Let’s face it: sometimes your dog seemingly out of nowhere develops a scent that follows them throughout your home. You’re probably highly motivated to figure out what is causing that odor in order to put a stop to it. So if you’re wondering, “Why does my dog smell so bad?”, here’s what might be causing the issue:

1. Skin Diseases and Other Issues

There are many common skin problems in dogs that may be causing your dog to smell bad. Your dog’s skin protects them from infection. If something disturbs that barrier, the skin can experience infections, irritations, or unusual oil production. When this happens, an unpleasant odor may result, alerting you to get your dog checked out by a vet.

Other skin issues that can irritate the skin include allergies, inflammation, as well as hormonal imbalances. Other issues like parasites, wounds, or yeast infections can cause yeast or bacteria to grow on the skin, which can lead to a bad odor. If you suspect your dog may have any of these, contact your veterinarian. They’ll run tests to determine the cause and prescribe treatment. Antibiotics and medicated shampoos are often prescribed to treat these skin issues.

2. Dental Issues

A common dog myth is that bad breath is normal. However, it’s actually not as common as people think and your dog doesn’t have to have bad breath. If your dog has bad breath, you should consider implementing dental care for your dog if you haven’t already. Of course, your dog won’t have that fresh and minty breath, but it doesn’t have to knock you out, either.

If you’re practicing regular dental care on your dog and bad breath persists or develops, your dog may have dental disease. A common symptom of gum disease in dogs is bad breath and if their bad breath isn’t clearing up, schedule a visit with your vet to get a start on treating the issue

3. Kidney Disease or Diabetes

Bad breath can be a sign of kidney disease or canine diabetes. A metallic odor, a sweet odor, or an odor like nail polish can all be attributed to kidney disease or diabetes. If this describes your dog’s breath, try to get them seen as soon as possible.

4. Environmental Causes

If you have a dog, you’re probably all too familiar with the wet dog smell. Your dog’s fur has microorganisms like yeast and bacteria that live in your dog’s fur. These microorganisms have relatively no scent as long as your dog stays dry.

However, if your dog gets wet from a bath or goes for a swim, the moisture can cause those microorganisms to release that musty odor we call “wet dog”. Thoroughly toweling off your dog can help their coat dry faster, and hopefully, the wet dog smell dissipates more quickly.

Your dog may also smell if they happen to take a swim in dirty water or roll around in smelly stuff. There are many reasons dogs love to roll in smelly stuff and sometimes it seems that the smellier, the better! If your dog has found joy in these activities, but smells awful, it’s time for a good bath!

5. Ear Infections

If your dog’s ears have a foul odor, they may have a bacterial ear infection. If their ears have a yeasty smell, it’s probably a yeast infection, one of the most common ear infections in dogs.

If your dog has long and droopy ears, they are much more likely to have ear problems, including ear infections. Allergies can also be more common in dogs with droopy ears and can lead to more infections. Be sure to take your dog to the vet to get checked out and get any necessary treatment.

Proper ear care is also important for any dog, but especially for dogs with large and droopy ears. There are ways to clean your dog’s ears that can help prevent infections and discomfort.

6. Flatulence

Anyone with a dog is well aware of how quickly a dog with bad gas can clear a room. If this is the case, your dog might have eaten something they shouldn’t have. If the gas is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting, they may have even gotten into the trash.

Getting into the trash may be a sign your dog is bored so try to get them the right amount of stimulation to help prevent this behavior. It’s also a good idea to be sure your trash is secured so your dog can’t get into it.

If your dog has frequent gas and is making you consider investing in a gas mask, you may want to seek help from your vet. Frequent flatulence can be a sign of a health problem that needs attention. Your vet can determine the root cause and hopefully get your dog (and you) some relief!

However, there might not be a health problem causing bad gas. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a dietary change. Some dogs do best with a grain-free diet and it can help eliminate gas problems. Talk to your vet and see if they recommend any dietary changes and see if the problems are resolved.

7. Anal Sacs

Sometimes referred to as the anal glands, these sacs are found on each side of a dog’s anus. The glands fill the sacs with a foul-smelling substance that is used when a dog needs to mark their territory. This fluid is secreted when they’re nervous or when a dog poops. However, some dogs need them to be manually expressed

If a dog has an impacted or infected anal sac, they will start to obsessively lick their butt or scoot their bottoms on the ground to find relief from the discomfort. If you notice this common dog behavior, take your dog to the vet to get their anal sacs expressed. If you ignore it, these sacs can rupture or develop abscesses.

8. Improper Grooming

If your dog isn’t bathed and groomed enough, your dog’s fur is holding on to any odor they’ve come into contact with. Thankfully, regular bathing with a good dog shampoo can rid your dog of these odors. Using a gentle, dog-safe shampoo, warm (but not too hot) water, and rewarding them with treats are just a few dog bathing tips to try especially if your dog hates bath time.

Regular brushing is also important! Brushing not only removes dead skin and dirt, but it can help remove unpleasant smells from your dog’s fur. Removing dead skin can also help your dog smell fresher.

If you’re wondering, “Why does my dog smell so bad?”, hopefully, some of these causes can help you figure out the issue and treat it. Sometimes dogs just have a certain odor, but if it’s unusual or very strong, getting to the root of the issue can hopefully alleviate the problem!