The average dog shouldn't be any stinkier than the average person!
In fact, I'd say much less so! (And I'm not even taking bad cologne choices into consideration.)Of course, a bad cologne choice, at least according to our human standards, can make your dog quite stinky. A good roll in a deer poop or dead fish will certainly do the trick. So would an encounter with a skunk.
When the source of the bad odor is obvious, all you have to worry about is destinkifying your dog.
I am quite sure that a dog covered in something nasty won't escape your attention. But what if your dog is stinky without an apparent cause?
Bad odor can be a sign of a health issue!
1. Bad breath (halitosis) is most commonly caused by dental disease.
Do not take that lightly. Dental disease can cause a lot of pain, and the bacteria associated with dental disease can lead to life-threatening infections affecting the heart, kidney and liver!
Other oral diseases, such as mouth ulcers and melanoma or other tumors of the oral cavity can also cause very bad breath.
Even scarier—systemic issues, such as kidney failure or diabetes can be the culprit behind bad breath.
2. Infected ears (otitis) can generate quite a bit of bad odor.
Infected ears can be quite painful and if left untreated, you're risking serious complications, including deafness, problems associated with the sense of balance, and chronic ear inflammation that requires lifelong management.
3. Another common source of bad odor is anal sac disease.
Healthy anal sacs produce an incredibly foul smelling liquid, but under normal circumstances it is only released when a dog defecates or is terrified enough to use them as a defense mechanism.
If you are routinely smelling anal sac material during the course of day to day life, something is wrong. Impacted glands may releases at inappropriate times (like when your dog scoots across the carpet), and the micro-organisms in an infected anal sac can produce quite a pungent odor of their own.
4. Skin diseases
Allergies, seborrhea, and bacterial or yeast infections can also be behind your dog's bad odor. With Jasmine, I have learned to use my nose for early detection of skin in trouble.
The odors associated with skin diseases usually occur in tandem with other symptoms, such as an abnormally greasy coat, itching, flaking, or skin lesions. But, many owners first notice the smell and often report that “I give my dog a bath and the smell is back the next day.”
5. Gas (flatulence)
Everyone farts, but if your dog produces immense amounts of stinky gas on a regular basis, something is amiss. Abnormal flatulence can be a sign of a dietary issue or of gastrointestinal diseases.
Healthy dogs don't stink!
Bad odor is just as important to pay attention to as any other symptom.
The number one rule when faced with a smelly dog is to look for and deal directly with the underlying problem, not to find a product that will mask the odor or to relegate your dog to the back yard.
It's your dog's health!
Jana
Further reading:
Dog odor
Unnatural Sources of Odor On Pet Dogs
Doggy Odor
Why Does My Dog Stink?
My dog smells bad and has itchy skin
Related articles:
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend!
When Is It An Emergency?
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