What Causes Pet Odor Problems (Malodor)?
Healthy pets typically do not have an offensive odor, but unhealthy pets often do. This means medical care can help resolve many odors. Pet Odor is most often caused by bacteria and yeast metabolizing secretions, especially skin oils. Places where skin is moist and dark—mouth, ears, skin folds, and under the tail—have the highest concentration of yeast and bacteria and the strongest smell. Yeast and bacteria are present on the skin of all pets, even healthy pets, but the number of these organisms is kept to a minimum when skin is healthy. With infirm, diseased, or aged pets, the skin is less healthy and the number of yeast and bacteria increase. As the numbers increase, malodor increases. Yeast and bacteria cause pruritus or itching. Pets scratch and this increases blood flow to the area. Increased blood produces inflammation, swelling, and heat so that pet odors become even more offensive. Odors also worsen when pets are wet. This is because the number of compounds causing odor increa
