Why do cocker spaniels have such a strong odor?
How could such adorable little fur puppies get so stinky?
Dog owners frequently complain to vets and groomers about their dog’s odor.
While not all dogs have a foul odor, some breeds, such as Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, and Labrador Retriever, have been known to do so.
Fortunately, easy alternatives are available, such as giving your dog a good bath.
Related Articles:
Table of Contents
Do Cocker spaniels smell like dogs?
Working cocker spaniels have the same odor as any other dog.
There are stinky spaniels, stinky Labradors, and stinky Jack Russells.
But the subject of why some dogs smell more naturally than others is more complicated.
Do Cocker Spaniels Have a Bad Smell?
There’s no escaping the fact that all dogs stink.
Dogs have a distinct “dog smell” to which pet owners ultimately become accustomed.
But what if your dog’s stench is exceptionally powerful and disagreeable?
What if the odor is so strong that other dogs at the dog park are avoiding your pet?
Cocker Spaniel Odor: What Causes It?
To keep your stinky dog from getting even stinkier, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of unpleasant odor in cocker spaniels.
If you notice a foul odor coming from your cocker spaniel, you should inspect the following areas on his body:
Mouth
Food is stuck between the teeth, causing Cocker Mouth.
Tartar builds up in the mouth, giving off a pungent odor.
While cocker spaniels have a natural ability to clean their mouths, certain foods, water, and moisture can accumulate inside the mouth, as well as around the fur and folds around the lips.
If this happens, clean your cocker spaniel’s mouth area of food and grime.
If the food has been solid or encrusted, you must first soften the area by dampening it with a damp towel.
Ears
Earwax is another reason why cocker spaniels stink.
Wax can build up inside their ears or the ear canal, giving them a pungent, foul odor or smelly ears and can result into ear problem.
Clean inside and around your dog’s ears with cotton buds developed for dogs to avoid ear infection.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian if the odor persists after that.
It’s possible that your cocker spaniel has a chronic ear infections.
Food can sometimes become lodged in your cocker spaniel’s ears.
If the food isn’t wiped off right away, it can become encrusted and produce an unpleasant odor.
When their ears drag across the floor when sniffing or eating, they might take up dirt.
Soak your cocker spaniel’s ears with water and dog shampoo as a treatment.
The hard dirt on his ears is softened as a result of this.
You should also ensure that your dog has the proper feeding bowl.
Long-eared dogs, such as cocker spaniels, require bowls that are tall and narrow, allowing their ears to fall naturally along the bowl’s sides.
Bottom
Why do some english cocker spaniel have a fishy odor?
A smelly cocker spaniel could be suffering from a problem with his bottom or anal glands.
The unpleasant, putrid smell coming from their bottoms is the quickest method to tell if they have blocked anal glands.
Cocker spaniels’ anal glands must be expressed or emptied. It’s not a pleasant job, and if you’re afraid of blood, you should leave it to the veterinarian.
To express your dog’s glands, you must squeeze the anal sacs of your cocker spaniel (which requires going inside) and release a thick, brown, oily, foul-smelling fluid.
Skin
The skin is the most prevalent source of foul dog odor.
Skin allergy can lead to bacterial and yeast skin diseases in dogs.
Certain meals might create irritation on your dog’s skin, causing the glands to produce excessive oil.
The oil seeps into the fur, giving it a horrible odor.
Giving your dog a low-carbohydrate diet is the best approach to avoid this.
Avoid manufactured dog food in favor of protein-rich alternatives.
Gas
Dogs, too, fart!
Flatulence is a common condition in cocker spaniels, and it is caused by a food intolerance.
Consult your veterinarian about a diet that will help you solve the problem.
Flatulence is usually reduced by eating a grain-free, fish-based diet.
Excessive gas, on the other hand, can indicate a more serious medical problem, so if the air surrounding your pet is still stinky after modifying their diet, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
What To Do If Your Cocker Spaniel Is Smelling
It’s important to remember that all dogs stink, and you won’t be able to avoid it.
Other dogs, such as the cocker spaniel, have a stronger odor.
To get rid of the odor, you must first figure out where it is coming from.
As a result, you’ll have a beginning point for eliminating the odor.
The ears, mouth, and bottom are the most commonly scented regions of cocker spaniels.
It’s possible that you have an infection in your ears, or that you simply have dirt in your ears.
If there is a dirt problem, it is usually due to food stuck in the bottom of the dog’s ears.
This meal mattes and stales, resulting in an obnoxious odor emanating from the ears.
This can be remedied by thoroughly washing the ears in water and using a suitable shampoo.
You should consider purchasing a good feeding bowl to minimize food becoming stuck in your ears. If it’s an ear infection, make sure the dog’s ears aren’t inflamed.
You are free to clean his ears if he permits you to touch them.
The infection may be serious enough that you will require antibiotics from your veterinarian.
Ear infections are common in cocker spaniel ears, so you should never ignore them.
Make sure they’re always clean.
Another issue can be the mouth.
Food can also produce it, hence the term ‘cocker Mouth.’
Cocker mouths are caused by a build-up of food in the dog’s mouth.
These dogs clean their mouths, but the build-up can be overwhelming at times, necessitating your intervention.
Cleaning their mouth is the solution.
If the dirt has hardened, you may be necessary to soak in.
His bottom could also be a problem.
If his bottom stinks, it’s possible that their anal glands are the source of the problem.
This odor is quite awful.
Their bottom will smell like rotting fish if the anal gland is clogged.
Emptying their anal glands is the remedy to this problem.
It is a simple task, but because to the awful odor, it is really uncomfortable.
If you have never drained his anal glands before, you should get assistance from a veterinarian, who will be happy to assist you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
So, if you’re wondering if Cocker spaniels stink, the answer is yes.
Yes. Cocker spaniels, like any other dog, have the ability to smell.
Many of the undesirable dog scents that most breeds get can be avoided if you keep your Cocker clean and well groomed.
Every 4–6 weeks, a cocker spaniel should be groomed, with weekly attention to the ears.
Cockers are a sports breed bred to flush out game in the field and may require weekly or bi-weekly bathing to stay in excellent health.
Some cocker spaniels have a tendency to be extremely aggressive.
They avoid being in the company of boisterous kids.
Cocker spaniels demand a lot of physical activity.
To keep its coat in good condition, it requires a lot of maintenance.
