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Why Does My Dog’s Paws Smell Like Popcorn?

by Vetic Editorial
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Hold up people! It’s indeed true and you aren’t the only one who thinks their dog’s paws smell like popcorn or Doritos! Dog paws actually do smell a lot like cheese and butter corn chips, and now veterinarians agree that it’s a fact. 

So, why do dog’s feet smell like popcorn, Fritos or Doritos? Well, don’t worry. Your dog isn’t sick at all. It’s a very normal phenomenon and it’s common for almost all dogs irrespective of their breed and age. 

What causes your dog’s paws to smell like popcorn?

The image features a light blue background adorned with text and a captivating photograph. At the top, a lowercase logo reads “vetic." Directly below, in bold dark blue letters, a question piques curiosity: “Why Do Dog’s Paws Smell like Popcorn?” The subsequent smaller text provides an answer: “It’s natural for dog’s paws to smell like popcorn or Doritos.” But what’s the science behind it? The image reveals that two natural bacteria—Pseudomonas and Proteus—are responsible for this intriguing phenomenon. To the right side of the image, we find a delightful photograph of a light brown dog. With ears perked up and head slightly tilted, the dog appears mid-bark or mid-yawn. Its front right paw is raised, as if waving or reaching for something. The dog wears a red collar adorned with silver studs, adding a touch of style to its canine charm.

Just like us, (yes, us!) healthy dogs have some bacteria and fungi on their skins and under their paws at all times. When your dog has these two bacteria – Proteus and Pseudomonas at normal levels on their skin, your dog’s paws smell like corn chips dipped in cheese. 

How do dogs get bacteria on their paws?

As we have mentioned before in our post – Heatstroke in Dogs, dogs only sweat through the bottom of their feet and control their overall body temperature by panting. Whenever they walk on any surface with their sweaty paws, they will pick up some bacteria including Pseudomonas and Proteus. These are the “good” bacteria which form a part of your dog’s natural skin microbiome

So, as long as your dog’s feet are clean, but still smell like popcorn or corn chips, it’s a sign that your dog’s skin is healthy. 

These bacteria only become problematic when they multiply too much. Then you will notice a change in smell as well as see redness, itching and bumps. If the skin becomes too irritated it can lead to pododermatitis as well. 

So, smelling like popcorn, good. Change of smell, bad!

Should you try to get rid of your dog’s popcorn-like smell?

Well, it’s our duty to keep our four-legged friends happy and healthy. Dog’s noses are much sharper than ours. They like smelling like themselves irrespective of us associating the smell with popcorns or Doritos. 

Dogs simply like to smell like dogs. They do not want to smell like the “fresh ocean breeze” or “sublime citrus” pet perfume that you have been browsing! 

Have you noticed? Every time you bathe your dog with any soap or shampoo, they like to wiggle on their bed, the floor and couch? It’s them trying to get their own smell back on them. Most dogs do not like the smell of the scented pet shampoos we love. It makes them feel extremely insecure, and for good reason. How will their friends recognise them at the dog park?!

How to ensure your dog’s feet are healthy?

The image by Vetic features a light blue background with the title “How to Keep Your Dog’s Paws Healthy?” in bold, dark blue text at the top. Below the title, there’s a numbered list of five tips, written in black text: Wipe their paws with pet-friendly wipes. Opt for professional grooming. Provide foot protection in extreme weather. Notice any change in smell. Avoid wearing outdoor shoes at home. To the right of the text, there’s a photograph of a dog’s paw being washed under running water from a faucet. The dog appears to be a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with black, white, and brown fur. A person gently holds the paw, wearing a white sleeve. In the bottom left corner, the logo for ‘vetic’ is visible in lowercase green letters.

Now we are asking the important question! It’s not important how cheesy your dog’s paws smell, but it’s important to keep your dog’s paws free from infection. 

Wash their paws when dirty

You can begin by trying to put on walking shoes or socks on your dog’s paws, and once you fail, simply resort to washing your dog’s paws with plain water and drying their paws (go between their toes) well after a particularly long walk. Do wash their paws with dog-friendly shampoo if they have gone digging or walking in the mud. 

Wipe their paws

Another way is to use pet wipes that are unscented and free from alcohol to wipe their feet clean after they come back from the outdoors. It is always a great idea to wipe off the excess dirt and allergens, because every dog has the habit of licking their paws clean once they are back from a walk.

Opt for grooming 

Take them from professional grooming once a month. Request the groomer to use a dog-friendly shampoo to clean their paws properly and trim the hair between their toes. It can help maintain the proper paw-health of your buddy. 

Don’t wear your outdoor shoes at home

At the same time, keep your outdoor shoes outside. Refrain from bringing the outdoor dirt, bacteria and fungi into your home. That’s just nasty! And even your dog judges you for it. More importantly, your dog will walk on the infected floor, get the dirt in their paws, lick their paws and end up falling sick. 

Notice any change in smell

Finally, if your dog’s paws normally smell like popcorn and now they have begun smelling like 3-day old pizza, it’s time to see the veterinarian. New supplements, medication or a drastic change in the weather can disrupt your dog’s natural skin bacterial balance. The change in smell is simply an indicator that “something has changed” and it needs to be checked out.

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