How to Treat a Dog’s Body Odor

He may be man’s best friend, but sometimes it’s hard to give him the hugs he deserves because he smells like yesterday’s garbage. A dog’s body odor results from a number of things and getting rid of it takes some know-how and some elbow grease. Your dog is worth the effort.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lather up the suds. Bathing is the first line of defense in presenting a sweeter side of your dog to the world. Let him sit in a tub of lukewarm water while you soap him up with dog shampoo. People shampoo is out. It contains ingredients that may harm his skin. Get your fingertips all the way through the fur to his hide. He’ll enjoy the massage.

2. Rinse the soap thoroughly from your dog. Leaving even a little shampoo can irritate his skin causing it to produce more oils, resulting in body odor returning sooner.

3. Switch to a tar-based dog shampoo if the smell is still offensive. Available from pet supply stores, tar shampoos cut through all the grime and get your dog his cleanest.

4. Look at your dog’s ears. Dirty ears are a leading cause of odor on a dog. You can purchase commercial ear cleaning solutions or mix a tablespoon of vinegar with ¼-cup warm water and use it on a cotton ball to gently clean his ears.

5. Probe your dog’s mouth to see if there is an obstruction. It is not uncommon for dogs to get sticks or small bones stuck crosswise in the roof of their mouth. They may still be able to eat but they will develop a strong odor after a few days.

6. Brush your canine’s teeth, literally. You can purchase dog toothbrushes and toothpaste from your pet supply store and brush the stuck on plaque and food from his teeth. Unlike the minty human-variety toothpaste, dog flavors are chicken and beef. Your dog will think his dental cleaning is a treat.

Tips & Warnings

• If all your hard work does not remove your dog’s odor, see a veterinarian. The smell could indicate an infection or other disease.