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

Bichonaranian

Bichonaranian, also known as Pomachon or Pom Frise, is one of the more recent additions to the diverse and rich world of designer dog breeds.

Best Toys For Shorkies

Shorkies like size appropriate toys that keep them engaged and help their teeth feel great, and that''s what our Top 10 List of Toys For Shorkies is made of!

Best Dog Bowls

Dog bowls come in all shapes, sizes, designs, and materials- find out how to choose one that will be the best match for your pet''s needs.?

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Zoe

Meet Zoe (AKA Angel), our Adoptable Dog of the Week. She’s an adult Doberman Pinscher mix from Vancouver, BC. She’s already spayed, housetrained,…

Your Dog Will Have a Ball With the Pebby WiFi Toy

Play with your dog when you''re not around with Pebby. Track, monitor, and play with your furbaby from wherever you by funding this cool Kickstarter.

Top 10 Sneeze-Free Hypoallergenic Dogs

ACHOO! Bless these sniffle-saving hypoallergenic dogs. You love dogs, but hate the allergies that can come along this one. Your doggy dreams are dashed! Bu…

April Fool’s Joke Now A Real Dog Clothing Line At American “Beagle

From “pupper” vests to cozy sweaters, American Eagle’s got your pooch covered this winter It may have started out as an April Fool’s…

Reasons Why You Should Spay Or Neuter Your Cat

You’re doing more than helping to control the pet population You’ve probably heard people, especially animal rescuers and shelter workers, talk a…

Pooghan

The Pooghan brings the intelligent Poodle together with the independent Afghan Hound. A gentle, friendly dog who loves to be part of all family activities.

Dalmatian

Often associated as the kind of dogs who help firemen and police, the Dalmatian is a notoriously good workers and are known as an assertive, friendly breed.

Basic Dog Training Tips

We put together some basic dog training tips. When you''re just starting out, there are a few important things you should know before you start dog training.

Top 10 Cool Finds From SuperZoo 2013 – Part 2

SuperZoo 2013 was a whirlwind of awesome pet products and amazing pet people. We saw so many cool things and we wish we had the time and space to write ab…

Snorf’s Kickstarter Puts The Fun In Functional With Fleece BatHats A

Listen up! This cool custom winter apparel line keeps your dog’s ears toasty warm. We’ve created creatures of habit, animals conditioned to a cer…

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Chipper

Chipper is a chip off the old block – which makes him a perfect pooch to spotlight as our Adoptable Dog of the Week! He is an adult male Silky Terrier…

Schnau-Tzu

The friendly Schnau-Tzu brings together the personalities of the confident little Shih Tzu and the spunky Miniature Schnauzer to make a great family pet.