If you can smell your pet before you see him, it's time to address this problem
If you can smell your dog before you see him, it's time to fix this problem. You know you can bathe your pet, but you often don't have time, so you wonder if there are other options to somehow eliminate the bad smell from your dog.
There are several ways to keep your dog smelling good without a bath, and you can do it in eight easy steps. Thanks to these tips, the dog will smell nice without getting wet.
Bad dog odor comes from one or more sources, which means you have to check everything to help the pet. Before you "throw in" to remove the bad smell, try to locate its source or "shorten the list" of potential causes of unpleasant odor in the dog, such as dirty ears or neglected dental hygiene.
Depending on the source of the bad smell, you will need: ear cleaner, gauze or cotton balls, dental care products, brush, dry shampoo, cornstarch or baking soda, scented dog water in the form of deodorant.
You probably won't use all of these products to groom your dog, but you should keep all the options in mind.
- Clean the dog's ears
Your dog's ears can be an overlooked source of bad odor that you can eliminate without bathing. An unpleasant smell from the ears indicates an infection, especially if the ears are red, swollen, painful or full of secretions. If you suspect an infection, take your dog to the vet.
To clean your dog's ears, squeeze a little of the cleaner into your dog's ear canal and massage to break up the stubborn dirt. The dog will most likely lay its head down, then wipe its ears with cotton balls or gauze. Thoroughly clean the ear folds: do not push any object deep into the ear canal.
- Brush your dog regularly
Brushing is another way to keep your dog clean and smelling fresh without bathing. Some dogs need to be brushed daily to prevent tangles. However, dogs with short hair also benefit from brushing 1 to 2 times a week.
A good brushing removes dirt and dead hair from the dog and helps to spread its natural oils on the skin evenly, improving the appearance and quality of the coat.
- Check the condition of the dog's teeth
Bad breath does not have to come from the dog's mouth, but good oral hygiene is an important part of pet hygiene. Brushing your dog's teeth with pet dental floss is the best way to keep them healthy. Other dental care options include dental wipes, chewing gum, and water supplements. Despite the owners' best efforts, most dogs have to go to a professional dental cleaning at least once. If your dog has bad breath despite regular dental care, contact your veterinarian for help.
- Use baking soda or cornstarch
For a simple "dry bath" that will help your dog smell better, sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the coat and rub it in to absorb odor or soak up excess oil. Remove soda or starch by wiping.
- Wash your dog's bed
If you don't wash your dog's bed often, it will start to smell the hair and body oils. Over time, hair, dander, dirt and other bodily secretions accumulate on a dog's bed, even if it is extremely groomed. Therefore, wash your dog's bed from time to time, preferably with an additive designed to eliminate its odor. Dry the bed outside: sunlight and fresh air will further help disinfection.
- Use dry shampoo
To keep your dog smelling fresh without a bath, try one of the many dry shampoos or wipes. The pet market is full of these products that are designed to quickly clean and refresh the dog without the need for a subsequent rinse.
- Spray the pet with deodorant
To get your dog smelling good quickly, spray him with one of the scented waters made especially for pets. Some of these sprays have a scent component, but most just mask the dog's smell. These products are usually not long-lasting, but they can be used to give your dog a quick scent in case you have guests over and you don't have time to bathe your pet.
- Change the dog's diet
Sometimes the source of a dog's bad smell is inside its organism: food plays a key role in a dog's health, but it happens to cause gases that are difficult to tolerate. Low-quality commercial food and too many table scraps are the biggest culprits for bad-smelling dog gas.
What if the dog smells unpleasant even after being groomed
If the dog has an unpleasant odor despite bathing it or maintaining hygiene in other ways, it is time to go to the vet. A variety of skin conditions can cause your dog to smell bad and resist all attempts to combat the stench. Skin diseases should be suspected if you notice other symptoms such as scratching, hair loss or peeling and flaking of the skin.
Conclusion
Bathing a dog cannot always be avoided, especially if it constantly plays in the mud or suffers from allergies. However, frequent bathing can disrupt it
