Dogs can easily become dirty and smelly as they go about their daily activities. But how do you reduce unpleasant odours? In this blog, we discuss the steps you can take to significantly reduce bad smells from your dog and help their health in the long run.
So how do you keep your dog from smelling in-between baths? To keep your dog from smelling between baths, you should attend regular grooming sessions, groom at home, ensure a clean environment and choose raw food. When you bathe your dog, ensure you use dog friendly shampoo and dry your dog well.
Read on to find out more about keeping your dog smelling fresh in-between baths and grooming sessions.
How Do You Help Your Dog Stay Fresh Between Baths?
Dogs are prone to becoming dirty throughout the day, whether they are eating, drinking or playing outside. Regular grooming sessions and baths can help to maintain their coat so it doesn’t become too long and dirty. However, similar to humans, dogs can become dirty and smelly simply by going through the day.
If you want to protect your home from strong dog smells, follow our top tips below:
Grooming
Regular grooming sessions both at home and at a salon are essential steps in maintaining your dog’s coat. When you visit a professional salon, your dog will receive the highest quality care and expert advice on how to continue care at home. At The Pet Retreat, we use only all natural products, specifically made for your dog’s coat type.
At home care includes brushing them (using appropriate brushes for their coat type). This can help to remove any dirt and dead hair, keeping your home clean and tidy and reducing unpleasant odours. Find out more about at home grooming for your dog in our in depth blog.
Clean Surroundings
Your dog’s fur can pick up dirt and dust from any surface they touch, in turn making your dog smell bad. Keeping your living space clean and tidy is a great way to reduce this. This includes dusting, hoovering and regularly washing your dog’s bed, blankets, toys and food bowls. Where possible, keep your dog away from food and drink spillages.
Food
Low quality dog food can result in bad odour and flatulence. Raw dog food on the other hand provides significant health benefits including a strengthened immune system and improved coat quality. Food allergies that cause yeasty skin are a major cause of bad odour – another reason why high quality diets are beneficial. On top of this, the bones can act as a natural tooth brush for dogs, greatly improving their dental health. You can also introduce peppermint to help reduce your dog’s odour.
Teeth
You should include tooth brushing as part of your regular at home grooming routine. This should be completed at least twice daily to avoid severe health problems and bad breath. If you are unsure how to introduce this to your dog and build their trust, read our handy guide to dog tooth brushing.
Anal Glands
Full anal glands smell like rotten fish, and can cause your dog’s breath to smell too! Issues emptying anal glands are more common in smaller breeds, but feeding a good quality diet, adding extra fibre and probiotics can help. If you notice this kind of smell, or if your dog is scooting or chewing around the base of their tail, back feet and legs, ask your veterinarian to check their anal glands
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
Your dog’s daily activities can determine how often you should bathe your dog. However the recommended guidelines are once every four weeks. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and often gets muddy or dusty, you can of course bathe them again to avoid unnecessary mess and smell. Ensure that you dry your dog thoroughly after baths to avoid wet dog smell.
Every four weeks is recommended, but as long as high quality products, including conditioners are used then it is ok to bathe dogs weekly. You must be extremely careful about the products used however, so this should be discussed with your groomer so they can recommend the best products for your dog’s coat and skin. Itchy dogs that suffer from allergies can actually benefit from more regular bathing as this removes the allergens from their coat.
How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?
Professional grooming sessions should be attended at least once every 4-6 weeks to ensure your dog’s coat stays healthy. This is alongside at home grooming, teeth brushing, fur brushing and bathing. Dogs with shorter hair can attend less often, however it is still important to maintain their coats at home. Also, certain health conditions can require more frequent grooming.
When you attend your appointment, be sure to ask your groomer for advice on the correct products, brushes and frequency for your dog’s individual needs.
Treat Your Dog at The Pet Retreat
If you are looking for regular grooming sessions to help your dog stay fresh, The Pet Retreat is here to help. We use all natural products, suitable for your dog’s fur type to ensure your dog stays happy and healthy. Contact us today for expert advice on keeping your dog fresh at home.