Why Does My Dog Stink After Being Outside? 7 Reasons For Strong Dog Smell

My dog stinks after being outside. Why does my dog stink after being outside? This question bothers almost everyone who owns a dog.

I am a great dog lover and my dog has been my bestie since I was a kid.

But every time I go for a walk with my dog it stinks no matter what I do and I used to  always think “why do dogs stink when they come in from outside?” 

But finally, after a long time, I found an answer to this question – Why does my dog stink after being outside?” – and also found some ways to get rid of such a bad smell. In this article, I will provide you with all the best possible ways to prevent your dog from stinking after being outside.

Why Does My Dog Stink After Being Outside?

When you think to yourself, “Why does my dog stink after being outside.” You may want to consider the following reasons. This will guide you on how to keep your dog from smelling after going outside.

Dog’s fur

Dog’s fur is one of the biggest reasons for its dirty odor. Dogs with a lot of fur, especially large dogs, have a considerable amount of surface area in their hair that can absorb everything that’s blowing outdoors. If you think – Why does my dog stink after a walk. If your dog stinks after a walk, you may want to check the dog’s fur. Everything starting from pollution to nearby animal and trash odors gets absorbed in dog’s fur.

Dog’s natural odor

Why does my dog stink after being outside? Dogs produce natural secretions from their body which produce a kind of scent that helps other dogs recognize this scent and mark their territory. Why do dogs smell when they come in from outside? Dogs produce a smell when they are around other dogs to make the smell more prominent when they return home. This is why a dog smells like fish after being outside.

Rolling into fox poop

Sometimes you may think – Why does my dog smell so bad after being outside? – Dogs’ instincts have not changed a lot from their original wolf ancestors. Dogs naturally tend to cover themselves in foul-smelling stuff so that they can easily attract predators. This is why dog smells bad after being outside.

Maybe it smells natural

Why does my dog stink after being outside? You may not have been taking your dog outside much  often but you find that your dog always stinks. Still, dog smells bad after going outside. This also answers the question – why does my dog stink after being in the sun?

Then the below health problems may have been one of the reasons to the question – “Why do dogs stink when they come in from outside?”

Dental problems

Just like humans have bad breath issues your dog also may be having an issue of bad breath due to inbuilt plaque and tartar on its teeth. They are one of the reasons to the question – Why does my dog stink after going outside?

 Atopy

Dogs have a stinky smell sometimes due to inflammation of their skin. This results in excess oil/ sebum production which causes that foul smell from your dog. The main reason for the inflammation of the skin is due to seasonal and food allergies.

Ear infections

Several bacteria can cause ear infections. Generally, a healthy ear of a dog can fight those bacteria. But sometimes, the bacteria and yeast grow incredibly causing a foul smell from the dog.

So, the above reasons are all possible reasons for the question – “Why does my dog stink after being outside?”

How to keep your dog from smelling after going outside

After trying all the remedies that I knew I found the below remedies as the most helpful remedies. These remedies are easy to apply, affordable, and quick. They will let you know how to get rid of the smell on dog.

Brush:

Next time when you take your dog to a shower don’t forget to brush your dog hair all around thoroughly. This helps to loosen the dog’s hair which will help in removing all the dirt absorbed by your dog.

Shampoo

After brushing your dog thoroughly all over its body, shampoo its body and let your dog sit with the fur for a good 10 minutes, which will help to remove all the dirt from its coat.

Rinse well

Now complete your dog’s shower with the final step of cleansing, clean it all until there is no trace of any shampoo on dog skin.

Following the above 3 steps will help to get rid of that stinky dog smell. But never forget to wear hang and leg gloves before your dog’s bath.

Dog clothing

Prevention is always better than cure. So, spending a few more dollars on your dog’s wardrobe can be the best advice I can give to you. Not only does your dog look super cute but also it helps to prevent all the dust, dirt, and odors from being absorbed by your dog’s fur with its clothes on it.

I make super cute clothes for my dog on my own. Don’t forget, give it a shot.

Preventing from rolling into fox poop

Walking along with your furry friend in the areas where you sense a high frequency of foxes is a good idea. 

Not taking your dogs to such places is better. But, one with a dog should always remember that you own it and you are its boss so you should habituate your dog with your orders like sit, stand, etc.

So, start training your dogs in a friendly way so that they can follow your orders with no hesitation.

Preventing Natural Doggie Smell

It may be a natural body odor or odor produced due to yeast or bacteria skin infections. I have got a good remedy for you which will help you to prevent your dog from stinking.

If you think – Why does my dog stink after being outside – consider the above method is one of the best methods to get rid of body odor from your dog.

Apple cider vinegar has natural properties which can help you prevent your dog from stinking. 

You can apply it even if your dog doesn’t stink.

It is best to apply before taking your dog from a walk so that you will no longer experience dog smell after returning from the walk. If the case is very severe then you should visit a veterinary doctor.

Precaution: Don’t apply any apple cider vinegar to its face. It may get into its eyes, nose, and ears which can damage those parts as it is acidic.

Why Do Some Dogs Smell Fishy? 

You may have experienced that your dog sometimes smells fishy. Dog smells like fish after being outside. Here’s the reason why?

Dogs contain anal sacs on both sides of the anus. So, sometimes when dogs get scared they express their anus sacs and these anus secretions give a kind of foul smell which people call as fishy. You don’t need to worry about it at all. It is a completely normal thing.

Why Do Dogs Smell after getting wet?

Dog’s fur contains 350 bacteria on every square centimeter of its skin which is completely normal.

Dog’s skin and fur contain a lot of natural oils, bacteria, and yeast which when combined with water emits a really bad smell.

So, it is very important to dry your dog’s skin and fur after a shower. 

The main reason why there are a lot of bacteria existing in the dog’s skin surface is due to its perfect damn, warm and dark condition which is suitable for the growth of yeast and bacteria.

So, the dog’s skin has higher chances of getting infected.

Why Does my Dog Smell After a Bath?

Sometimes you may think, “Why does my dog smell so bad even after a bath?”

Ear infections and skin inflammations

Ear infections and skin inflammation are some of the main reasons why your dog smells. So, preventing it from scratching its ear against a wall and furniture can help prevent the above problems.

Preventing your dog from shaking its head too many times also can prevent frequent ear infections.

Compacted anal glands

It’s the thing about dog poop. Basically,   healthy dogs have normal stools which do not cause any problems.

But dogs that have some problems like diarrhea and bathroom issues then the poop doesn’t get discharged and it results in causing a really bad smell for dogs to smell like pee.

So, if you are always thinking why does my dog stink after being outside? I tell you here the problem is not outside but it is in your dog’s tummy.

If it’s a daily headache then changing your dog’s diet can be the best thing.

The Best Diet For Your Dog

For the question – why does my dog stink after being outside? – you may take care of all the things mentioned above that prevent your dog from stinking. But it’s useless if you can’t provide it with the best diet. 

Protein

 It is a lot healthy to feed your dog with digestible protein that is rich in amino acids. It helps to maintain good bone, skin, and muscle health. See that the food you provide to your dog contains at least 83% proteins.

Quality ingredients

We all know that different bodies require different nutrition. In the same way, each breed is unique and requires different nutrition. So, you need to know your dog breed and the perfect diet for it.If you want to know about your dog breed and its diet. 

Probiotics

The main secret in maintaining any healthy body is maintaining a healthy gut. So, it is very essential for you to provide your dog with all kinds of probiotics.

Things To Do To Maintain a Healthy Dog

Exercise Your Pet

Whether humans or animals, everyone is born to move. So, you must remember to take your dog for a walk every morning and evening.

Let it breathe the fresh air, roam and run along with its buddies in the park to maintain good health. You can also do some fun and creative physical activities along with your dog in your free time.

Vaccinate Your Pet 

You must remember to vaccinate your pet against many deadly diseases.

Visit a veterinarian every year

You must take your dog to a veterinarian every year without fail. It can help to maintain good dog condition and locate if there are any issues.

Maintaining good weight

 It is very essential to check your dog’s weight regularly. So that you can estimate its overall health.

Keeping it away from parasites

Whether it may be daytime or nighttime, you need to keep your dog away from the parasites. You can visit a veterinarian to know about the harmful parasites that may affect your dog.

You can have a much more clear understanding of dog health, its breed and it also helps you to know about a specific dog’s diet to maintain its health.

Final Verdict – Why Does My Dog Stink After Being Outside

I think by now you have known the answer to the question – why does my dog stink after being outside? Along with knowing the answer to the question – why does my dog stink after being outside? – you have gained a lot of knowledge on how to get rid of a fowl dog smell, why your dog smells fishy, and many other things. 

So, next time when you think – Why does my dog stink after being outside? Use my solution mentioned above. If dog still smells bad then don’t hesitate to take your furry friend to a veterinarian. So, he can help you to figure out the root cause.

Animals are like the best creatures in this world, those who try their best to maintain natural harmony on earth. So, it’s really important that we take good care of them. The solutions in this post should help find a lasting cure to the question “Why does my dog stink after being outside?”

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️