Why Do Golden Retriever Smell?

Golden retrievers are high-maintenance dogs that require regular grooming to preserve the beauty of their coat and prevent foul odor.

However, sometimes, the reason a dog smells is more complicated than a lack of grooming. A foul smell often signals health issues.

Golden retriever owners should take proper care of their pets and note any odor abnormalities to avoid missing the development of dangerous conditions.

Double Coat

Understanding what causes dog odor, in general, may help you determine the root of the issue with your golden retriever.

Health conditions and poor hygiene aside, the most common cause of a dog smelling bad is natural oils, dust, and dirt trapped in the fur.

Some dog breeds are more prone to a bad smell than others. For example, wrinkly breeds, like bulldogs and pugs, collect skin oils, dirt, and sweat under their flaps, and some dogs, like Basset hounds, have naturally oily skin.

Goldens are also prone to foul odor. Golden retrievers are renowned for their gorgeous coat, but it requires a lot of attention from the owner and often causes problems.

These dogs have a double coat – a long overcoat and a dense, fluffy undercoat that ensures proper thermoregulation.

Unfortunately, the golden retriever’s dense undercoat is the perfect environment for thriving bacteria and easily traps dirt. Sweat and skin oils don’t smell on the skin but have a strong odor when they get on the hair.

And since golden retrievers have a lot of hair, they may have a dog odor even with regular grooming. In other words, a moderate dog odor is normal for golden retrievers, but it shouldn’t be pungent or emanate from a particular body area.

Love For Swimming

Golden retrievers were bred to retrieve fowl and objects from water, so they are natural-born swimmers. Their double coat keeps them dry in water, and webbed feet help to swim faster and waste less energy.

Swimming is an excellent exercise for golden retrievers, but it may cause a dog to emanate an unpleasant wet dog odor. The problem is particularly relevant for dogs swimming in stagnant water polluted with bacteria, slime, sand, and algae.

Of course, no water is perfectly clean, and a golden retriever may have a distinct wet dog odor even after swimming in a seemingly clean pool. The reason is bacteria and yeasts stuck in a golden retriever’s dense undercoat.

The microorganisms living in a dog’s coat leave behind fecal matter and other organic chemicals. There’s a whole science behind what causes wet dog odor, but here’s a short explanation: when these organic chemicals become wet, they separate from the dog’s fur.

However, the particles don’t wash off the dog’s fur. Instead, these matters become condensed and dispersed into the air, causing the infamous yucky wet dog smell. Towel drying alone won’t get rid of the odor.

For this reason, golden retrievers need to be bathed after every swimming session, regardless of the swimming environment.

Wild Outdoors

Golden retrievers are an active breed. They love to spend time outdoors, exploring wild terrains, digging in the garden, or rolling in mud.

Naturally, dogs spending much time outdoors collect dust, dirt, debris, parasites, and other pollutants.

Regular bathing is essential for golden retrievers that spend much time in the wild. Goldens manage to get filthy even if they never leave the backyard and need to be bathed every four to six weeks.

However, some dogs may need to be bathed even more frequently. Imagine how you would smell after a week-long camping trip with no access to running water – your dog is no different in this regard.

Insufficient Grooming

Golden retrievers have a dense coat, love swimming, and spend a lot of time outdoors collecting pollutants, so they need frequent grooming. And golden retriever grooming is more than occasional bathing.

Golden retriever owners should commit to daily brushing to maintain their dog’s coat health and fight the unpleasant dog odor. Brushing balances skin oil production and removes excess oil and debris from the hair.

Furthermore, brushing is the owner’s chance to check their pet’s coat for fleas, ticks, and other parasites that may also cause the yucky smell. With frequent brushing, golden retrievers can smell much better between baths.

Additionally, golden retriever grooming involves ear cleaning, feather trimming, dental care, and claw cutting.

Dogs sweat through their paw pads rather than skin, so trimming fur on the paws effectively combats unpleasant odor and keeps the dog’s feet from collecting dirt.

Unfortunately, golden retrievers are very high maintenance when it comes to grooming, and not every owner has the time to take proper care of their pet. In this case, visiting a professional groomer every four to eight weeks can help.

Skin Conditions

If a dog smells bad and itches despite regular grooming, it may suffer from skin conditions.

One of such conditions is pyoderma, a skin infection caused by allergies, autoimmune disorders, cancer, thyroid deficiency, and liver diseases.

Symptoms of pyoderma in golden retrievers include foul, cheesy smell, hair loss, itchiness, pustules, and scales.

Another potential cause of bad smell in dogs is canine atopic dermatitis, which causes the skin to become red and dry or oily.

Additionally, a dog with atopic dermatitis may lose hair around the muzzle and eyes and have skin lesions. The condition is caused by flea bites, allergies, and food intolerances.

A dog that smells musty may have a yeast infection. Some owners report that their dog smells like Fritos or corn chips – such odor is caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, and the smell is typically emanated from the paws.

Skin parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mites, often cause dogs to smell bad even if they don’t trigger the development of skin conditions because parasites leave their organic matter on the dog’s coat.

Gas Attacks

Some golden retrievers smell bad because of flatulence (gas attacks). Excessive gas formation is typically caused by a poor diet.

When a dog’s gastroenteric tract can’t properly digest food, excessive fermentation in the colon occurs, leading to gas formation.

The problem is prevalent with dogs eating soy, peas, beans, dairy, spicy food, and a high-fat diet, so don’t feed your dog human food.

However, flatulence is a common symptom of food intolerance in dogs, which may occur to any food, including kibble.

Dogs that eat too fast are prone to flatulence because they swallow too much air. Overweight and sedentary dogs are at a higher risk of flatulence regardless of their diet.

Unfortunately, golden retrievers are known to be gluttons and are more prone to flatulence than most dog breeds. The good news is that the problem is usually solvable by changing the dog’s diet.

Why Does Golden Retriever’s Mouth Smell

A golden retriever that has stinky breath either has poor dental hygiene, bad dietary habits, or a health condition. Some owners report that their dog’s breath smells like poop – typically, such odor indicates dental diseases.

Over 80% of dogs develop dental diseases by three years old due to a lack of regular hygiene. Without regular teeth cleaning, bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup in a dog’s mouth cause tooth decay, gingivitis, and other issues.

Sometimes, a dog’s mouth smells bad because of internal organ diseases. Dogs with diabetes may have a sweet, fruity smell, and dogs with kidney or liver diseases may smell like urine or vomit from their mouths.

Sometimes, foul odor from a dog’s mouth is caused by the dog eating garbage, poop, or other filthy matters.

Why Do Golden Retriever’s Ears Smell

Healthy dog ears shouldn’t have a distinct odor. If a golden retriever’s ears smell, it may be suffering from yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida. The smell, in this case, is typically described as sweet and musty.

You can recognize an ear infection in your golden by redness, itchiness, and brown discharge from the ear canal.

Bacterial infections cause similar symptoms accompanied by swelling, loss of coordination, and blood-tinged discharge.

Sometimes, an unpleasant smell from the dog’s ears is caused by wax buildup, but the odor, in this case, should be mild.

Why Does Golden Retriever Smell Under The Tail

If a golden retriever smells like fish under the tail, the reason may be anal glands. The anal sacs contain an oily substance that is released through excrement, but when the system becomes clogged, the glands inflame and emanate a pungent odor.

A dog suffering from anal gland inflammation may scoot its rear on the ground. The treatment involves releasing the fluid from the anal glands, which is a messy procedure.

Another potential cause of bad smell under a dog’s tail is a yeast infection, prevalent in female dogs.

Yeast infection can develop in any moist area on the dog’s body, including skin, ears, and the rear. If you notice any white or yellow discharge, bring your dog to a vet.

Sources