Have you found your Yorkie stinking lately? So many Yorkie owners wonder why do Yorkies stink? I am here to tell you exactly why your Yorkie smells and what you should do about it. There are a lot of reasons why your dog may smell bad but remember; you can easily fix it.
Why Do Yorkies Stink?
There are actually many reasons why your Yorkshire Terrier may stink. Many Yorkie owners thought it was due to the breed having their own specific smell, but that is not true. Yorkies can get trapped skin glands which cause the breed to hold on to more stink than other dogs. Below you will find some common reasons why Yorkie’s stink.
Unhealthy Skin
If your dog is not groomed properly, it can lead to issues making its skin unhealthy. This can make the skin have trapped oils on it, which can produce a foul odor. There are even skin conditions that can happen even when you are grooming your dog regularly; those are called allergies.
Yorkies are known to have sensitive skin, so they can be allergic to products. If you notice your dog to have oozing skin, red, rash, or even patches of hair loss, then your dog may have stinky skin. If it is stinky, you may need to switch out your dog’s products or bring this matter to your veterinarian to see if you need something medicated to help your dog’s skin.
Not Groomed Properly
As you may already know, as a Yorkie owner, the hair is not like a normal dog’s hair; it takes on the texture of human-like hair. Therefore, it is very important to brush your dog’s hair on a regular basis as this distributes the natural oils that your dog has throughout the hair and coat.
If you do not actively brush your Yorkie, the buildup of oils can make your dog smell stinky. It is also important that you bathe your dog about once a month or when you notice your Yorkie to be visibly dirty. Again, if you do not take the time to bathe your dog, it will cause a buildup of oil that can make your dog smell unpleasant.
This breed can have issues with its skin, so it is important that you purchase products that will help your dog with that issue. Sensitive skin shampoos will be perfect for your Yorkie. Make sure you only use products that are formulated for dogs because human products are made with different ingredients and should not be used on animals.
Medical Issues
Sometimes even when you are doing everything right by your dog, it can still stink. Well, most likely, this isn’t your fault and is due to a medical issue. For example, if your dog doesn’t have excessive oils on the skin, it could be stinking due to an allergy or even an infection.
If it is due to an allergy, you will need to narrow down what the allergy might be. It could be an allergy due to a product on your dog’s skin or even from a food. This will be a long elimination process to figure out what is causing this issue for your dog.
Check your dog often for skin lesions or areas that look like they may be infected on your dog. It may not just be on your dog’s skin, as you should check your dog’s ears too and see if they are infected. If the inside of your dog’s ear smells really bad, there is a good chance it might be infected.
Dental Problem
Another common reason why your Yorkshire Terrier might stink is due to its dental hygiene. The smell you are smelling might be coming from your Yorkies’s mouth. If your dog gets a buildup of plaque and tartar, it may start to stink and attract food to get stuck in it.
Give your dog a great dental routine that way; you can prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar on your dog’s teeth. You can also purchase dental chews that are treats that clean your dog’s teeth.
Anal Glands
The anal glands have a specific function that allows your dog to leave its natural territorial scent when it goes to the bathroom. However, sometimes these glands can get clogged, which means the liquid they create needs to be expressed. When It is expressed, it has a very strong stinky, almost fishy smell. You don’t want to do this at home by yourself, so the vet or a professional groomer should take care of this for you.
How Do I Stop my Yorkie from Smelling?
There are a few things that you can try to prevent your dog from smelling. You can try these, and if they still do not help your dog’s stinky situation, I suggest taking your dog to the vet.
1. Brush Your Yorkie Frequently
2. Bathe Your Yorkie Regularly
Yorkies that smell need to be bathed regularly. It is important that your dog is bathed every three weeks to every month. If your Yorkie has sensitive skin, you can use shampoo products specially made for sensitive skin. Bathing your dog will reduce the stinky smell of your dog.
3. Dental Care
Providing your dog with exceptional dental care is important. Sometimes your dog could be stinky from its mouth due to poor hygiene. Brush your dog’s teeth about once a month as part of your grooming routine. You can buy a toothbrush specially made for dogs. You can also purchase treats that support healthy gums and teeth when your dog chews on them.
4. Wash Your Yorkies Stuff
Even after you have bathed your Yorkie and you find it stinking suddenly after may be due to your dog’s bed or blankets. Your dog’s bedding can harbor a bunch of dirt and dander inside of them. Wash them in the washing machine to freshen them up.
5. Take Your Dog to the Vet
If you still do not know how to fix the stink on your dog, you will want to have your dog examined by a vet. The vet will look over your dog to ensure it doesn’t have a medical issue. Sometimes when a dog stinks, it can mean it has an infection or even yeast buildup on the skin.
Why Does my Yorkie Smell Bad After Being Outside?
Dogs have the urge to roll around in other dog’s or animals feces. Your dog also may even do this with a pile of dirt.
Why Does My Yorkie Smell Like Fish?
Like I talked about above, your Yorkshire Terrier may have a fishy smell due to its clogged anal glands. When they are clogged and need to be expressed, they will release a fishy smell. This is a quite serious condition; your dog may even try to expel the glands on its own by scooting its butt on the floor. Have your vet expel these glands for you.
How Often Should a Yorkie Be Bathed?
Yorkshire Terriers need to be bathed around every three weeks to every month. Yorkies can have sensitive to dry skin, so too much bathing can be rough on your dog’s skin. Make sure you are using products specifically made for dogs on your dog’s skin.
Why Does my Yorkie Smell Like Corn Chips?
Have you ever smelled your dog and said, “weird, my dog smells like corn chips.” Well, the smell you are actually smelling might be a bacteria or yeast infection that you are smelling. Unfortunately, this type of infection or bacteria will make your dog have a particular smell like corn chips.
Why Does my Yorkie Smell Like Poop?
The poop smell you smell can either be that your dog has rolled over outside into some smelly poop or an issue with the anal glands. Those glands can give off a fishy or even poop type smell as it is very close to your dog’s butt.
Why Does my Yorkie Smell Like Pee?
Typically, older and elderly dogs have a strange smell like pee. This happens to older dogs because they are actually urinating on themselves. It is not a lot of urine, but a little can come out when your dog is walking or even sleeping. However, it may still produce a smell because the urine has soaked into the hair.
Conclusion
Why do Yorkie stink? Now you know some of the reasons why your Yorkie stinks and what you can do to solve this issue. Has your Yorkshire Terrier ever had an issue with stinking before? Let me know in the comments below.
My Yorkie has stunk since we’ve had her — over 5 years. Her diet is very clean and she gets Omegas 3 & 6. I finally have her dental health under control. I suspect yeast somewhere in the equation even though she eats grain- free with lots of veggies.