Why Does My Old Dog Smell So Bad? Common Causes

Quick Summary

• An old dog may smell bad due to lack of proper grooming both by the owner and the dog itself. Certain age-related health conditions such as arthritis will most likely hinder an old dog to perform self grooming.
• Other reasons why an older dog might stink include bad dental health, infections, impacted and inflamed anal glands, and allergies.
• A good bath should get rid of a dog’s bad smell, but it is more important to know the cause of the smell first and then address that.

Why does my old dog smell so bad? If you regularly give her a bath and your senior pup still smells, then the reason is probably due to age-related conditions that stops your dog from grooming itself or another medical condition that makes him stink as a result.

Have you ever bent down to hug your dog, only to be reminded how badly she needs a bath? If you’re like so many dog owners out there, you gathered up all your courage and got the necessary items together to give her a bath, and then the battle commenced. Eventually, you finally got her bathed, although you probably got at least as wet as she did. The whole time, you were thinking that you really didn’t mind because she would at least smell better once it was all over. You dry her off, give her a treat and then lean down to pet her, only to be horrified by the reality that she still smells just as bad as she did before the bath. You’re probably slightly horrified and even more than a little worried asking yourself—why does my old dog smell so bad? Read on! I’ll help you get to the bottom of it.

As it turns out, there are a few genuine reasons why your dog might smell absolutely horrible, even after she’s been thoroughly bathed. It’s important to find out what’s going on. So you can not only get rid of the odor but find out if it’s due to some type of medical condition that needs to be treated. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll go over each of the reasons that your dog might smell bad in greater detail. 

She Has Gas : Senior dog smell

Before you allow yourself to get too terribly frightened, consider the possibility that she might have gas. Dogs don’t exactly smell great when they break the wind. So if she’s a bit gassier than usual on any given day, it might be the reason that you’re smelling something you’d rather not be exposed to.

There are a couple of things that can clue you in here. Is the body odor constant or does it come and go? If it comes and goes, then she probably has gas. On the other hand, a constant odor could indicate something else entirely. It’s also a good idea to reflect back. Have you recently changed her food or has she been under more stress than usual because of a change in her routine? Did she get a hold of table scraps that she normally doesn’t eat or did you skip the evening walk? All of these things will help you get a better idea about whether or not the odor is gas or if it’s originating from some other source. 

Dog smells bad:

What do you do if the smell is because of gas? Fortunately for you and your dog, there are a couple of different things that you can do. One of the most beneficial activities involves putting her dog leash and taking her for a long walk. More often than not, a dog who is suffering from excessive gas doesn’t need anything more than time to walk around and do its business.

If that doesn’t solve the problem and you’re certain that this is the source of the issue, it might be time to speak to your dog’s veterinarian about changing her diet or even getting her examined for certain digestive issues that might cause excessive gas. These issues aren’t usually particularly serious. But they can certainly cause a lot of discomforts, not to mention the aforementioned unpleasant smell.  

Does She Have Bad Teeth?

Surprisingly, one of the things that can cause a significant odor involves poor dental health. Does your dog have bad teeth? If it’s been a while since she has been to the veterinarian in order to have her teeth cleaned, the odor could be coming from bacteria that have accumulated around her teeth. In some cases, she may have an abscessed tooth. Which is causing a more pronounced odor as the infection becomes worse and worse. Vets should be able to guide you how to treat your dog’s abscessed tooth.

Even if you do have her teeth cleaned on an annual basis. You might be experiencing a greater amount of odor than normal unless you routinely brush your dog’s teeth at home. That’s because getting her teeth cleaned by her veterinarian is very important; in fact, it’s crucial to her. That said, a cleaning that occurs only once a year isn’t enough to curb all of the bacteria that is going to accumulate naturally in her mouth. In reality, she needs to have her teeth brushed three or four times a week. It’s also a good idea to give her one of these dental chews twice a day to help reduce plaque.

Act: Health Facts

You’d be surprised how much that simple act can cut down on the odor that you smell from your dog’s breath. Read some tips on brushing dogs’ teeth. Dogs typically enjoy these chews. So she’s getting a treat and you’re getting an opportunity to both cut down on unpleasant odors and improve her health at the same time. It just doesn’t make sense not to do it.

If you’re not entirely sure that’s where the odor is coming from, it shouldn’t take you very long to find out. When this is the problem, you’ll notice it as soon as your dog breathes on you. If you’re curious, give her a kiss or two on the nose and wait to see how her breath smells when she exhales. However, you should be prepared. If this is the issue, it’s not going to be the most pleasant experience that you’ve ever had, not by a long shot. 

Rotting teeth

One of the most common causes of bad dog smell is rotting teeth. When a dog’s teeth are rotting, it will start to decay. And this will cause an unpleasant odor to emanate from their mouth. If your dog has rotting teeth, you will need to take them to the veterinarian for treatment. The vet may recommend that the dog have its teeth cleaned or extractifed.

Bad breath

Dogs are known for their bad breath. In fact, bad dog breath is one of the most common complaints that pet owners have about their furry friends. There are many causes of bad dog smell, but fortunately, there are also many ways to treat it.

Infection

This is a potential cause of odor that alarms most owners almost instantaneously, but it doesn’t necessarily need to. Do your dog’s ears smell? The overwhelming majority of the time, a dog smells due to ear infections (sometimes skin infections) that need veterinary care. That said, it’s also relatively easy to treat as long as you don’t let it get out of hand. If you’re unsure whether or not your dog has an ear infection, make an appointment to have her examined as soon as possible. If there’s even the smallest possibility that this could be the problem. It’s much better to rule it out than it is to allow things to get worse with each passing day. The vet will tell you how to treat ear infections in dogs.

Anal Glands

This is something a lot of dog owners don’t really like to think about, but a dog’s anal glands have to be expressed on a fairly routine basis or they can become impacted and inflamed, causing one of the most unpleasant odors you’re ever likely to notice around your dog. Fortunately, your groomer usually takes care of this. So if you’re having your dog groomed professionally, it’s not something you should have to worry about. On the other hand, if you don’t take your dog to a groomer, then the responsibility falls on you. If you absolutely cannot make yourself do it, your only other recourse is to take your dog to the veterinarian and let them deal with the problem. 

Allergies

You might not think about allergies causing a stinky dog, but they definitely can. Dogs can be allergic to anything from food to the grass that they walk on, just like people. When a dog suffers from an allergy, they have a tendency to develop yeast infections in between their toes. This is uncomfortable for your dog and it’s not the most pleasant experience for you, either.

In addition to watching your dog lick and bite its feet almost constantly, you have to put up with the smell. The smell of a yeast infection isn’t exactly something that most people would choose to be around. If you’ve ever opened a sack of bread that’s been sitting around for a really long time. And it’s now hit that point where it’s got loads of moisture on it and it’s beginning to mold, you have a slight idea how this smells. The only thing is, it’s usually about 10 times stronger when it’s coming from your dog. Again, it involves making an appointment and having her seen by her veterinarian. So you can get down to the bottom of what is causing the allergy. From that point, the objective is to prevent her from coming into contact with the allergen in order to treat an existing yeast infection.

Stink : foul odor

No one wants their dog to stink. It’s unpleasant, it gives a foul odor to your whole house. And it can be indicative of a medical condition that needs attention [1]. That can be concerning in the extreme. If you’re still not quite sure why your dog stinks, go ahead and take a look at the frequently asked questions that are listed below. You might be able to find some more information that can help you. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Dogs smell

How do I get rid of my dog’s bad smell?

Your first course of action should be to give her a good bath, as that usually takes care of the problem. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to start trying to figure out why. She might have a problem with her teeth or perhaps she’s suffering from an allergy. There could be an infection present or it may be time to go visit the groomer. If you can pinpoint the reason that she smells bad, you’re already one step ahead of the game. If you can’t, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible just in case it is a medical condition that needs attention. 

Why does my dog smell so bad, even after a bath?

Again, it could be because she is having some other type of problems such as an ear infection or an allergy that has resulted in a yeast infection. In some cases, the anal glands need to be expressed. If the odor is coming from her breath, it’s probably because she needs to have her teeth cleaned or she has experienced some type of dental problem that needs immediate attention. 

Why does my dog have a rotten smell?

It is usually the result of a bacterial or viral infection, such as an ear infection or a yeast infection. However, there can be a more serious cause such as cancer. That is why it’s critical for dog owners to take their pets to a veterinarian as soon as possible. You want to rule out any potentially serious causes and also address whatever issue is causing the problem.