Do Dachshunds Smell Bad? Vet-Reviewed Facts & Grooming Tips

While any dog can stink, Dachshunds aren't notoriously any more smelly than other breeds. Although they shed moderately, they're considered to be relatively clean dogs who can go for long periods of time without seeing the tub. In fact, they only need to be bathed every 3 months or so unless they become particularly muddy at the dog park. If your Dachshund smells awful, you should consult with a vet who can check them for signs of illness, such as ear infections, skin problems, or anal glands that need to be expressed.

How to Keep Your Dachshund Smelling Fresh

Thankfully, it doesn't take much effort to keep your Dachshund smelling good. You should bathe them every 1-3 months with a vet-approved canine shampoo.

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While your Dachshund needs only quarterly bathing, you might have to wash their hind quarters more frequently if they have an upset stomach or after an anal gland expression. To keep your Dachshund clean, you can wipe them down after a moderately dirty trip to the park.

How often you’ll need to brush them, however, depends on the length of their coat, which may be short or medium length. Brushing distributes their natural oils across their coat, which nourishes their fur and prevents them from developing any greasy spots, as well as mats and tangles. For medium-length coats, this should be done a few times per week.

Your Dachshund's teeth need to be brushed daily in order to keep their pearly whites in top shape, and tame doggie breath.

Besides hygiene, be sure to feed your Dachshund a healthy, well-balanced diet to avoid excessive gas and help prevent scooting. If you do all of these things, your Dachshund should be generally stench-free. If they still smell like a skunk, it's probably time to see a vet.

The 4 Possible Reasons Your Dachshund Smells Bad

1. Full Anal Glands

You know that funny move where dogs scoot along the carpet? That's usually a sign that their anal glands need to be manually expressed. Your dog has two sacs located near their anus that are filled with a foul odor that releases every time they poop. To humans, it smells a little like rotten fish mixed with a fart, but to dogs, it's their signature scent that shares key factors about their age, health, and sex.

Most dogs fortunately possess the capability to express their own glands when they defecate, but occasionally they need some help on this front. Chronic inflammation, obesity, frequent diarrhea, or a diet low in fiber may prevent them from expressing their glands properly.

Since most dogs can express their glands naturally, you shouldn't try to do it unless it's absolutely necessary or recommended by a vet, and only after you’ve had appropriate training from them to do so.

2. Ear Problems

Your Dachshund's adorable ears may be the site of the unrelenting stench. Mites, infections, and built-up earwax can all cause unpleasant odors. Black specks resembling coffee grounds often accompanied by an excessive amount of wax may raise suspicion for ear mites. While this condition is easily treated, you'll need to take your Dachshund to the vet to receive a prescription for ear drops.

If your dog has an ear infection, their ears will likely smell funky and may appear unusually red on the inside. Your dog may cry if they're touched there, shake their head and the inside of the ear will be inflamed and often contain discharge. A vet will need to examine their ears to determine if the infection was caused by a bacterial, or fungal source. After cleaning out their ears and checking that the eardrums are fine, they'll usually give you ear drops to treat the problem at home.

3. Skin Infections

Slick, oily skin with a moldy or sour odor may be a sign that your dog has a bacterial or yeast infection somewhere on their skin. A vet will prescribe medicine to your pup to remedy the problem and will recommend specific diagnostic testing in order to get down to the root cause of your dog’s skin problems. Unfortunately, some Dachshunds seem prone to skin issues or may suffer from allergies. You might want to talk to a vet about switching your Dachshund's food to an allergy-friendly diet while dogs with infected skin generally require a course of antifungals or antibiotics, topical creams, sometimes with anti-inflammatory medications, and allergy management, if this is the cause of their skin problem.

4. Bad Breath

Did you know that 80% of dogs develop periodontal disease by age 3? Unless they're chomping down on food (or our fingers during the puppy stage), we might not think about our Dachshund's teeth very often. However, it's critical to keep up with your dog's oral health with daily toothbrushing and professional cleanings as recommended by a vet.

• Related Read: Reasons Why Your Dachshund Has Bad Breath

Conclusion

If you're hesitating about adopting a Dachshund because of the possible stench, you can breathe a pleasant sigh of relief. While no living creature may be strictly odorless, Dachshunds aren't known to be particularly stinky. If you do smell a foul odor emanating from your hound, you should probably examine them for any medical issues such as ear or skin infections or blocked anal glands. Otherwise, maintaining a regular grooming routine that includes weekly brushing and daily tooth brushing should keep them smelling fresh in between baths.

Featured Image Credit: David Pecheux, Shutterstock