When you’ve got a pungent pooch, bathing is often your first choice. The problem is that shampooing your pup too regularly may cause skin problems.
However, dog deodorants and perfumes can do wonders for an odor problem. They’re also quite easy to make at home, so let’s take a closer look at how you can do this, but first a word of warning …
Underlying issues
While you might want to just cover up the smell, if your dog stinks it can be an indicator of a more serious problem.
Although there’s no doubt that our canine friends can smell a little musky, a pup with no health problems will rarely smell too offensive.
A bad stench can be down to an abscess, an ear infection, gum disease, or a skin disease. If your dog really smells awful, take him to see a vet to rule out any underlying health issues.
Doggy deodorant
Vinegar is the ideal natural doggy deodorant. It will remove much of the scent from your dog’s coat, instead of just covering it up.
If you use distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, it won’t even leave a vinegar smell once dried.
You can choose to put it on your dog’s coat either neat or diluted. Let it dry completely and you’ll find that most of his unwanted smells will be long gone.
Making perfumes
Essential oils can be used to make great puppy perfumes.
Only use therapeutic or cosmetic grade essential oils. Those with a lower quality might irritate your pup’s delicate skin.
Also, be aware that you have to mix the essential oils with a base of a carrier oil – like almond oil or sunflower oil – because neat essential oils are too abrasive.
Your chosen essential oils must constitute 5 percent or less of the perfume’s entire volume, and the rest must consist of your carrier oil.
Easy does it
Take care when applying perfume or deodorizing your dog. Only put these perfumes or deodorants on his body, completely avoiding his mouth, eyes, and nose, so you don’t cause him any discomfort.
While the majority of essential oils are dog-safe, it’s best not to use the spicy or hot kinds, like nutmeg or cinnamon, since these might irritate his skin. A good rule of thumb is to only use the most gentle essential oils. This includes rose, geranium, and lavender.
