Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter

Let's talk about why your dog might stink

Smelly dog, smelly dog, What are they feeding you? Smelly dog, smelly dog, It's not your fault.

Is your dog funky?

No, I don't mean 'can he bust a move on the dance floor.' I mean, does he have a swirling cloud of funk, a la Pigpen, following him wherever he goes?

Pike does. Big time.

If you follow me on social media, you might remember that I posted not all that long ago about my stinky dog getting a bath and not being stinky anymore.

Totally short-lived. He smelled bad again within a few days.

SAD! DISAPPOINTING!

The weird thing is that a quick sniff didn't detect anything, but it was there. Like the B.O. in Jerry's car. It lingered and spread everywhere.

So I got serious about finding the source. It wasn't good or fun, people. I will have nightmares about the process for years and may need therapy, but I think my Nancy Drew skills solved the crime.

It was coming from down under.

That's right ... my dog had JUNK FUNK. Stinky, smelly, junk funk.

Yeast vs. allergies

Had this been our first time experiencing something like this, it would have been easy to assume he had an allergy or other skin condition. But I was pretty sure, based on past experiences, that he was suffering from an overgrowth of yeast. Yeast is a naturally occurring fungus that's a normal part of the body chemistry in both pets and people. And, as long as the proper balance is maintained through a healthy immune system, it's not problematic. But if the system becomes unbalanced, there are some species of yeast called opportunistic pathogens that can cause some pretty serious issues. The Candida genus contains over 200 yeast species and it's the most common type of fungal infection in people and pets with compromised immune systems, and it can invade any part of the body. Yeast dermatitis, also referred to as Malassezia dermatitis, is caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia pachydermatis, which tends to invade dark, moist spaces like ear canals and "personal" areas. Problems with yeast pop up when your pet's natural body chemistry is disrupted. Some common — and small — causes include:

• shaving the fur too closely

• administering antibiotics or other medications

• scratching from fleas, ticks, or other allergens

• compromised immunity due to illness

I'm blaming it on the high-carb kibble with suspicious-adjacent ingredients we'd been using. Carbohydrates from grains, starches, and potatoes break down into sugars that fuel yeast overgrowth in the gut and on the skin.

The Treatment

The first step to a less stinky dog was changing foods. He and Gus are both eating The Simple Food Project freeze-dried dog food now and are thriving. All of the recipes contain limited ingredients — all of which you can pronounce — and are low in carbohydrates. He's also getting daily wipe downs with some aloe baby wipes and then a good lathering dose of Chlorhexidine in the form of Douxo S3 Pro Mousse. It's the #1 non-prescription topical anti-fungal, antibacterial product recommended by vets in the U.S., and with its pleasant coconut-vanilla scent, it's almost a pleasure to apply.

Douxo S3 is also available in a Calm formula for dogs with itchy, irritated skin from allergies, and a SEB formula for dogs with oily or flaky skin. You can also purchase each line in shampoo and wipe formats if mousse isn't your thing.

It seems to be doing the trick, so keep your fingers crossed for us. Otherwise, we may have to burn down the house and move.

If you want to see other products we use on the crew here at the O-H Corral, make sure you check out the Barks & Recs page. I'm adding to it all the time. Food and cleaning supplies are coming soon! #DogProblems #DogFunk #DogSmellFix #PawesomeTips #DogHealth #DogHygiene #SmellyDogSolutions #DogCareTips #PetHealth #DogWellness

---

A special thanks to the iconic Nina Simone for inspiring the title for this blog post. It captures the spirit of the situation perfectly.