.

Hot Dog – We Have A Wiener!

What a contest! We are so overwhelmed with the response from our Dog Days of Summer contest – we received almost 200 entries, which made picking just o…

Upside Down Dog Of The Week – Jabali

This week’s winner of the Upside Down Dog of the Week from Upsidedowndogs.com is Jabali. He is a 3-year-old Dogo Canario from Germany. Here’s wha…

Here’s What You Should Know About Feline Pica

There''s nothing wrong if your cat likes to chew on some grass, but if she''s been eating some weird stuff, she may have Feline Pica.