Coming home to your dog at the end of a long day at work or school can be one of the best feelings in life. Sometimes, cuddling and petting your furry friends can take all your stresses away — except if your dog stinks. No matter how cute your dog is, funky odors can put anyone off.
The way your dog smells can be affected by several factors. It can just be its natural doggy scent, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. But your dog can also have an unpleasant odor if it’s been in contact with something smelly or if they’re not properly taken care of. With that in mind, here are a few tips and tricks to help your dog smell great.
Natural Remedies
1. Add Liquid Chlorophyll to Water
Chlorophyll is probably familiar to anyone who has taken elementary science subjects. It’s the substance used by plants to make their food through photosynthesis. It’s also the reason why plants are green.
But chlorophyll has other functions — in this case, a natural deodorizer. It rids the body of harmful bacteria, toxins, and fundus that may be the cause of unpleasant smells. Adding a bit of liquid chlorophyll to your dog’s water is an excellent natural remedy to make its body and breath smell pleasant.
2. Brush Fur With Baking Soda
Baking soda is the king of ingredients when it comes to recipes and DIY solutions, especially in cleaning. Like chlorophyll, it can also be a natural deodorizer that works by eliminating bacteria from the body. This is why it is common to put baking soda on one’s armpits.
To help your dog smell better, brush its fur thoroughly to remove any impurities and then apply baking soda. Let it rest for a few minutes before brushing its fur again.
3. Give a Vinegar Bath
Vinegar serves as a neutralizer, so it’s a great way to combat unpleasant smells. Vinegar baths are an excellent way to help get rid of a nasty scent. All you need to do is combine water in vinegar in 1:2 or 1:3 ratio. Work the mixture into its fur and lather it thoroughly for about ten minutes.
Be sure to rinse thoroughly afterward. Sometimes, people even leave the mixture to soak and just let it evaporate naturally. Either way, it’s an excellent natural remedy to help your dog smell better — and it won’t leave your dog smelling like vinegar.
Grooming Tricks
1. Buy quality dog food
Cliche as it may be, you indeed are what you eat — and that applies to dogs as well. What your dog eats can directly affect how they smell. Sometimes, low-quality dog food can be a cause of unpleasant odors. While they may provide the calories your dog needs, it may not be enough in terms of nutrients.
Healthy dogs will generally smell good. Controlling their diet by giving them premium quality food with excellent nutritional value will help them stay healthy and fresh-smelling. It may feel like a burden on your wallet, but you won’t regret it in the long run.
2. Use dog wipes
Special dog wipes are used to safely and quickly cleanse and deodorize your dog. Because they’re handy, you can use them on the go anywhere and at any time. These are especially useful if they encounter something unpleasant-smelling during a walk, or if they step on their feces.
Wipes can be your new best friend when it comes to keeping your dog smelling great. And if you don’t have dog wipes at the ready, baby wipes can be a good alternative.
3. Brush his teeth
Dogs don’t need to brush their teeth the way humans do. In the first place, they can’t use a regular toothbrush and toothpaste as we do. Instead, giving your dog food and toys that are crunchy and chewy. These can scrape the plaque off your dog’s teeth.
Carrots and apples are good examples of this — but don’t feed too much of it. For toys, pet stores have a wide array of chew toys that you can choose from. Make sure that you buy something safe and durable.
4. Wash your dog’s beddings
Dogs spend a lot of time in their bed, so you must remember to wash their linens regularly, so it doesn’t accumulate into an unpleasant doggy smell. Wash the linens once a week or every two weeks so that your dog sleeps in a fresh and fragrant environment. It helps both your dog and your house smell good.
5. Clean their ears
Feeding high-quality dog food and brushing their teeth and fur may go a long way in keeping your dog smelling great, but if all else fails, you might want to check the ears. It takes only a few minutes to clean your dog’s ears using baby oil or mineral.
However, don’t use cotton swabs to clean their ear canal, as it may hurt them. If you think an unpleasant smell is coming from an infection in their ears, make sure to take your dog directly to your local veterinarian.
6. Bathe Your Pet
Bathing is an essential part of grooming. It is not an option but a necessity. There are a lot of inquiries regarding how to properly bathe your pup. Some veterinarians recommend you wash your pet at least once or twice a year. However, with the right shampoo, you can bath them every month.
The most important thing to take note of is to steer clear from heavily-perfumed shampoos and products that may be harmful to their furs and noses. If your dog has a skin condition, be sure to have a conversation with your vet to find out what kind of medicated shampoo your dog needs.
When bathing your dog, you first have to make sure that they are thoroughly wet. It’s good to start shampooing from the upper part of your pet, working your way down. Use your free hand to rinse the shampoo with warm water. Always remember to keep your dog’s eyes and ears safe.
Also, if you don’t want to shampoo your dog too often to keep the natural oils in their fur, the vinegar bath mentioned earlier is a great alternative. Your dog will stay clean, healthy, and, most of all, smelling great.
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