What happens:
As we discussed a bit earlier, there is always a certain amount of microorganisms on the skin; this includes yeast, fungi, and bacteria. While these are normally at a level that does not cause any problems, in some cases they can grow in numbers.
When this happens, it is referred to as an 'infection'. A yeast or fungal infection can make a Pomeranian smell quite terrible.
The trigger for this is not always known; however, it is commonly seen in breeds with skin folds (like the Pug), may happen more often in the summer, may be linked to a lowered immune system, seems to appear more with dogs that have allergies, and is seen alongside certain health conditions including Cushing's disease.
Other signs:
There are often other symptoms as well; however, in the beginning stages, a bad smell may be the only noticeable one. Left unaddressed, there is often also oily skin, oily looking coat, and itching. There may also be skin sores, a thickening of the skin, and/or dark spots on the skin.
Skin yeast infections typically have a very potent, musty-type smell. This may be equated with stinky wet socks or moth balls.
What to do:
There are two ways to treat this, an organic shampoo or a medicated shampoo. Let's look at these choices:
An organic shampoo to combat yeast
can work very well for some Pomeranians. This is a good choice if your Pom has highly sensitive skin, does not have reoccurring yeast issues, and/or if you just want to stay away from medicated products.
You will want to use this every 3 days, allowing it to remain on the coat for 10 minutes. If you do not see improvement after 2 weeks, it will be time to step things up with a medicated shampoo or see the veterinarian.
A medicated shampoo to combat yeast
may be needed for some Poms. This is a good choice if your Pomeranian has not shown a history of having overly sensitive skin, has had issues with yeast in the past, if organic shampoos have not proven to help, and/or if the yeast infection is raging at a severe level.
A con to this type of shampoo is that if a Pomeranian does not have a yeast infection, and is smelly due to another reason, the ingredients in this can cause skin irritation.
If you want to try a medicated shampoo, we recommend
Curaseb's Antifungal & Antibacterial Shampoo for Dogs; this is has both chlorhexidine and ketoconazole which are the two most widely used ingredients to combat yeast and fungus with dogs, has added aloe vera, has a nice cucumber melon fragrance, is made in the USA, and even has a no-question guarantee.
This is typically used every 3 days, and it is important to lather up your Pom and allow it to soak for a full 10 minutes. If you do not see improvement after 2 weeks, it will be time to see the veterinarian.
It will be time to see the vet
if your Pomeranian does not respond to the shampoo. In some cases, dogs need to be given oral anti-fungal medications. Your vet can also rule out underlying causes of strong and/or reoccurring yeast infections.