Category: Odor/Smell

Why Does My Dog Roll In Stinky Stuff?

And What Can I Do About It?

It’s the nature of dogs that no matter how hard we try to keep them clean and fresh smelling, they will inevitably find the stinkiest, most disgusting pile of matter to roll in, often just after they’ve been bathed. Whether the stuff is a dead fish, a pile of kitty poop, or the rotting garbage needing to go to the bin outside, it’s all fair game for your canine companion if you’re not extra careful.

The several theories of why dogs roll and what they get out of it can be traced back to their wild canine ancestors.

Theory #1

One of the earliest theories put forth by animal behaviorists was that dogs roll in rotting, smelly “stuff” as a means of fighting ectoparasites (flies, fleas, ticks, mites) that would otherwise be attracted to their natural body odors. That particular theory was disproved when it was noted that many insects, including mosquitoes and flies, are attracted to such smells because it usually means that rotting organic material is close by.

Theory #2

A second, somewhat more plausible theory says that wild canines would roll in decomposing meat, animal dung, and other organic material to let their pack members know that there was food to be found in a nearby location. Since your domestic dog’s wild ancestors were not only hunters but also scavengers, it would make sense that much of what they rolled in would still be edible.

Zoologists note, however, that if that were the reasoning behind the stinky roll, you would expect the pack members to immediately start backtracking to the site where the original smell came from, and that simply doesn’t typically happen.

Theory #3

A third theory suggests that the dog is not trying to pick up smells from whatever it rolls in, but is instead trying to overlay that smell with their own scent as a means of marking its territory. Just as cats will rub up against furniture or people as a way to mark them with their odor, animal behaviorists say dogs do the same thing with their people, their toys, and their bedding.

Theory #4

Finally, some biologists believe that this stinky behavior is actually an attempt to disguise the wild dog’s own odor. The deer or antelope being stalked for that night’s dinner could easily recognized the scent of the wild dog on the wind and run for safety. To forestall this slip-up, wild dogs learned to roll in the dung of their prospective prey. Once the canine was covered in the prey animal’s dung, the hunted was much less likely to spot the hunter and the chances of making a kill were heightened.

What to do? What to do?

Once your dog has done the deed and you now absolutely must bathe him, you can try bathing with all-natural, organic shampoo and conditioner combo that saves you time and bother. By delivering vitamins and conditioners directly to your dog’s skin, his coat is left noticeably softer and shinier and the shampoo’s refreshing scent lasts for days.

If the smell is just more than you can handle, you can try an odor-neutralizing spray and shampoo, a two-step process that works on smells as bad as skunk spray. The thiol compounds in the spray chemically alter the molecules of whatever matter is causing the horrendous odor, making them much less potent. The essential oils and organic compounds in the shampoo can wash the stinky matter – and its smell – down the drain, leaving your dog clean and fresh and ready for a snuggle.

That is, until the next time.

by EcoWellDog– Natural Leaders in Grooming & Wellness

Skunks are a part of our natural environment, and we have to learn to live with them. That’s not always easy when your dog has an encounter with one of these striking little black and white creatures. They can spray your dog with a liquid that smells horrible, and once it is on his fur, it isn’t easy to remove.

Apart from the smell, skunk spray can have a few adverse effects on your dog’s health.

Skin Irritation

Skunk spray contains some very irritant chemicals in it. This means that any area of your dog’s skin that comes in contact with the spray can become red and inflamed. It is likely to be itchy, so he will scratch at it and make it even worse. This is more likely to happen on the sensitive hairless parts of his body, such as his nose and eyes.

Anemia

In some cases, a dog can develop anemia after being exposed to skunk spray. This is rare, and usually results from either repeated sprays in the face without good ventilation, or being sprayed right in his mouth. It’s important that you keep a close eye on your dog for 48 hours after his altercation with a skunk, and watch for increasing lethargy.

Dealing With That Offensive Smell

There’s no way you’ll want to go near your dog until the skunk spray has been removed or neutralized! Even after you think the job is done, you may find he still has a faint skunky odor when he is damp.

You need to be careful what you use to clean your dog after an encounter with a skunk. Some products can irritate his skin and cause redness and scaling.

There are plenty of anecdotes about what does and doesn’t work when it comes to removing skunk smell.

What doesn’t work:

• Tomato juice or tomato sauce applied to your dog will leave him messy and smelly.
• A Coca Cola rinse won’t do much except make his coat sticky.
• Spraying him with perfume won’t cover the stench, and the combination of fragrance and skunk odor is likely to smell even worse!

What does work:

• Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover has been found by many to work well when it is used according to the directions on the label.
• Vinegar and water used as a rinse and left to dry on your dog’s coat can neutralize the skunky smell. Mix 2 to 4 ounces of vinegar in 2 quarts of warm water and use a spray bottle to apply it all over. Alternatively, you can purchase a vinegar and water douche from the drug store and use it in the spray bottle.
• One of the most effective recipes is to combine 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda and a couple of teaspoons of Dawn liquid dish soap. Mix these ingredients thoroughly and pour over your dog. Make sure you have disposable gloves on, and rub it into a lather. Leave it on his coat for ten minutes, and don’t let him lick his fur as the mixture could make him vomit. Rinse him thoroughly and repeat if necessary.

This mixture doesn’t keep so use it up within an hour of making it. Don’t smoke while you are washing your dog, as it is flammable. You may find it will lighten the color of black dogs and fade your clothes but it will definitely get rid of the skunk smell.

Skunk odor is not nice at all, but armed with these recipes you can make sure your dog smells sweet again before you cuddle up close to him.

Photo by Tiffany Hayden

There’s no doubt about it, some breeds of dogs just plain smell bad. When you start to look at why, you’ll find that in most cases these dogs fall into three categories.

• hereditary skin disease
• poor conformation
• activities the dog enjoys
  

Size, Shape and Conformation

Some breeds of dogs are unfortunate enough to have the type of conformation that leads to skin infections. Consider, for example, the British Bulldog. These handsome dogs have many skin folds on their face and around their corkscrew tail, which can trap moisture and become infected with bacteria. This doesn’t smell good at all. Sharpei dogs are similarly affected. If you own a breed of dog with multiple skin folds, it’s important that you wash them regularly and thoroughly in these folds, to reduce bacterial growth. You can try pre-moistened towelettes specially designed for a dog’s delicate skin to get in between the folds to remove the odor-causing bacteria. The best shampoo for really smelly and dirty dogs is Bubbles ‘n Beads , a combined shampoo and conditioner. This shampoo really cleans and leaves your dog smelling just like fresh laundry. To read more about caring for wrinkly dogs, click here .

Another source of dreadful doggy odor is the ears. Dogs with floppy ears, such as Spaniels, tend to have less air circulation in the ear canal, which prevents the canals from drying out. You can help keep your dog’s ears clean, healthy and smelling better by regularly using Ear Wipes to dry them out and remove debris. If your dog develops itchy ears, you may find that Ear Clear is a great help in reducing any swelling and discomfort in his ear.

Dental disease is known to be more of a problem in toy breeds of dogs, or those breeds with flattened noses. Vets believe that having the same number of teeth in a smaller space leads to overcrowding, and the accumulation of food scraps between the teeth. This certainly doesn’t smell good, especially when your dog wants to kiss you. You may need to visit your veterinarian to have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned, before you get up close and personal again. When this is done, make sure you clean his teeth regularly to keep his breath fresh.

Hereditary Skin Conditions

Skin allergies such as atopy are considered to be hereditary in nature. This means they’re more likely to occur in some breeds than in others. Breeds that are commonly affected by atopic dermatitis include German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Schnauzers and many terrier breeds.

The inflammation associated with skin allergies can change the surface of a dog’s skin, such that the normal bacteria and fungi that live there multiply and cause infection. This infection smells foul and can itch dreadfully. When a dog scratches the itch, he traumatizes his skin, which predisposes to further infection, and a vicious cycle ensues. You may well be familiar with the rancid smell of a dog with a skin infection.

Managing these allergies involves reducing your dog’s reaction to the allergen with antihistamines or corticosteroids, and treating him to control the secondary infection. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or anti fungal medication to do this, but you can play an active role by choosing an appropriate shampoo.

Comfy Dog Shampoo followed by Fur Butter both contain colloidal oatmeal, which will ease your dog’s itch and stop him scratching. This will allow the infection to heal. You can use this shampoo as often as every day, and it will gently cleanse your dog’s coat and leave it smelling fresh.

Activities

Some dog breeds may be more adventurous than others and this curiosity will often lead them to things that may cause odor such as rolling in road kill, swimming in the lake or pool, rolling in the mud and killing various vermin and critters. You have probably noticed that bigger dogs are typically more smelly than say, a 5 pound Maltese. Probably the smaller dog is indoors, bathed frequently and pampered while the larger dog may be outdoors playing and not bathed very often. Also, there is just more of a larger dog to get smelly!

If you happen to own a breed that is predisposed to smelling bad, you may be in for a bit of hard work. It’s worth it. Tackling the cause of your breed’s odor head on will mean that you can have a close relationship with your dog, without the smell.