To have a pet that stinks can be one of the biggest nightmares. I have been through it and trust me, it was not a good experience. I wanted to get rid of the situation as soon as possible so I decided to look up the reasons behind Why Do Yorkies Stink.
And guess what, I found so many reasons for Why Do Yorkies Stink.. And I am going to discuss them in detail here so that you know what the problem is if you are facing the same issue.
Why Do Yorkies Stink? Top 12 Reasons
There can be many reasons behind a Yorkie stinking. Let us discuss the top 12 reasons that cause your dog to smell bad.
1. Perspiration and Improper Grooming
A dog’s paws are the part from where he generally perspires but a Yorkie’s coat also releases some sweat. It does not have an overpowering smell but if it is accumulated over time, it can result in your Yorkie smelling really bad.
This accumulation can be the consequence of improper grooming. Irregular bathing or insufficient hair care will let sweat stay on your Yorkie’s coat for days and it will end up smelling bad.
2. Oral and Dental Issues
Do you think that chewing on hard treats is enough for your dog’s mouth to get cleaned? Well, you are wrong.
Chewing only removes a little bit of the plague and if you only rely on chewing and ignore brushing to clean your Yorkie’s mouth, food particles, tarter, plague, everything will be accrued in your dog’s teeth and mouth.
This will result in your Yorkie having a foul breath!
3. Allergies
There are many things that your Yorkie can be allergic to. Let us discuss some of the common things that trigger allergies in dogs.
A. Chemicals
Sometimes the products that you use on your Yorkie contain chemical substances that your Yorkie might be allergic to. This can cause reactions on his body that can make his skin and coat greasy and smelly.
B. Food Items
If your Yorkie has consumed a food item that it is allergic to, the reaction to it can lead to your Yorkie smelling bad.
C. Yeast
Seasonal allergies cause yeast infections due to excessive oil release in dogs which gives them a fishy smell. It can affect your dog’s feet or skin.
D. Fleas
Dogs can be sensitive to fleas and a flea bite can trigger allergic reactions in them. The saliva of a flea can cause terrible itching to your Yorkie and a dry blood smell may come from the doggo.
E. Outdoor Plants
A plant or something else from the external environment might trigger your Yorkie. This will cause an allergic reaction like redness of the skin, itching, or greasy coat which might become smelly over time.
4. Ear Infection
Ear wax, if not cleaned properly, can lead to an ear infection. And this might be shocking but just an ear infection itself can emit very strong odors from your Yorkie.
Ear infection can also happen if ears are left wet after swimming or bathing. This allows for bacteria to cause infections. If your Yorkie is often seen rubbing his ears against objects, then it is very much possible that he is suffering from an ear infection.
5. Ear Mites
Constant scratching or shaking off ears can also be a sign that your Yorkie has ear mites.
Ear mites are parasites that feed off the wax or oil on the skin of the ear canal of your dog. They are microscopic in size and are not visible to the naked eye.
Infections caused by ear mites can also be the reason behind the foul smell coming from your Yorkie’s ear.
Read more about what causes your dog’s ears to smell bad here.
6. Digestive Problems
Flatulence is common in Yorkie but if its frequency is too often and it leaves a lasting bad smell, your four-legged friend might have some digestive problems.
The reasons behind the digestive problems can be many. Maybe there is something wrong with the food that you are giving him or maybe there is a parasite in your Yorkie’s stomach that is making him release these foul-smelling gases.
You should always try to provide high-quality food to your Yorkie. You can check out our top food picks for your dear Yorkie here.
7. Anal Sacs
Every Yorkie has two anal sacs, also called scent sacs. Dogs sniff this part of each other’s body when they meet to get to know their health, gender, and other things.
If these sacs are impacted, they release more liquid than usual which smells very bad. If your Yorkie is dragging or scooting himself down on the floor it might be because he is trying to soothe the irritation his sacs are causing him.
8. Wet Coat
There are yeasts and bacteria that live in your Yorkie’s coat even after bathing and brushing the coat regularly.
They leave behind organic material or fecal material that creates a very bad smell to come out of your Yorkie’s coat in case it remains wet for a long period.
Your Yorkie’s coat could get wet due to rain or swimming. Make sure you dry them properly. Well-dried Yorkies don’t smell because of this reason. But wet coats release the smell into the air.
9. Bacterial Infection in Eyes
Epiphora is a condition most commonly found in cocker spaniel, poodle, or Shih Tzu. Your Yorkie can also be a victim of this.
This condition develops tear stains near a dog’s eyes which turn into yeast infections over a prolonged period of time. This gives out a musty odor.
10. Urinary Tract Infection
Does your Yorkie smell of urine? If this is the case then your Yorkie might be suffering from a urinary tract infection.
He will face pain while urinating and it might even get itchy for him. You might even notice some blood in his urine.
It will be miserable for him so please be as gentle as you can with your Yorkie.
11. Seborrhea
Oversecretion of the sebaceous gland causes seborrhea in Yorkies. This over-secretion makes your Yorkie’s skin greasy and oily and also releases an odor.
12. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism makes your Yorkie’s skin greasy and also causes skin infections.
The greasy skin or infections might release a foul smell from your Yorkie.
Why Does My Yorkie’s Face Stink?
Your Yorkie’s face might be stinking because of the tear stains that develop due to excessive tears that come out of your Yorkie’s eyes. This situation is called epiphora.
If the tear stains remain there for a long period of time, yeast infection occurs. If you go near your Yorkie’s face and it has a weird smell, this yeast infection might be the cause behind it.
You should go get your Yorkie checked by your veterinarian so that the tear stains are removed.
Why Do Yorkies’ Breath Stink?
Due to their small mouth, Yorkies have compact jaws. It’s easier for food particles to get stuck in between their teeth.
Your Yorkie’s teeth might even be decaying because of the plaque buildup. Irregular brushing will lead to an unclean mouth.
All these things make your Yorkie have a bad breath.
Why Does My Yorkie Smell Like Fish?
Anal sacs have a smell that dogs use to get to know each other. These sacs don’t have an overpowering smell in normal conditions but if these glands are infected, more liquid is excreted which gives a fishy smell.
If your Yorkie’s anal glands are not checked for a long time, they might burst and then too much of the bad-smelling liquid will be released.
So take your Yorkie for regular check-ups to your vet.
6 Tips to Maintain Your Yorkie’s Hygiene
Improper grooming is one of the key reasons for Why Do Yorkies Stink.You need to maintain your Yorkie’s hygiene properly. Since they can’t do it for themselves you have to do it for them. It does not require too much effort. Let us see what you can do to keep your Yorkie clean and get rid of his foul smell.
1. Regular Grooming
Proper and regular grooming is very essential to maintain your Yorkie’s hygiene.
Frequent bathing and brushing of the hair coat are necessary. Bathe your Yorkie 3-4 days per week. But don’t make it too frequently because you might end up drying your Yorkie’s skin completely.
Make sure you use a good brush and a good quality shampoo to wash your Yorkie’s hair and skin. Check this affordable and good-quality shampoo for your Yorkie.
If you are looking out for some other shampoo options, check out our extensive review of the best Yorkie shampoos here.
You should also check out this brush keep good care of your Yorkie’s long hair. You can also look out for various other options for your pet Yorkie here.
2. Maintaining Oral Hygiene
Another important thing to do is maintaining your Yorkie’s oral hygiene. Don’t depend on chewing to clean your Yorkie’s mouth.
Start brushing your Yorkie’s teeth right from when he is a puppy so that he gets used to you touching his mouth in a while. If you start after he has grown up, it might be a little difficult for you to brush your Yorkie’s teeth.
While brushing your Yorkie’s teeth, make sure you clean all parts really well and that there are no leftover food particles.
You might want to get this mouthwash your doggo for an even cleaner and fresher breath.
3. Washing Eyes
Washing eyes is a crucial task to prevent tear staining and yeast infection. Make sure that you are very gentle while doing this and do not hurt your Yorkie’s eyes.
This is a very good quality tear stain remover that you can use for your Yorkie.
4. Washing Face
Washing face is also very crucial to keep it clean. You can use a good quality face wash and spread the foam gently on your puppy’s face and rinse it with water. This will keep it fresh and free of foul smell.
You can get this face wash for your Yorkie.
5. Using Deodorizing Products
You can use deodorizing products like shampoos, face wash, etc. while bathing your Yorkie. They leave your Yorkie with a pleasant fragrance and are a good option to eliminate odor from your dog’s coat or skin.
Check out this deodorizing shampoo for your pet friend.
6. Visit A Vet
Visit your veterinarian in case you feel there is an underlying issue with your Yorkie that you cannot point out.
Regular visits to the vet every 3-4 months should also be made. They can clean the anal sacs or ears of Yorkie in a much better way than you can.
Regular visits also make sure that any disease that your Yorkie might have is identified on time and treatment is given as soon as possible.
FAQs on Why Do Yorkies Stink
1. How Often Should a Yorkie Be Bathed?
Typically, you should give your Yorkie a bath once in one or two weeks.
However, if your Yorkie has some skin disease or infection, the frequency will depend on that.
2. How Do I Get Rid Of Fishy Smell on Dogs?
If your dog is smelling like a fish, it is best to call a vet. You might need to empty his anal glands empties manually, which might be a possible cause of the excessive smell.
3. How Often Should I Brush My Yorkie’s Teeth?
Just like for humans, it is recommended that you brush your Yorkie’s teeth twice every day. Once it becomes their routine they start enjoying it and even await it.
Conclusion
So now you have the answer to Why Do Yorkies Stink. There are multiple reasons and you must figure out which one is behind your Yorkie smelling foul.
Consult a vet immediately if you think there is a serious issue. And it is also recommended that you check with your vet before using any new method or product on your doggo.
Don’t give up on your dog because of its odor, as there are many reasons for Why Do Yorkies Stink. You can easily make him smell good. After all, he is your pet friend and the most lovable companion.
