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

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.

10 Luscious Gifts for Labrador Retriever Lovers

Labrador Retrievers have charmed their way into the hearts of dog lovers. Show off your Lab love with these retrieving trinkets.

Sallander Rabbit

The Sallander Rabbit has a coat that looks like it''s been painted by an artist. Sallander Rabbits are known for being lively, active, and skittish.

Siamese

Acutely intelligent and highly inquisitive, there are few cats who exhibit the degree of loving devotion seen in the Siamese.

5 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Cat

It may look tasty to your kitty, but that doesn’t mean your cat should eat it! What your pet eats can have a big impact on his overall health, so it&rs…

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse

The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is ideal for families, and works well with adults, seniors, and children. The breed is easygoing and social.

New Forest Pony

The New Forest Pony has a friendly and docile temperament. It is such a popular breed because of its friendly and docile temperament.

Havashire

The Havashire, or Yorkenese Terrier, as it is also known, is a mixed breed dog. His parents are a purebred Yorkshire Terrier and a purebred Havanese.

Best Dog Water Fountains

Dog water fountains make sure your pooch stays well hydrated and healthy, as well as cool as a cucumber during the hot summer days.

What Is Von Willebrand in Dogs?

Von Willebrand in dogs occurs because of a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor. It is responsible for blood clotting, a carrier protein for coagulation Factor VIII.

Adoptable Dog of the Week- Tequila Sunrise

Our Adoptable Dog of the Week is Tequila Sunrise, a 2 years old American Pitbull Terrier mix from Richmond, Virginia. She''s spayed and vaccinated.

New Canine Cancer Research Findings Could Benefit People, Too

Veterinarians at Mississippi State University are searching for new ways to understand cancer in dogs — turns out, their findings may help us as well.…

Petite Bleu De Gascogne

The medium-sized Petite Bleu de Gascogne is a scent hound of French origin, named for its proficiency in hunting small game.

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Sweet Pea

What a sweetheart! Meet Sweet Pea, our Adoptable Dog of the Week. This young lady is a Boxer mix from Phoenix, AZ. Sweet Pea is already spayed, housetrained,…

7 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Adopt A Dog

You''ve been thinking about this for a while now and you really want to adopt a dog. Ask yourself the following 7 questions before taking the plunge.