Even the cleanest, healthiest pooch has trillions of bacteria and fungi living on their skin. That yeasty, corn chip smell is actually a normal byproduct of harmless bacteria, usually Proteus or Pseudomonas, both of which are naturally present in our environment.
If you want to reduce the corn chip smell, wash your dog’s feet regularly with a gentle, pet-approved shampoo. Dry thoroughly, paying special attention to the areas in between the toes. Trim any long hairs in between the toes as well, and while you’re at it, clip the toenails if they are too long.
It’s normal for your dog to smell like Fritos
The Frito feet phenomenon is due to the mixture of bacteria, fungi, and yeast that usually live harmoniously on your dog’s skin, aka, the skin microbiome. Sometimes, certain stinky microbes grow and out-populate others, which can cause your dog to smell.
The Dorito or corn chip smell on some dog’s paws can be attributed to natural bacteria found on their paws. So most of the time there isn’t anything to be concerned about. Remember, dogs can sweat through the pads on their paws just like how people sweat through their feet.
Allergies, hormonal imbalances, fungus, parasites and localized inflammation can lead to an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria on the skin and cause an unpleasant smell. Your dog’s discomfort will lead to excessive scratching and licking which can cause a secondary bacterial infection.
When your dog’s paws have a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, their paws can give off a yeasty odor that does smell similar to corn chips.
You could place your dog in a shallow area of water, and let their paws soak for five minutes. There are foot soak products you could purchase to do this, or you could make your own. A homemade recipe is to mix a gallon of water with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide.
The bacteria and yeast that cause Frito feet aren’t typically dangerous for your pet, but if the smell becomes overwhelming or foul there may be an underlying health concern that needs to be addressed. Yeast or bacterial overgrowth can cause significant problems for pets with allergies or compromised immune systems.
It’s Natural! The odor on your pet’s paws is typically nothing to worry about. Bacteria and fungi live on the skin and, when in balance, is healthy and normal. The “Fritos feet” phenomenon is from a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, which give off a yeasty odor that can smell like corn chips.
If your dog seems excessively uncomfortable, yeast could be the culprit. If your dog has a yeast infection, you will probably smell it before you see it. People often describe this infection as smelling very musty or cheesy, like moldy bread or stale corn chips. Dr.
Your Dog is Suffering from a Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is likely the cause of your dog smelling like cheese all of a sudden. The build up of the yeast and sebum on the skin causes the stinky cheese odor. Canine seborrhea is a skin condition that if left untreated, can cause yeast infections.
What Causes the Fritos Smell? At any given time, dogs have some level of bacteria and fungi on their skin. “When your dog’s paws have a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, they can give off a yeasty odor that smells similar to corn chips,” says the American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr.
Eccrine bromhidrosis happens when sweat from your eccrine glands softens the keratin on your skin. The softer the keratin is, the easier it is for bacteria to break down. This break-down process produces a stenchy odor.
What is this popcorny smell? The sweet smell you are describing is most likely emitted by your dog’s paws or less commonly by the ears. It is usually caused by a mixture of yeast and proteus bacteria, which are found on the surface of the skin in areas that are often moist, warm and a bit dirty.
Smelly yeasty skin really does have it’s own distinct odour. It can be likened to a musty, stale or even cheesy odour and comes back really quickly and is due to a yeast overgrowth in the body. It is ideal to ensure a dog with yeasty skin is on a natural unprocessed diet and they are groomed regularly.
On average, most dogs only need to be bathed on a monthly basis. You can bathe them less frequently, but it is not recommended to bathe any less frequently than every three months. You can also bathe them more frequently, but it is not recommended to bathe any more frequently than every other week.
Simply put, the two telltale signs of seborrheic dermatitis are stinky and itchy skin. To be more precise, here is a shortlist of all signs and symptoms: Dry and excessively flaky skin covered with dandruff. Presence of thick, greasy, repulsive smelling, and almost wax-like oil.
Dog colognes and sprays are sometimes used to finish dog grooming sessions to keep your dog smelling fresh long after the grooming has been completed. “Chalk” finishing products are also available.
External irritants, allergens, burns, or bacterial/viral/parasitic/fungal infections can all be present. If your dog still smells after a bath, is excessively scratching or licking, has a lot of scaling, or is rubbing his/herself on the carpet, take them to a vet as soon as possible.
There’s Brevibacteria on our feet too, and on our skin usually, and the hot weather at the moment is causing an outburst of this Brevibacterium - kind of a party on your feet, and they’re releasing this chemical compound which smells of cheesy corn chips as Tad says.
Like most dog breeds, beagles have their own distinct odor. Some say the beagle smell or odor reminds them of such things as corn chips, Fritos in particular! What causes this distinct odor? Actually, the smell is likely just the oil, dirt, and debris that build up on your beagle’s coat.
Dogs’ feet and ears can sometimes smell like digestive biscuits or cookies due to a build-up of yeast, Proteus bacteria, or Pseudomonas bacteria. All can develop in-between the toes of your dog where it’s warm, damp, and not a lot of air circulation.
As their pack leader, your pup sees you as their protector. So it stands to reason that he or she will want to stay right against the alpha for security and protection. Also, in a pack canines will sleep touching one another for warmth. Perhaps your fur baby just absolutely adores you, plain and simple.
Although dogs love to be petted when they’re awake, petting them while they sleep can startle them awake, and they can react aggressively. Constantly interrupting their sleep can leave them in a bad mood and at a higher risk of illness.