Do Cocker Spaniels smell? Tips to stop the smelling

Cocker Spaniels are known to a have reputation for being smelly. There are several reasons why a Cocker Spaniel may smell so bad such as ear infections, skin infections, breath odor, smelly anal glands, and so on. This is common, especially for older Cocker Spaniels

However, the smell can differ from one Cocker Spaniel to another with some having very strong odors.

For you to stop the smell you have to know what exactly is causing your dog to smell that bad.

Related guide: How to stop your Cocker Spaniel from barking a lot.

In this guide, we are going to look at some of the common culprits for a smelly Cocker Spaniel and some tips on how you can deal with each one of them. 

1. Skin conditions

Skin conditions can be caused by bacteria and inflammations due to food or seasonal allergies.

Common bacterias that cause skin infections in Cocker Spaniels are known as Pseudomonas bacterias which cause Pseudomonas skin infections.

These infections are common in older dogs or dogs that have damaged skin and your Cocker Spaniel can get these bacteria from stagnant water, coming into contact with an infected dog, or even playing with soil.

Another common cause of skin infections that cause an odor in dogs is allergies.

These can be food or season allergies that cause excessive oil secretions from the dog’s skin glands causing him to smell really bad.

The best way to deal with smells caused by allergies is by finding out what the allergy is by feeding your dog the right diet.

2. Ear infections

Ear infections can also be a reason why your Cocker Spaniel may be smelling so bad and to be specific otitis externa.

Otitis externally is a very common condition in Spaniels.

This infection occurs in the external part of the ear when the skin layers become inflamed and odor and fluid excretions are some of the signs of this condition.

3. Smelly breath

A common cause of bad breath in Cocker Spaniels is a condition known as Halitosis which is a periodontal disease that arises from poor dental care and leads to the build-up of plaque and tartar.

Most mouth infections will result from bad dental hygiene which not only causes the dog to be smelly but is also bad for the dog’s general health.

Also, the dog may be smelling bad because of something that he ate such as poop.

However, if you take care of your dog’s dental hygiene regularly, and if he does not have a mouth infection, he should not have smelly breath.

4. Cocker Spaniel flatulence

Flatulence is when your Cocker Spaniel has excess gas in the digestive system.

This condition can result from a change in the dog’s diet or when the dog has not properly digested the food. Foods like peas, beans, milk products, and soybeans can cause flatulence in your canine friend.

When this happens, the dog will expel gas through the anus which in most cases is super smelly. The expulsion of this gas is known as Flatus.

5. Smelly anal sacs

Your Cocker Spaniel may decide to express his anal sacs when he is scared.

When this happens, the dog will produce a fishy-smelling secretion which is why your Cocker Spaniel may be smelling like fish.

This is perfectly normal but is super smelly.

If your Spaniel smells like fish all of a sudden, the anal sacs may have something to do with this.

6. Sweating

Unlike humans, dogs sweat through the areas of their bodies that are not covered by fur. These areas include the nose and paw pads.

The sweat, however, does not necessarily cause your Cocker Spaniel to have a bad odor.

Dogs have endocrine glands (sweat glands) under their fur but these glands do not produce sweat. It is believed that these glands produce an odor that is used to chemically communicate with other dogs.

This is the odor that is common in most of the Cocker Spaniels which most people refer to as the doggie odor.

How to stop a Cocker Spaniel from smelling

1. Visit a veterinarian

Taking your Cocker Spaniel to a veterinarian is one of the most logical things to do if you want to stop the smell.

In case your dog has an infection, he will get checked and your vet will treat the infection and give you recommendations on how you can stop it down the road.

2. Brush the dog’s coat frequently

Brush your Cocker Spaniel at least 3 times a week to get rid of mud, debris, or any dirt that may on the coat. This will reduce the risk of bacterial infections and keep the dog smelling fresh.

Brushing the coat regularly also gets rid of tangles that act as breeding spots for ticks and fleas. Fleas and ticks can cause infections which may in turn bring that bad odor.

You can also use baking soda while brushing while will absorb the foul smell.

Here is a step by step guide on how you can groom your Cocker Spaniel.

3. Bath the dog with a natural doggie shampoo

You will need to bathe your Cocker Spaniel once a month with a shampoo and conditioner formulated for dogs.

Several doggie shampoos are formulated for dogs with smelly coats. Your vet may also recommend you use a medical dog shampoo that helps get rid of the infection.

In between baths, you can use scented/unscented puppy wipes to wipe the dog’s coat which is similar to bathing the dog.

Do not use scented wipes if the dog has an allergy.

4. Use puppy perfume to reduce the smell

After brushing, bathing, or wiping your dog, you can use a puppy perfume to spritz which will leave your Cocker Spaniel smelling fresh.

5. Clean your dog’s teeth regularly

Make sure your Cocker Spaniel’s teeth are cleaned at least 4 times a week for the best dental hygiene.

You can do this using doggie toothpaste and a dog toothbrush.

Dental chews are also great for dental hygiene in dogs and can work great for your Cocker Spaniel.

Your vet can also recommend a great oral product that you can use on your dog. These oral products include gels, water additives, or oral sprays.

6. Wash the dog’s beddings

You should clean your canine friend’s bedding regularly to prevent the odor from getting worse.

Overall, all the items used by the dog should be kept as clean as possible.

So did you find this guide helpful? If so, you can leave us your feedback in the comment section below and also include any questions that you have regarding the topic.

There you go, WOOF!