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

Alaskan Malamute

Considered to be excellent family pets, the Alaskan Malamute is intelligent and clever and will do anything to ensure that its owners are pleased with them.

Lhatese

The Lhatese is a cross between a purebred Lhasa Apso and Maltese. These dogs are friendly and gentle, so they will get along with everyone they meet.

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Pepsi

Meet Pepsi, our Adoptable Dog of the Week from Adoptapet.com. Pepsi is a Pug Mix from Homewood, AL, and she’s already spayed, housetrained, up to date…

Yellow Faced Parrotlet

With a great variety of affectionate, kind traits and equally quirky and goofy behavior, the Yellow Faced parrotlet can be a really great pet.

Dutch Shepherd

You may be better acquainted with its cousins, the German and Belgian Shepherds, but the Dutch Shepherd is an all-around amazing dog for an active family.

Westphalian Dachsbracke

The Westphalian Dachsbracke comes from a long line of hunting dogs. This short-legged German breed is alert, active, and energetic.

Carob And Pumpkin Dog Cake Recipe

I feel really bad because I’m not going to Trick or Treat with Oscar for Halloween (I’ll be hanging with other pet bloggers at Barkworld). To mak…

Bella Is The Belle Of The Ball Game – And Our Latest Wet Wednesday W

Who says baseball games are boring? Bring Bella the Bulldog and you’ve got a homerun on your hands! Bella proves she’s one cool dog at the ball p…

Doxle

A mix of Beagle and Dachshund breeds, the Doxle is a sweet, funny, and well-mannered companion that makes a wonderful family pet.

Best Dog Crate Pans

Dog crate pans make sure your dog''s cozy nook remains clean and tidy- and make your job of keeping everything spotless so much easier.

Ratshi Terrier

Curious to see if the Ratshi Terrier is the dog for you? Read on to learn more about the Shih Tzu and Rat Terrier mix before deciding!

What is an Ovary-Sparing Spay?

If you want to prevent unwanted litters but don''t want to put your female dog at risk for health problems, consider a partial spay or an ovary-sparing spay.

Doxie Pin

The Doxie Pin is a mixed breed dog whose parents are Miniature Pinscher and the Dachshund- you can expect a few of both breed''s traits in this designer dog.

Palomino Rabbit

The Palomino rabbit needs plenty of time outside of its enclosure to explore and thrive. It makes a wonderful first-time pet for all lifestyles.

Top 10 Grooming Gifts For Spiffy Dogs

The holidays bring out the best-dressed in many of us, and we certainly don’t want to leave our pups out of that, do we? Here are some of our favorite things to keep your pooch picture-perfect during the holidays and year-round!