Does Your Dog Smell Like Fritos Corn Chips?
by Friends of the Dog
by Friends of the Dog
Ever had your dog jump up on your lap or next to you, and you suddenly smell corn chips such as fritos?
No, your dog has not gotten into your corn chips stash, the smell is coming from his feet!
Dogs sweat in several different ways, and one of those ways is through the pads of the paws. They tend to lick their paws to clean them after walking through damp or wet grass or mud, or just grooming themselves. The licking normally involves cleaning between the pads which have fur and are often moist, which makes it more likely for bacteria to grow. As they lick, some of the microbes from their tongues is left on the fur – this increases the chances of more bacteria and yeast which results in the corn chip smell.
Dr Karen Becker says that yeast has a very pungent, musty and unique odour that has been compared to mouldy bread or corn chips ,or the smell could come the bacterium Proteus, or even the bacterium Pseudomonas. These all have a fritos type smell, although the smell from the latter is a little fruitier. It has been found that the more moisture there is, the more pronounced is the smell.
On average, the fritos smell is totally normal in dogs, and all that is required is to clean the feet to reduce the smell and prevent it occurring, however, the smell could indicate a more serious yeast infection. Check if the ears are not smelly or itchy, that the paws are not itchy, and that there is no butt scooting. If any of these are evident, they often signal a potential problem with yeast, and a visit to the vet should be scheduled. The vet will do a culture or microscopy to determine if a yeast infection and if the condition needs to be treated.
Another situation that may lead to your dog smelling more yeasty than usual, is if it has allergies or a secondary skin infection and is on antibiotics. Antibiotics destroy the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria, and this can make the situation worse. Dr. Karen Becker also says that some dogs even develop an allergic response to its own yeast, and in some instances, the allergic response can affect the whole of the dog’s body and they become red from tip to tail.
Home Remedies.
Here are home remedies we came across, however, do check these out with your vet before trying.
It really seems that the best way to avoid the fritos smell as much as possible. is to keep the fur under the paws and between the toes as short as possible, and to wash the paws with a mild dog shampoo once a week and then rinse very well and pat dry. Make sure you wash between each of the toes and nails and all around the pads and then dry thoroughly. Good Luck!
No, your dog has not gotten into your corn chips stash, the smell is coming from his feet!
Dogs sweat in several different ways, and one of those ways is through the pads of the paws. They tend to lick their paws to clean them after walking through damp or wet grass or mud, or just grooming themselves. The licking normally involves cleaning between the pads which have fur and are often moist, which makes it more likely for bacteria to grow. As they lick, some of the microbes from their tongues is left on the fur – this increases the chances of more bacteria and yeast which results in the corn chip smell.
Dr Karen Becker says that yeast has a very pungent, musty and unique odour that has been compared to mouldy bread or corn chips ,or the smell could come the bacterium Proteus, or even the bacterium Pseudomonas. These all have a fritos type smell, although the smell from the latter is a little fruitier. It has been found that the more moisture there is, the more pronounced is the smell.
On average, the fritos smell is totally normal in dogs, and all that is required is to clean the feet to reduce the smell and prevent it occurring, however, the smell could indicate a more serious yeast infection. Check if the ears are not smelly or itchy, that the paws are not itchy, and that there is no butt scooting. If any of these are evident, they often signal a potential problem with yeast, and a visit to the vet should be scheduled. The vet will do a culture or microscopy to determine if a yeast infection and if the condition needs to be treated.
Another situation that may lead to your dog smelling more yeasty than usual, is if it has allergies or a secondary skin infection and is on antibiotics. Antibiotics destroy the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria, and this can make the situation worse. Dr. Karen Becker also says that some dogs even develop an allergic response to its own yeast, and in some instances, the allergic response can affect the whole of the dog’s body and they become red from tip to tail.
Home Remedies.
Here are home remedies we came across, however, do check these out with your vet before trying.
- Dr. Becker recommends a diet free from yeast and here is a link to this article which also features a video - Eating These Foods Can Cause Dog Yeast Infection.
- Adding ½ teaspoon pure coconut oil to the food. Here is a link to an article on the benefits of coconut oil.
- Another reader told us that in addition to adding the coconut oil to the food, she also rubbed a small amount onto the pads of the paws and this really worked.
- A tip we received from a reader who swears by it is to mix a cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to 4 lt of water. Mix well and then pour mixture into shallow bowl and soak paws for about 5 minutes – alternatively you can pour this mixture into your bath and pop your dog in . Pat the paws dry. This reader comes from Wisconsin and tip was given to her by her vet at Waunakee Vet Clinic.
- It is believed that either adding between 1 – 3Tablespoons of pure yoghurt with live cultures to food daily or put your dog on a daily dose of probiotics. As above, please do check these suggestions with your vet beforehand.
- Another suggestion was to put warm water in the bathtub (just enough to cover your dogs paws) and add 2 T of baking soda. Let your dog stand in this for a few minutes and then each paw with apple cider vinegar and let the dog stand in the water a few more minutes. Pat paws dry
- Pour 1/2 cup kosher salt into 4 cups water, soak for 10-15 minutes, and dry thoroughly.
It really seems that the best way to avoid the fritos smell as much as possible. is to keep the fur under the paws and between the toes as short as possible, and to wash the paws with a mild dog shampoo once a week and then rinse very well and pat dry. Make sure you wash between each of the toes and nails and all around the pads and then dry thoroughly. Good Luck!
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