Why Does My Dog Smell Bad When Wet? Identifying Possible Causes

It is also important to go outside in the wind and rain with your dog. It is a bad side effect that the dog smells when wet. What is it that makes our odor tolerance test when wet dog fur gets on us?

It is also important to go outside in the wind and rain with your dog. It is a bad side effect that the dog smells when wet. What is it about wet dog fur that tests our tolerance for odor?

Dog owners who are used to the smell of their dog may not notice it. It is not uncommon for only close friends or acquaintances to notice the smell. The dog’s smell is strong, particularly if it has a wet or muddy coat from rain or swimming. Where does this olfactory terror come from?

The skin of a wet dog produces sebum.

Wet dogs stink because their skin secretes an oily substance when they are wet. This acts as a barrier against bacteria and moisture. Sebum protects the skin of the dog and its coat. The coat is slightly greasy and resistant to environmental influences.

Sebum is produced by the skin of the dog as it gets wetter. In the process, certain smells that are normally unpleasant for our noses are released. Water-soluble, they spread very well. After a swimming session or heavy rain, for example, we can get a lot of sebum smells.

This principle also applies to humans. However, our skin contains significantly fewer glands, and we have lost fur, and don’t produce as much secretion as before.

The cost structure also affects the strength of the odor of a wet dog. Basenjis, Dalmatians, and Pinschers with short, close-fitting, and silky coats will smell of wet dog when they return home after a rainy walk. Poodles and Spanish Water Dogs with curly hair are not as smelly.

What should I do if my dog smells after being wet?

It is important that the dog’s skin and fur are protected by the smell of a wet dog. You can’t avoid the smell of a wet dog.

You can remove most of the smell by drying off your dog. When your dog is wet, rub him dry with a towel. He will take care of the rest. The odor will disappear after a few days.

Do not just bathe your dog if it is wet.

You should not bathe your dog every time he smells. It would not remove the unpleasant smell. This would also damage your pet’s protective coat, and stimulate the production of sebum. The dog will still smell despite being washed. More information can be found in the guidebook “Washing Dogs: How Much Hygiene is Necessary?”.

It is different if the dog has been rolled around in a large puddle of dirt. Breeds like the Beagle and Border Collie love to rub their coats with “nature’s scent.”