If a cat or dog smells bad to you the owner, there may be an underlying problem. The first thing that a pet owner needs to do if their cat or dog starts to smell bad is try to figure out where the problem lies. Usually cats are meticulous groomers, so if you were to notice an odiferous emanation from your cat, it could be a sign of bigger problems. A cats aroma can be less than pleasing for many reasons. Typically a smelly cat could have oral or gum disease, an ear infection, a skin problem or an abscess, but a bad smell can also indicate a more serious systemic illness.

Cats can be particularly prone to abscesses. If your cat is slightly chunky or has long hair, you might not even notice an abscess until it starts draining. At that point, if you don't see it, you'll smell it.

Dogs, on the other hand, aren't quite as compulsive in their grooming habits as cats and consequently often just need a bath. Dogs seem to like to try to disguise their dog smell by rolling in particularly stinky things. Apparently they think this fools potential 'prey' animals into thinking they're not a dog at all.

Dogs also often have less than desirable snacking habits when allowed to make their own choices. Some dogs have been known to feast on horse manure!

If it is just that your dog has been rolling in something smelly or swimming in smelly water, a good bath should do the trick.

Skunks present a particularly stinky problem for dogs and their owners. If your dog gets 'skunked,' you'll know about it and your neighbors will know about it for several weeks. Every time your dog gets wet, you'll smell skunk. The best solution is to dilute apple cider vinegar in water and pour it on your dog. Tomato juice works as well. There are also special pet products available to rid your dog of the skunk odor.

Dogs are also well known for their ability to cause quite a stench of their own. Both dogs and cats posses anal glands, but they tend to cause more problems in dogs. The anal glands can become clogged and cause discomfort and irritation. Occasionally these sacs full of smelly fluid are emptied in frightful or stressful situations. The anal sacs have no useful function in the dog. It is believed that in the past the sacs' contents were used to mark territory. Today it seems their only purpose is to cause problems.

Like cats, bad breath and smelly ears in a dog can be a sign of underlying disease. If you're pretty sure that bad bouquet is coming from your pet's breath or ears, it may mean it's time to visit the veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.

For more information about how to have a pleasant smelling cat or dog, contact your local veterinarian.

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