Why Does My Boston Terrier Smell So Bad?

In comparison to other dog breeds, the Boston Terrier breed isn’t the most smelly dog. In fact, this breed of dog is one of the least-smelling breeds as it has a thin coat that requires minimal grooming to maintain its appealing looks. However, there are some instances that they produce bad smells too.

If that’s the case of most Boston Terrier owners, they might be wondering: “Why do Boston Terriers smell so bad?” The smell may be a threat to its health if taken for granted.

Why Does My Boston Terrier Smell So Bad?

If your Boston Terrier smells bad, it has either dirt and sweat or underlying health conditions such as yeast infection, leaky rear end gland, oral infection or ear infection. Your dog may simply need a bath or you may want to see a vet for other causes.

In this article, we will feature why do Boston terriers smell so keep on reading to learn more. 

Dirt and Sweat

Boston Terriers are highly energetic and love to play a lot. The dog likes to burrow, and that includes digging in your yard. The reason behind this behavior is they might be stressed, want to escape, are bored or because of their genes.

The dirt and sweat they get from burrowing may be the reason why they smell. 

Boston terriers sweat through their paws to regulate their body temperature to stay cool. Most of the time, the moisture caused by sweat mixes with bacteria like proteus and pseudomonas found on dirt and creates a smell that matches that of corn chips in paws.

Even if your Boston Terrier stays indoors most of the time, his paws are still a breeding ground for tons of bacteria. 

You can easily resolve this frito feet issue by giving your dog a good wash in your regular baths or soaking your dog’s feet in lukewarm water with antifungal shampoo or apple cider. Apple cider is proven to have antibacterial, antiseptic properties and is non-toxic to your dog. Your Boston terrier may not like the smell, but the scent fades once the vinegar dries.

Yeast Infection

Yeast infection can happen either in your Boston Terrier’s skin or paws. This infection is when yeast grows in patches with a white fluid appearance. The following are signs that shows that your dog has yeast infection:

• Scaly and greasy look
• Rubbing and scratching
• Changes in texture and color.of your Boston’s skin: Once infected with yeast, it gives off corn chips or Fritos smell.
• Hair loss
• Excessive licking
• Swelling of dog’s body parts
• Bad odor that matches that of corn chips
• Drooling
• Warmth in the infected region
• Discoloration of your dog’s skin

If boston owners feed their dog on a poor diet such as corn, it leads to this kind of problem. Yeast issues occur when your Boston terrier has a weak immune system causing the food allergies reaction. Allergy is the most common cause of yeast infection.

If your Boston smells like corn chips then it has a yeast infection, avoid dog food with main ingredients such as corn, soy or wheat. Boston Terriers are usually allergic to these products. 

Leaky Anal Glands

Apart from food, leaky anal glands is another problem that Boston terrier owners face. Glands near the tail refer to the grape-sized gland found underneath both sides of the rear end opening. When dogs like the Boston Terrier defecate, fluids leak in a little amount. It smells like rotten fish and is one common cause why your Boston terrier smells.

Boston has a tendency of overloading leaks on the anal glands. If you notice your Boston terrier exhibiting the signs below, he may be experiencing a leaky anal glands:

• dragging his bottom on the ground
• frequent licking near the tail
• area around the rear end area is swelling
• smelling a fish-like odor

To prevent Boston Terrier anal glands smell, use doggy wipes, ensure a healthy diet and exercise. Doggy wipes such as benzoyl peroxide wipes are specifically designed to help in cleaning skin folds, the anal region after anal gland expression as well as to help support healthy anal glands and prevent smells. Overweight Boston terriers are mostly prone to leaky rear end sacs. Also, you can visit the vet to control the leaky rear end right away. 

Dental Infection

If your Boston Terrier’s produces bad breath, that may mean he has an oral infection or teeth decay. Study shows that smaller dog breeds like the Boston Terrier are susceptible to gum and dental disease such as teeth decay. Plaque and tartar build-up are the major causes of this infection.

One dental condition called Gingival Hyperplasia produces a rotten smell as the gum overgrows and withholds bits of food. Also, if your pup has infected or broken teeth that are rotting, there are higher chances that the dog’s breath will also be affected.

The importance of proper hygiene for your dog’s dental health is important. It prevents the risk of oral infection, especially on this breed of dog. Offer your dog teeth cleaning treats in order to maintain dental hygiene and freshen up their breath.

In cases where you can’t control the infection of your pup, seek professional care. Aside from providing you a cure, vets know how to perform dental cleaning for your dogs.  

Ear Infection

Study shows there is an estimated 20 percent of dogs with ear disease. An ear infection is caused by tons of bacteria and yeast can cause a foul-smelling odor. Other possible causes of Boston Terrier ear infection may be excessive cleaning, wax build up in the ear hole, thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders or injury in the canal.

If your dog shows several signs such as forceful scratching, tilting or shaking heads, redness in the canal and yellow, brown or bloody discharge, poor balance, bad smell coming from the canals, swelling on the outside part of the ear and unusual back and forth eye movements it is a clear indication that Boston has an infection.

Even with other dogs, this infection is often a result of allergies or hormonal imbalance.

To prevent ear infections and give your dog a healthier smell, thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after bath or swimming. Also, clean your Boston ears using appropriate cleaning tools like absorbent gauze and avoid paper towels or cotton. Cotton or paper towels have fibers that may be left behind inside the canals.

You can always seek the help of a vet in cleaning and treating your Boston ears. Typically, this is more important to new owners who might not be familiar with how deep you should insert the cleaning buds depending on the age of the dog. If your Boston terrier shows any sign of ear infection, seek a professional’s help right away.

How to Make Your Boston Terrier Smell Clean

If infections are not treated, they can escalate, resulting in multi-organ failure or even death. Therefore, before trying out some home remedies to keep your Boston terrier smelling great, it is advisable to take your Boston to the nearest vet for a checkup.

If the veterinarian says that your Boston Terrier has no infection or the smell still persists even after medication, you can try out the following remedies to make your Boston Terrier smell clean.

Apply Coconut Oil on Dogs Skin

Coconut oil is rich in caprylic and lauric acid, which have antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Rubbing a little coconut oil on your Boston Terrier’s skin makes its hair shinier and less prone to damage. 

You can also saturate a cotton ball with some oil and then apply it on your Boston Terrier’s ear to loosen and drain wax and prevent infections deep within the ear. However, monitor how your Boston Terrier reacts to the oil, and if in case of alarming reactions, stop using it.

Avoid Foods That Fuel Yeasts

Just like in humans, some foods may trigger an allergic reaction in dogs, alter their natural appearance, and allow an unnatural growth of yeasts, making the dog smelly. 

Considering that corn, soy, and wheat can create a conducive environment for yeasts to thrive, it is advisable to eliminate carbohydrates in your Boston Terriers food and feed it with a balanced natural raw diet such as raw meaty bones.

Natural foods starve the yeast and nourish the dog, keeping its immune system healthy and functional. You can also include olive oil, rosemary herb, and garlic in your dog’s diet to combat candida fungus.

Buy Two Washable Beds and Wash Them With Baking Soda and Oils

Your dog’s bed may be the epicenter of dandruff, dust, allergies, urine, and dust making Boston terriers smell bad. Having two washable beds relieves you of the hassle of washing the bed early in the morning before going to work or running other errands in the house and having it ready in the evening.

Washing your dog’s bedding with baking soda helps remove the foul smell while neutralizing the strong scents in most washing detergents. The scented oils help leave a nice scent on your dog’s bed.

Related Questions

Conclusion

So, why do Boston Terriers smell? There are several reasons this breed can be smelly. It can be due to dirt and sweat, yeast infection, leaky rear end glands, oral or ear infection. If you’re not sure about the source of the odor, have a vet check your Boston Terrier. It might be something serious like infections that need medical attention.