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Why Do Wet Dogs Smell?

Posted on July 12, 2016

According to the American Chemical Society, the wet dog smell comes from the tiny microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria that live on your dog’s fur.

Every dog has a tendency to smell stronger when wet. Sometimes, even a humid day brings out the bad doggy odour. It’s nothing that a bath or two can’t fix.

When dry, the microscopic pieces of dung don’t emit any scents. Water breaks down the chemical bonds that hold the micro-excreta together, releasing a fog of musty molecules into the air. As water evaporates it also raises the relative humidity in the air surrounding your dog. Humid air can hold more molecules and the higher concentration of molecules in the air means more can make their way into your nasal cavity to affect your receptor neurones.

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Science

Breeds like the hound group have more oils in their coats than others do. The oil is called Sebum, which collects on the hair shaft and follicles to protect a dog’s skin from dehydration. When the dog gets wet, like after a day at the beach or a bath, the oil and the water together create a bacteria which causes the unpleasant odour. The dog needs to be properly dried to avoid the doggy odour.

Prevention
There is a way to prevent the stench of your furball and it’s easy! Proper drying is the solution to your problems. The heat and force from a blow dryer penetrate their fur coats and is a start to getting to the root of the problem.

Bathing
Veterinarians recommend bathing a dog every couple of weeks. Bathing a dog too often could result in dry skin.  Wash the dog with a high-quality shampoo and rinse well. Shampoo left on the skin due to improper rinsing will add to skin issues.

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There are thousands of dogs who have anxiety attacks at the slightest provocation. A hair dryer may cause a dog to have an anxiety attack. Luckily there are several quiet dryers available on the market that would work for the nervous dog. Use a quality brush while drying to get the under coat and get rid of that smell forever!