Why Does My Pomeranian Stink /

 Have a Bad Odor?

It may seem worse at times, such as after being outside in the rain, may seemingly come and go randomly, or it may be a constant, chronic issue. 

Regardless, this section will cover the top 7 reasons that a Pomeranian may smell bad, and exactly how to resolve each one. 

We'll also go over some helpful tips to keep a Pom puppy or dog smelling nice and fresh all of the time. 

1. Anal gland leakage

2. Fecal matter or urine on the coat

3. Interaction of skin microbes on a wet coat 

4. Skin yeast infection

5. Improper timing and/or bathing techniques

7. Flatulence

Since some of these come as a surprise to many owners, it's suggested to go through these one by one to rule out all possibilities. So, let's dive into the details: 

A small amount of this fluid is released when dogs greet each other, and a small amounts are also normally released when a dog has a bowel movement. However, these glands can sometimes overfill with oil; one cause of this is stools that are overly soft. 

The fluid inside has one of the most obnoxious odors you can imagine. It's extremely overwhelming. 

If the glands become over-filled, the stretched skin can cause quite a bit of itchiness. This can cause a dog to scoot their rear-end along the ground due, and this action can cause one or both glands to rupture.  

If the anal glands fully rupture, you'll know it. You'll see a streak of dark fluid on the ground and it will smell worse than a skunk. 

However, if the skin develops a small tear, it may not seem as obvious, but just a small amount of this highly stinky fluid is enough to make an entire Pomeranian smell quite bad. And in the cases of slowly leaking oil, this can get onto a Poms' bed, the carpeting, etc. creating a 'cloud' of odor that surrounds your dog.

The area will be sore for some time, and you'll have to be very careful when giving baths. Never wipe across it with a washcloth; but rather softly pat it. 

If you suspect that soft stools are a cause, it can help to add 1 teaspoon of 100% real pumpkin to a Pom's daily diet (mixed into a meal). If that does not bring about firm enough stools, 2 teaspoons can be given. 

When a Pomeranian pees, urine can splash up onto the coat. This is true for both males and females. The amount that splatters up will depend on the force of the urine stream and the type of surface that it is deposited on. For any coat other than white, the urine may not be obvious. Until it's washed away, it can smell very bad. 

However, the actual number can vary from time to time, and when the coat gets wet (and particularly if the number of yeast and/or bacteria is a bit high), the water can displace these microbes enough that you'll start to smell them. 

This is most commonly apparent after a Pomeranian has gotten soaked by the rain because there is no nice-smelling shampoo to help counter this. 

But, this can also happen after a bath. If due to yeast on the skin, a Pomeranian may smell after a bath because the scent of the shampoo may have covered the odor very temporarily; after the fragrance wore off, the odor of the microbes became noticeable. 

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. 

Skin yeast infections typically have a very potent, musty-type smell. This may be equated with stinky wet socks or moth balls. 

Baths are not just to remove visible debris and dirt. They are needed to wash away accumulated body oils. Natural body oils are produced round-the-clock. These help to keep skin moisturized. But, under that thick double coat, they do not evaporate, they just keep accumulating.

At just about the 3 week mark, there will be enough that if they are not properly washed away, a Pom will start to smell. 

Along with this, is the issue that even if baths are given every 3 weeks, if the right products are not used and/or if you are not shampooing down to the skin, those oils will not be completely cleansed away. 

Use the nozzle to wet your Pom down. When you apply the shampoo, keep parting the coat with your fingers, and massage the skin. Use the nozzle again to thoroughly rinse away the product. 

To summarize, toy breeds like the Pomeranian are particularly prone to dental issues. Round the clock, plaque is being produced. It's a clear, stinky substance that clings to teeth. Just a build-up of plaque can be quite smelly. 

But, it gets worse. Within as few as 3 days, it can start to harden into tartar, which is much harder to remove. These substances eat away at a dog's teeth. This can happen above, right along, or below the gum line. 

Once that starts, there can be infections, which have their own horrible smell. Decay and infection are painful. And, this can lead to infections in the sinuses, eventual tooth loss, and/or full-body sepsis which is a life-threatening condition.

The main cause of excessive gas with dogs includes a change in diet, eating too fast, and eating certain foods such as soybeans, beans, broccoli, oats, barley, beet pulp, too much protein (meat), and high-fat foods such as those that may be given as table scraps. Dogs that have a wheat sensitivity may have lots of gas (and other issues) with a dog food that contains wheat or grains. 

There are also some health conditions that have excessive flatulence as a symptom. This includes but is not limited to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), gastrointestinal infections, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergies. 

• If you suspect any sort of health issue, do not delay in taking your Pom to the vet. Other signs include but are not limited to runny stools, diarrhea, straining to push out a bowel movement, foam or blood in the stools, swollen abdomen, changes in appetite, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, and/or fever. 

You will find that these daily or weekly grooming tasks are also beneficial to help with a variety of issues, from removing allergens from the coat to preventing dry skin. 

1) Spritz the coat on a regular basis. A good leave-in is great for many reasons. It helps prevent split ends, protects from contact friction, creates a barrier from arid air and sun exposure, keeps the coat moisturized, helps prevent mats, and yes, keeps a dogs smelling sweet.