Dogs, as with all mammals, have natural odors. Natural dog odors can be unpleasant to owners, especially when dogs are kept inside the home, as some people are not used to being exposed to the natural odor of a non-human species living in proximity to them. Dogs may also develop odors as a result of skin diseases or other disorders, or may become contaminated with odors from other sources in their surrounding environment. Nutrition also plays a role in odor production, with deficiencies of specific nutrients increasing the likelihood for dental, skin, and gastrointestinal odors.
Video Dog odor
Common causes
All natural dog odors are most prominent near the ears, and from the paw pads. Dogs naturally produce secretions, the function of which is to produce scents allowing for species and individual animal recognition by other dogs and for use in scent-marking of territory. This is a feature they share with other canids.
Dogs only produce sweat on areas not covered with fur, such as the nose and paw pads, unlike humans who sweat almost everywhere. However, they do have sweat glands, called apocrine glands, associated with every hair follicle on their body. The exact function of these glands is not known, but they may produce pheromones or chemical signals for communication with other dogs. It is believed that these sweat secretions produce an individual odor signal that is recognizable by other dogs.
Dogs also have sweat glands on their noses. These are eccrine glands. When these glands are active, they leave the nose and paw pads slightly moist and help these specialized skin features maintain their functional properties. The odor associated with dog paw pads is much more noticeable on dogs with moist paw pads than on those with dry pads.
Dogs also have numerous apocrine glands in their external ear canals. In this location they are referred to as ceruminous glands. The ear canals also have numerous sebaceous glands. Together these two sets of glands produce natural ear wax, or cerumen. Micro-organisms live naturally in this material and give the ears a characteristic slightly yeasty odor even when healthy. When infected, the ears can give off a strong disagreeable smell. It is not uncommon for a vet to sniff a dog's ears to try to detect any potential problem with bacterial or fungal infection. Some owners do this routinely if they have a dog susceptible to ear infections or if they have a breed with heavy, floppy ears which can hide early signs of inflammation.
Dogs, like all Carnivorans, also possess two anal sacs, or scent glands. These sacs communicate with the surface of the skin by ducts which open on either side of the anus. The sacs are lined with apocrine and sebaceous glands. They function to produce a natural secretion that varies from thin and yellowish to pasty and greyish; the secretion has a very strong musty odor. A small amount of this material is deposited when dogs defecate. A large amount may be extruded when a dog is frightened. It is thought that this secretion leaves a signal to other dogs allowing them to recognize the source of the individual fecal deposit. This odor is also likely the signal being sampled when strange dogs investigate one another by sniffing out the anal area. Dogs' anal glands can become swollen and unable to drain naturally, sometimes requiring a visit to the veterinarian or groomer to express the built up liquid. Excessive licking and chewing of the area is one indication of this. Typically, these glands are expressed during routine professional grooming as a preventative measure.
Another source of odor that can be considered natural results from a common dog behavior. Dogs like to roll in and mark themselves with the feces of other animals in their environment.
Skunks and dogs often have aggressive encounters and a dog may be sprayed by a skunk. This results in an over-powering musky acrid odor that remains apparent in the 'skunked' dog's coat for many days or even weeks until steps are taken to neutralize the odor.
Maps Dog odor
Health causes
Keratinization replaces dead skin cells, and maintains the strength and health of the epidermis as a result. Sebum is a substance produced by the sebaceous glands of the epidermis that provides lubrication to the skin, while also making it water-resistant. If both of these elements are impaired, seborrhoea may result, yielding odors from the skin due to oil accumulation. Nutritional deficiencies can also cause increased odor production; depending on the nutrient, deficiencies can result in increased: oiling, scaling, balding, itching, and redness of the skin. Essential fatty acids, proteins, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin B are all nutrients which prevent skin and coat infections. Certain physical attributes of dogs may also increase their susceptibility for odorous infections. Dogs that have large surface areas of skin on their bodies, for instance the bulldog, tend to have an increased risk for development of skin infections such as skin-fold dermatitis, due to proliferations of bacteria or yeast. As well, poor grooming of dogs with long, thick or corded hair can cause the haircoat to be a source of unpleasant odor. A coat that is not kept clean and groomed can trap dirt, bacteria and other substances with unpleasant odors. Furthermore, allergies can cause increased production of apocrine sweat, which imparts a musty odor. This condition, termed hyperhidrosis, can encourage yeast infection or bacterial skin infection and these micro-organisms produce odors as well. Breeds such as bulldogs, cocker spaniels, english springer spaniels, and shar-pei's are all particularly susceptible to skin and coat infections, specifically skin-fold dermatitis. As a result, these breeds benefit from DHA and EPA-supplemented diets in order to protect their sensitive skin, and prevent the accumulation of odors over time. Ear disease (otitis) can also be a source of odor that varies from yeasty to one resembling sewage as either cerumen or pus accumulates in the diseased ear canal. Anal sac disease or excessive anal sac production can cause a very musty pungent odor. Anal sacs can become abscessed and infecting micro-organisms produce odor.
Bacterial populations may accumulate in the oral cavity of the animal, causing gingivitis and tartar (calculus) build-up. The effects of gingivitis include odors, reduced feed intake, and bleeding and sensitivity of the gums. These oral bacteria metabolize the saliva, epithelial cells, and food residues in the mouth to produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which cause malodorous gasses such as hydrogen sulfide. The production of VSC's also contributes to plaque formation, which in turn leads to increased odor production through provision of an anaerobic environment for bacteria to flourish. Periodontal disease, one of the most common dental problems found in canines, results in potential losses of teeth, discomfort, formation of ulcers, and reduction of gums, and an overall production of odors. Feeding wet canned foods, as well as minimal teeth brushing, also increases the likelihood of accumulating plaque on the teeth. Healthy teeth and gums decreases a dog's likelihood of bad breath, thus reducing odor production. Dental disease can also lead to excessive drooling, and the skin around the mouth can become infected, leading to more odor production. Dogs can also acquire foul smelling breath as a result of coprophagia, the practice of eating their own feces or the feces of other animals. Commercially prepared food additives can be purchased which, when added to a dog's food, impart a bitter flavor to their feces thereby reducing the tendency towards consuming their own feces. Smaller dog breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahuas are highest in susceptibility to dental problems, but larger dogs such as Boxers are also prone to teeth and gum issues.
Some medications, such as antibiotics, taken by mouth or antiseptics or medicated shampoos used on the skin can produce odors that owners may find unpleasant. Chlorhexidine is a common disinfectant incorporated in skin medications that some individual owners find to have an unpleasant odor.
Flatulence can be a problem for some dogs, which may be diet-related or a sign of gastrointestinal disease. This, in fact, may be the most commonly noticed source of odor from dogs fed cereal-based dog foods.
Odor management
Provision of appropriate nutrients and ingredients in a dog's diet aids in the reduction of odor from various sources.
Dental
Feeding a dry food-based diet supports healthy teeth and gums, due to the kibbles' compositions of nutrients, and physical structures. For instance, the ingredients calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate are beneficial for healthy teeth due to the presence of calcium and phosphorus in these compounds. As well, glucosamine is essential for teeth reparation and bone health, and vitamin D is important for supporting teeth strength and structure. Mechanical cleaning of the teeth has associations with the shape and size of the individual kibbles. For instance, crude fiber aids in the mechanical cleansing of teeth and gum maintenance due to its flexible fibre matrix, which increases the duration of time spent chewing and therefore the removal of plaque residues. According to a published 2016 study by Hennet and colleagues, increasing kibble diameter by 50% has an associated reduction of 42% on tartar levels of teeth. This study also found that coating the kibbles in an anti-calculus agent such as sodium tripolyphosphate further induces a 55% tartar reduction. Polyphosphates reduce the secretion of calcium in the saliva, and thus the likelihood of tartar formation. Feeding of tough dog treats to pets that are able to chew them also reduces the likelihood of tartar formation and gingivitis, and therefore odor production. Through inclusion of large kibbles, and hard dog treats, the amount of thorough chewing that occurs is increased, thus promoting physical removal of plaques. Additionally, the food or treat antimicrobial additives chlorhexidine digluconate and chlorhexidine acetate also reduce odor, plaque accumulation, and gingivitis.The compound epigallocatechin gallate (a polyphenol found in green tea) combats the pathological bacteria in the mouth, reducing the production of malodours. Oils from sources such as lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus also contribute to odor reduction, by inhibiting the release of VSC's. The addition of these ingredients and nutrients in dental diets reduces the likelihood of oral diseases and tartar accumulation, and thus odor production as a result.
Skin and coat
If a dog's coat is healthy, it can be an indirect way of preventing bad odors by protecting the dog from skin infections. For instance, feeding sufficient levels of omega 3 fatty acids (including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular) improves the quality of the skin and coat of canines. Essential fatty acids maintain: the synthesis of eicosanoids, the transepidermal water barrier, metabolism, and fluidity of membranes. As well, dogs cannot synthesize linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, so these nutrients must be supplemented. Linoleic acid in particular aids with water resistance of the epidermal layer, and arachidonic acid with keratinization, both of which help maintain healthy skin. Hair growth and keratinization of the skin also requires sufficient levels of protein in the diet. Zinc is a necessary mineral for metabolism of epidermal cells and vitamin A, as well as for fatty acid production. Furthermore, vitamin A is utilized for dermatological tissue maintenance, and similar to zinc, is needed for keratinization of the skin; B vitamins are water-soluble cofactors essential for metabolism. Ingredients commonly used in skin and coat diets to prevent skin infections and maintain coat quality are fish and vegetable oils, which contain omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Chicken fat is also an an ingredient for skin and coat health, as it also provides essential fatty acids. Increasing the levels of any of these nutrients in the diet reverses or prevents the effects of certain skin conditions that produce unpleasant doors. However, although increasing the levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in the diet improves skin health, harmful free radicals may be produced, thus requiring higher amounts of vitamin E in the diet to act as antioxidants and counter these effects. Vitamin E is also useful for prevention of primary acanthuses nigricans, a skin condition commonly found in Dachshunds that produces an unpleasant body odor.
See also
- Hyena butter
- Wet dog bush
- Dog food
- Dog health
- Raw feeding
- Dental health diets for dogs
References
External links
- Veterinary Partner:halitosis
- Veterinary Q & A: My Stinky Dog
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments