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

Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is driven and has a strong work ethic. Although the Catahoula Leopard Dog loves his family, he can be a dominant and willful dog.

Peach Fronted Conure

Peach Fronted conure makes a wonderful pet parrot: these birds are friendly and flaunt great traits that will make them loved by the entire family.

Survey Helps Researchers Understand Why People Surrender Their Pets

New research survey is designed to study the reasons people voluntarily relinquish their pets The numbers are staggering – 7.6 million animals enter sh…

Pet Insurance: Why I Think It’s Worth It, No Matter The Cost

Pet insurance costs may be rising, but people are still buying! As I settled in to write this article, my dog Maria, settled in with me. She reached her head…

Best Dog Gates for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Check out our selection of the best dog gates that will keep your four-legged bestie safe and your living space sectioned to your liking.

Shepadoodle

The Shepadoodle is a hybrid of two intelligent breeds - the German Shepherd and Standard Poodle - making him bright, easily trainable, and eager to please.

Dog Anxiety Treatment: 6 Ways to Treat It

Got an anxious pooch on your hands? If you''re looking for a dog anxiety treatment, we''ve got six ideas for you to try.

Silky Tzu

The sweet-natured little Silky Tzu is a playful combination of the often feisty, headstrong Shih Tzu and the lively, super-alert Silky Terrier.

Gotta-Have-‘Em Dog Essentials From Global Pet Expo

Our picks for the next big thing in dog lifestyle products Wrapping up our coverage on all the cool things we saw at Global Pet Expo, we saved some really co…

Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Sugar

This week’s adoptable dog from Adoptapet.com is Sugar… and she’s as sweet as can be! An adult female Chihuahua from Rockwall, TX, Sugar is…

Saarloos Wolfhound

The Saarloos Wolfhound is unique in that it exhibits more natural wolf-like behaviors, as it was developed from crossing a German Shepherd with a wolf.

Tenterfield Terrier

The Tenterfield Terrier was developed in Australia and it is just as popular for its ability to hunt small prey as for its aptitude as a family companion.

Best Cat Litter Boxes

Our comprehensive list features the best cat litter boxes in different styles, materials, and sizes- there is a match for every kitty.

Product Review: Brooklyn Owl Unicorn Horn

Dogs and cats are so boring - turn them into magical beings! Brooklyn Owl Headbands turn animals and humans into sparkly unicorns!

Is Ice Water Really Dangerous for Dogs?

Ice water for dogs? Is that even safe for them? Let’s separate fact from fiction and get to the cold, ice hard truth!You probably already know that there are…