Why does your dog stay smelly after a bath?You could be doing this wrong

Has it ever happened that your pet still had an unpleasant odor after bathing? Or is this a recurring issue? There can be several reasons for the smell, and some of them may require a visit to the vet!

Your pet’s natural scent is also influenced by genetics, nutrition, hygiene and health. The smell of some animals is also influenced by their coat structure and their scent glands. All of these contribute to the scent cloud surrounding the dog, which can be characteristic or even strong. However, if it becomes particularly pungent, that’s a problem. If your dog still smells bad even after a bath, there is a reason for it, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly! Let’s go through what these reasons might be. 

Health Issues

If your pet still has an unpleasant odor after bathing, especially if this wasn’t typical before, it could be due to a health issue. Many diseases and conditions are accompanied by a characteristic smell, particularly skin problems. In these cases, the unpleasant odor may be caused by bacteria multiplying on the inflamed, damaged skin surface. Similarly, dental issues, ear infections, or anal gland problems can also produce smelly symptoms. These odors are usually localized, so it can help to identify where the smell is coming from.

If the bad odor is accompanied by other symptoms—such as redness, swelling, wounds, or complaints like pain when touched, frequent licking, or rubbing—this clarifies the situation. In such cases, you should contact your veterinarian immediately!

Overbathing

Excessive washing can disrupt your pet’s natural protective layer. The oils on their skin serve to protect and keep it moisturized. If you continuously remove these oils, you can disturb this well-functioning system, potentially leading to various skin issues and even altering your dog’s natural scent.

While some breeds require more frequent cleaning due to their long coats or dense skin folds, others only need a bath when they genuinely get dirty.

Habit

It’s a different matter altogether if your dog isn’t left smelly but instead makes itself smelly after a bath. For example, they might roll in some cat poop or, even worse, in a carcass. (We’ve had our own experience with a dead fish, and we can still vividly recall the “scent”!) As we’ve discussed before, this behavior has several, mostly evolutionary, reasons: predators try to completely mask their own scent while hunting to increase their chances of success.

However, it’s also possible that the shampoo used during the bath bothers them, and they’re trying to get rid of its smell. Or, quite simply, there’s nothing more intoxicating to them than the aroma of some rotting meat, which they’d love to carry around everywhere—to the great delight of their owner.

You are using the wrong cosmetics

It’s also worth reviewing the grooming products you use on your dog. As we’ve emphasized many times, it matters what you bathe your pet with. We recommend using a shampoo specifically formulated for dogs, as its ingredients are designed not to cause irritation. Moreover, these shampoos are usually not scented, since fragrances can bother the animal and potentially lead to skin issues. Additionally, they can interfere with the natural protective system we mentioned earlier.