Ron wrote in asking for help with dog odor:
My dog, Barney, has has dry skin and flakes with a persistent wet dog smell — even after bathing. I supplement fish oil (4 capsules a day). Hair is growing in well (had some hair loss coming out of the shelter). Seems to be mildly itchy, no hot spots just dry and odorous. Barney is a pointer, shepherd mix 9 mos old. What do you think? Also, he eats no beef, corn, wheat, or preservatives – good food. Any suggestions?
I’m sure Ron is not alone in searching for the best remedies to remove bad dog smells, so I thought I’d share my best tips here for all dog owners who are dealing with the same thing: lingering doggie odors!
Feel free to pitch in with your own ideas and recommendations as well.
See my reply below…
Good Food Is A Good Start!
Ron, it sounds like you’re doing the right thing as far as what you’re feeding Barney!
Higher-quality foods mean a healthier dog on the inside. Plus, better foods help to alleviate the bad breath that many dogs typically have.
Unfortunately, some dogs are just a little drier and smellier than other dogs. Skin issues and coat issues vary from dog to dog.
For The Dry Skin…
The fish oil usually works great at preventing dry skin, among other things. But I’m wondering if the 4 caplets you’re giving might be too much. Perhaps that’s what’s causing the excessive dog odor? I don’t know this for sure, it’s just one theory worth exploring.
Have you tried olive oil in his dog food? That would also help to clear up any remaining dry skin issues. It worked well for our dog, and you can see (in the comments to that article) that it has worked for many other dog owners as well.
Also, keep your dog’s coat well-brushed. But don’t overdo it. I know it’s easy to get carried away sometimes.
For example, the Furminator is my all-time favorite dog brush. It works especially well with dogs that have an undercoat. Brushing with the Furminator is pretty much effortless, and my dog always begs me to continue brushing him longer — he likes it that much!
But brushing too frequently (or too hard) can make dry skin problems even worse. A dog needs just enough brushing to remove the loose, dry hair. Too much brushing exposes the skin to air all the time, which leads to even more dry skin and prevents the dog’s own body oils from keeping his coat healthy.
Just the same, bathing your dog too frequently can lead to dry skin as well. Too much bathing strips away your dog’s natural body oils.
As For The Doggie Odors…
A cheap remedy would be to pat your dog down with baking soda. Baking soda absorbs odors quite well and doesn’t have any harmful ingredients in it.
Or, you could try what works to remove skunk smell from dogs!
Of course, there are spray-on doggie deodorizers too. These are available at all pet stores. Just make sure you get one that’s safe for use on a dog’s skin. (Some are for carpets and pet cages instead.) I’ve tried a few of the spray-on dog deodorizers in the past. My favorite is actually a waterless shampoo that I use as a deodorizer on occasion — since no rinsing is required.
To help with the smell immediately after bathing, you might want to try an aromatherapy-based dog shampoo. Here’s the one I use. That company is out of business now, but you can find similar ones on the market these days. Dog aromatherapy shampoos are available at most bigger pet stores (and possibly in a Whole Foods store’s pet section or body section).
There are also citrus-based dog shampoos. Citrus is known for being a good dog deodorizer. I once bought a gallon-size jug of citrus dog shampoo from a pet store. It worked pretty well, but the aromatherapy shampoos are my favorite.
Well, that’s about the extent of my knowledge on dog odor, based on personal experience.
How To Remove Dog Odor
Following are some tips for removing dog odor from other dog owners and veterinary experts:
- Stinky Dog Tips From A Veterinarian
- Dog’s Odor Problem Might Be More Than Skin Deep
- Treatment For Skin Odor In Dogs
- Natural Sources Of Dog Odor
- Dog Skin Odor Problems & Dandruff
- Tips For Improving The Smell Of Your Dog
- Dog Smells & What To Do About Them
I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I'm truly passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
