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

This AI-Powered Cat Food Bowl Uses Face ID to Stop Kibble Thieves

If you live in a multi-pet household or have furry neighbors visiting in through the cat door, Mookkie will be a real lifesaver.

Best Dog Crate Pads

Dog crate pads offer comfort and make the crate more inviting for your pet. Read on to find out which are worth your money!

Beef and Rice Stir Fry Dog Food Recipe

When I want to eat healthy, I whip up a stir fry. After prep and cook time, it takes about 20 minutes, from counter to table. So that got me to thinking&hell…

How To Find The Right Dog Trainer For You And Your Dog

What’s the right way to train a dog? A professional explains how and why finding right dog trainer is personal. I’ve worked in the industry for a…

Fall In Love With Our Furever Love Valentine’s Day Contest

How much do we love thee? We could count the ways, but that would make for one long blog post. So instead, we just decided to buy your love with some cool pr…

Best Plush Dog Toys

Plush dog toys are a favorite of many pooches- they can be fetched, cuddled with, or used to engage your pet''s innate hunting drive.

10 Best Teething Toys for Puppies

There are all kinds of teething toys for puppies out there, from freezable to plushies all the way to natural solutions, and we’ve rounded up the 10 best to help you make your choice quick and easy!

Readers’ Picks: The Best Pet Products on Amazon, According to You

We went through your shopping carts to come up with this list of the best pet products purchased by our readers on Amazon in 2017.

Dottyback

Dottyback are a family of small saltwater fish made up of over 100 distinct species. They are hardy, intelligent and vibrantly colored, making them popular

Best Automatic Feeders for Dogs

Having an automatic feeder for dogs in your household can help with your pet''s digestive and overall health and keep their weight at an optimal level.

Basic Dog Tricks: Shake A Paw

The shake a paw trick is a basic trick that should be one of your dog''s standards that he can pull out when guests come over and he wants to impress them.

How Do I Save My Lawn From Dog Pee?

If you have dogs, and you have a yard or lawn, you most likely have brown spots in your lawn. Those spots are the result of your dog doing his business, but…

Cirneco Dell’Etna

The Cirneco dellEtna is a small, slender dog, an ancient breed native to the island of Sicily valued for its intelligence and natural hunting ability.

Top 5 Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipes Part 1

Here are my Top 5 Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipes. Dogs love PB, it''s packed with health benefits (the natural kind) and it helps bind the mixture together.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub – A Pug In A Tub Is This Week’s Wet Wednesday Winner

Chillin’ out in the tub – that’s how Nacho the Pug rolls. Livin’ the Pug Life in Seattle, WA, Nacho is our fourth Wet Wednesday Weekl…