As much as we love our pets, most notably dogs, the nasty odor of the dog is something that we hate always. There have been solutions available to get rid of these unpleasant smells. Dogs can catch foul odors while they are left alone to play on the streets or in a park. You surely don’t want your dog to come home stinking. So, do you know how to get rid of nasty odor in your dog? If not, then here are the steps that can help you in getting rid of foul odors in your dog successfully.
Bathing
If your dog has not been bathed for a few days, then it may be the reason why he smells terrible. Bath is a good start to address the odor problem. Make sure to use specially made for dogs and effective in getting rid of the nasty smell. You can also use conditioner if your dog has thick hair. In case he is experiencing some skin condition, like yeast overgrowth, you can ask the vet for the right medicated soap or shampoo to use.
- When bathing your dog, start from the top of his head down to the tail, and make sure to use warm water. Your pet must be totally wet prior to applying shampoo.
- Squirt an adequate amount of shampoo and start from his neck down to his tail. Shampoo the legs, belly, and chest, outside of his ears, feathering and other parts of his body.
- Avoid his ears and eyes to keep away from irritation.
- When rinsing your dog, make use of warm water.
- Using a soft towel, dry your furry friend. You can also use a hair dryer or blower if your dog has thick fur. The wet-dog odor is due to bacteria feeding on its natural skin oil. The bacteria thrive in a moist and warm environment.
- The most excellent way to control the smell is to bath your dog on a regular basis and keep him dry between baths.
Always keep in mind that bathing a dog often will eliminate skin oil, which can result in health issues.
Grooming
Dirty ears are one of the main sources of nasty dog odor. So, when you see that your pet’s ears are dirty, clean them immediately.
- Buy mineral oil, wipes as well as an ear cleaner.
- Wipe his ear where wax can be seen and in the diverse crevasses in his ear. If there’s a nasty smell to his ear, it may be due to infection, and not only wax, and must be treated by a vet.
- Infections to the ear are common in canine and often go along with skin issues. If the ears of your dog show indications of infection like redness, odor, discharge as well as swelling, watch out for skin issues.
- Ear infections and skin infection are due to allergic reactions to foods and other factors. Gently squirt the solution in his ear and rub in a circular motion. For best result, use your middle finger and thumb to grip his ear canal below the opening of the ear. Open and close your finger to remove the collected debris in his ears with the assistance of a cleaning solution for the dog’s ears.
- Usually, dogs find this relaxing and will lean into the ear massage. Then use a cotton ball to wipe out fluid from his ear canal. However, don’t force anything down his canal and avoid using Q-tips.
Cleaning His Teeth
If your dog’s teeth are dirty, it can lead to bad breath. Therefore, you need to brush his teeth regularly. Look for a toothbrush ideal for the size of your pet’s mouth. This can be bought at the nearest pet store or from your vet. Look for appropriate toothpaste and avoid using human toothpaste. Toothpaste for a dog comes with tasty flavors like poultry or beef.
- Put a small amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
- Move your dog’s lip gently upward.
- Brush his teeth for sixty seconds and make sure to clean both sides of every tooth.
- Some dogs will not take tooth brushing at once. It might need training and a gradual introduction to brushing. Also, remember to give your dog a reward for his patience.
- Avoid scenting your dog like perfume, deodorizing, or any products. These might temporarily cover the smell but will not address or remove the main cause. Also, if the product is not intended for a dog, it can lead to a health issue.
The type of food that they normally eat matters as well. Try to avoid food that gets stuck on teeth or gums easily which will make cleaning teeth a tedious process. For more details, visit Well Pet to find out what are the latest and healthiest snacks for your dog.
Anal Glands May be the Main Cause of Nasty Smell
If you think your dog’s unpleasant odor might be coming from anal glands, it is advisable to take him to your veterinary. The vet will conduct a check to know if your dog is infected or overly full.
Know-How to Empty the Glands: Once the vet finds out your pet’s anal glands are the main issue. You can ask your vet some tips on how to safely and adequately empty the dog’s anal gland.
Look into Psychological Issues: Once your four-legged friend produces secretions when excited, anxious, or scared, there might be some psychological issues that need to be addressed. Take note of your dog behavior and consult your vet.
Clean the Bedding
Keeping the bedding dirt and fleas free will help a lot in keeping a fresher smelling canine. A clean and comfortable bed is essential for dogs’ health. Frequent bed cleaning is important as well to ensure that your dog is not susceptible to bacteria. Here are some of the tips to clean their bedding:
Put your dog’s bedding, crate cover, and crate bumpers in the washer.
- When washing your dog’s bedding, it is advisable to use a laundry detergent that doesn’t have a strong perfume. What smells good to us will likely smell awful to dogs.
- Washing with baking soda and hot water will eliminate the smell.
- You can also use hot water and vinegar
- If laundry soap is required to eliminate the dirt, use one with little or no fragrance, there are lots of choices to select from.
- Don’t use fabric softener as it can irritate the skin of your dog.
