Getting the
Stink out of Your Dog
Dog owners who live near a forest, beside a river, or on a farm will
be quick to tell you that there is something about stinky, decaying,
items that appeals to dogs. It doesn't seem to matter if it is black
swamp water, dead fish, or a pile of slimy manure, if it stinks and
can be rolled in, the dog is happy. While smelling like a walking
barking sewer system is a dogs idea of heaven on earth, its owners
are normally less than enthusiastic. The odor emitting from their
pet means that they have to take time out of their busy day to
either take their pet to the pet groomer and have it bathed, or they
have to bath their dog themselves. Even then there is no way that
they can be sure that the offensive odor will wash out of the dogs
coat.
Dog experts believe that dogs roll in things like dead fish, road
kill, and manure in an attempt to disguise themselves. What nobody
knows is why they feel the need to camouflage their scent. It could
be a throwback to the days when they hunted their dinner, if the
prey couldn't smell them, they stood a better chance of capturing
something to eat. Another reason dogs might feel the need to hide
their scent is protections. They might be trying to hide from
potential predators or other packs of once feral dogs. Maybe
stinking like a landfill made it easier to be accepted into another
pack. On the other hand it’s possible that dogs roll in the
stinkiest object they can find just because it feels good. Nobody
really knows for sure why dogs feel the need to smell.
The quickest, most efficient way to remove odor from your dog's coat
is to wash your dog. Try to use a shampoo that is specifically
designed for dogs. Human shampoos can strip the dogs coat of its
natural oils, leaving the skin unprotected and open to rashes and
infections. Dog shampoos are made to clean the dog's coat, without
stripping it of the natural oils. If the dogs stink is especially
strong, like the scent of a skunk, bathing the dog in tomato juice
is one of the quickest ways to remove the smell.
If you have dog that consistently rolls in stinky, smelly items, you
may want to consider taking him to a professional pet groomer and
having his coat clipped. The shorter coat will be more comfortable
for the dog during the hot summer months and while the shorter hair
won’t prevent your dog from rolling in the smelly items, the shorter
coat will be easier for you to wash, and will dry faster.
If you have bathed you dog and still notice a strong odor whenever
it is in your presence the source of the smell might not be the
dog's coat but a more serious health problem. When they have dental
issues they have breath that smells so foul that you can smell it
throughout your entire house. Strong breath odor can also indicate
more serious diseases such as kidney failure and diabetes. Dogs are
also prone to having anal sacs that become impacted and infected,
and therefore extremely stinky. If washing your dog does not seem to
take care of the odor you will want to take your dog to your
veterinarian and have the stinky problem officially diagnosed so
that treatments can begin.
Dog Article
courtesy of
I-Love-Dogs.com