Last week I came home from work and let my pup inside he had the most atrocious smell! It caused me to ask the question that you may have been asking too, why does my dog smell after being outside? and why does my dog stink after going outside?
It’s not very pleasant to handle a dog that smells bad. Your dog may smell after being outside for a number of reasons including:
- Dirty paws
- Dirty ears
- Rolling in something unsavory
- Moisture and humidity affecting skin and glands
The first thing you should do is figure out what’s causing your dog to smell after going outside and what you can do to fix it. Take a look at some common causes of these odor problems and see if you can figure out what’s causing your dog to smell.
Why Dog Smell Bad After Going Outside – Dirty Paws
Since your dog’s paws are always in contact with something, they can easily start to smell when they eventually step in something dirty. Whether it’s a dirty yard or a wet road, it often invites bacteria to grow on their paws and they’ll give off that nasty odor.
So make sure you regularly clean them with warm water and dry them thoroughly.
Check out our articles on Dog Grooming:
5 Top Pet Grooming Tips You Will Be Glad You Know to Groom Your Pet at Home
Steps to Help You Choose the Best Dog Groomer; A Complete Guide
Check out our Fun Olfactory Fatigue Cartoon in our book Motherpuppin’ Adorable: What to do when your dog is better than everyone else’s where we discuss everything dog smell in a fun way
Why Dog Smell Bad After Going Outside Skin Folds & Wrinkles
A dog’s skin folds tend to hold bacteria as they go outside. So, they can start to smell if the folds aren’t cleaned regularly. Folds that are left uncleaned for too long can become irritated and infected, leading to further problems.
Ideally, you should be cleaning your dog’s facial folds daily or every two days at least.
Why Dog Smell Bad After Going Outside Dirty Ears
Your dog’s ears can get dirty easily, and could be the cause of the smell. Whether it’s dead skin cells, excess wax, or bacteria, your dog’s ears may need a good cleaning regularly.
Your dog’s ears should be cleaned so you can minimize the risks of smells or infections.
Why Dog Smell Bad After Going Outside An Unhygienic Environment
When a dog spends a lot of time in an unhygienic environment, you can easily tell from its fur. Any dirt, debris, or smells in the air will cling to their coat and you will suddenly notice a foul smell.
Try your best to avoid letting your dog roam anywhere he pleases, especially places that might leave him smelling bad.
Why Dog Smell Bad After Going Outside Staying Damp for Too Long
If you are someone who lets his dog air dry after a bath or a swim, then you are inviting nasty bacteria on the skin. A warm and moist environment is ideal for bacteria to grow and thrive. This bacteria leads to a bad odor and a dirty dog.
So, make sure to dry your dog after they get wet. You can easily do this with a towel or a gentle hair dryer.
How to keep your dogs fresh and clean?
To keep your dogs feeling clean and fresh, you need regular grooming sessions.
Let’s go through the different body parts of your dog you need to groom and why you have to do so.
Facial Folds & Wrinkles
Food can become trapped in your dog’s folds, which creates an ideal environment for bacteria to develop and thrive. You should try to clean your dog’s facial wrinkles daily. This can be done with a gentle cloth.
Dog Ears
Dog’s ears are prone to catching pollen, dirt, and can get dirty very quickly. So, you may need to clean your dog’s ears regularly.
But avoid using Q-tips as you risk causing an injury. Cotton balls are much safer and are more effective at removing dirt and debris.
Check out our articles on Dog Grooming:
5 Top Pet Grooming Tips You Will Be Glad You Know to Groom Your Pet at Home
Steps to Help You Choose the Best Dog Groomer; A Complete Guide
Coat & Skin
Taking care of your dog’s coat will help to keep smells away. By bathing and grooming regularly their fur is less likely to get to the point where it smells bad.
If you’re dealing with a smelly dog, it might just be that their skin or coat is giving off a bad smell. So the best thing you can do is to give them a good clean. If your dog has any smell in his coat or is particularly stained or odorous, leave the foam of the shampoo on his coat for at least 10 minutes, to help penetrate the odor.
You need to use high-quality dog shampoo and conditioner. Also, give them a good brush once a week to remove any dirt, debris, or dead hair.
Check out our favorite dog shampoo product from Burt’s Bees
and Apple and Honey Waterless Dog Shampoo from Burt’s Bees for quick refreshes
Paws
Since dogs are always on their feet, they’re bound to step in some things that could cause their paws to start to smell. Anything dirty or moist could cause a foul smell with enough time.
If you do notice a smell coming from your dog’s feet, all you need to do is give them a thorough wash with warm water and gentle soap.
With a little care and attention, you can help keep your dog healthy and smelling fresh.
Some dog lover’s simply prefer booties as they are more convenient and keep dogs feet clean.
Check out these Handy Booties from Chewy complete with reflectors for added safety on walks.
Nasty smells when your dog has been outside?
Let’s take a look at some of the nasty smells your dog may pick up on his daily walk.
- Garbage: Dogs always seem to seek out the smelliest things possible, such as your garbage! Your dog may smell if he has emptied a trash can.
- Rolling in dead animals: Sometimes dog smells after being outside if they have rolled around the remains of a dead animal.
- Poop of other animals: Often your canine companion come home rolled in other animal’s poop.
- Skunk smell: Dogs can pick up the scent of a skunk that has been in your area.
Pet parent tip:If the smell persists, consult your vet as some medical conditions can produce strange odors.
Check out our Fun Olfactory Fatigue Cartoon in our book Motherpuppin’ Adorable: What to do when your dog is better than everyone else’s where we discuss everything dog smell in a fun way
Final thoughts
All dogs have a particular doggy odor. However, this smell can be much worse if your pet isn’t cleaned properly or has certain health issues. Taking care of your dog’s hygiene is essential for preventing them from smelling bad.
The factors that determine how much your dog smells after going outside could be medical, dietary, or just how well you care for them. Not all dogs smell bad, but it’s related to their overall health and how well their owner takes care of them.
Good luck and happy sniffing!
