If you get close enough to your dog鈥檚 feet, you might have noticed that they smell a bit like corn chips or Fritos. Some dog owners don鈥檛 mind the aroma. Others might find the smell unpleasant and perhaps even wonder if it鈥檚 a sign of poor health. Since dogs can鈥檛 tell us what鈥檚 wrong, it鈥檚 our job to learn what smells are normal and when it might be time to intervene and seek veterinary care.
What Causes the Corn Chip Smell?
At any given time, dogs have some level of bacteria and fungi on their skin. 鈥淲hen your dog鈥檚 paws have a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, they can give off a yeasty odor that smells similar to corn chips,鈥� says the American Kennel Club鈥檚 Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM.
Dogs control their body temperature by panting. 鈥淪ince they don鈥檛 perspire, the only place dogs have to cool down is on the bottom of their feet,鈥� explains Dr. Amy Attas, VMD. She emphasizes that the 鈥淔ritos smell is completely normal鈥� and doesn鈥檛 mean that your dog has a bacterial or fungal infection.
Where these odor-causing bacteria can become a problem is 鈥渋f they multiply out of control,鈥� says Dr. Dwight Alleyne, DVM. 鈥淪igns of unhealthy feet include bumps, redness, and swelling or a change in your dog鈥檚 behavior, such as limping or excessive licking.鈥�
Should You Try to Get Rid of the Smell?
Dogs鈥� noses are much more sensitive compared to humans鈥�. Depending on the breed, dogs鈥� senses of smell can be between 10,000 and 100,000 times stronger than ours. Accordingly, spraying perfume or shampooing them with scented products can be very unpleasant for dogs.
鈥淒ogs want to smell like dogs,鈥� Dr. Attas emphasizes. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to mask the odor or add something to it.鈥� If you don鈥檛 particularly like the Fritos smell, she recommends not putting your face close to your dog鈥檚 feet and using unscented and .
Why Are Dog Feet Prone to Infection?
Your dog鈥檚 feet can be a magnet for dirt and grime. Along with limited airflow between their toes, the combination of fur, heat, and moisture makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. When there鈥檚 a buildup of these microorganisms, 鈥渄ogs start licking their feet, which doesn鈥檛 clean the bacteria,鈥� Dr. Attas says. 鈥淚nstead, licking actually irritates the skin of the footpad and can lead to infection.鈥�
Often, owners may only discover an infection once it has progressed to the point of causing pain or discomfort to their pets. Dr. Attas recommends getting your dog accustomed to you touching and smelling their eyes, ears, mouth, and feet. An older dog might be more resistant to you poking around, so it鈥檚 best to start when they鈥檙e puppies.
If your dog鈥檚 feet normally smell like Fritos and now they鈥檙e starting to 鈥渟mell like moldy cheese, that鈥檚 when you need to contact your veterinarian,鈥� Dr. Attas says. By examining your dog early and regularly, you鈥檙e more likely to notice a change in appearance and seek treatment earlier. Plus, your dog will feel more comfortable if you need to administer medication.
What Can You Do to Keep Your Dog鈥檚 Feet Healthy?
Since the Fritos smell isn鈥檛 a problem on its own, you only need to intervene if your dog is showing signs of infection such as redness, increased licking, hair loss around the footpad, or a change in foot smell. In order to properly clean dogs鈥� paws, Dr. Alleyne recommends washing their feet with an antiseptic, dog-friendly shampoo and trimming excess fur between their toes using a . Make sure to spread out their toes while bathing and properly dry their feet to avoid bacterial growth.
After you go on a walk, Dr. Attas recommends wiping your dog鈥檚 feet with 鈥渁lcohol-free, unscented baby wipes, because you want to get the dirt off without taking off the bacteria that are causing the Fritos smell.鈥� It鈥檚 also a good idea to take your shoes off when you get home, especially if you live in an urban environment.
In general, you don鈥檛 need to wash your dog鈥檚 feet unless they鈥檝e been digging in the mud or they鈥檝e stepped in urine or feces, Dr. Attas says. Your dog will try to remove what鈥檚 left behind by licking their feet. Giving their feet a good wipe prevents your dog from ingesting dirt and allergens that can become trapped between their toes.
Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, it鈥檚 important to spend time learning what their anatomy looks, feels, and smells like when they鈥檙e healthy and free of infection. Knowing your dog鈥檚 normal smells can help you determine when something is wrong. Remember, you don鈥檛 need to go overboard with foot washing. Ditch the dirt and keep the Fritos smell.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.