Dog Suddenly Smells Like Cheese – Top 3 Reasons Why

Some dog owners have complained that their dog smells like cheese or Fritos, and this is a sign that something is clearly wrong. If your dog suddenly is smelling like cheese and you can’t figure out why, it’s important to get them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Here are just a few of the most common reasons behind your dog smelling like cheese and what you should do about it.

1. Your Dog is Suffering from a Yeast Infection

A yeast infection is likely the cause of your dog smelling like cheese all of a sudden. The build up of the yeast and sebum on the skin causes the stinky cheese odor. Canine seborrhea is a skin condition that if left untreated, can cause yeast infections. If your dog is not treated for the canine seborrhea then you might notice the cheese smell is getting worse, especially during hot months of the year. The yeast infection itself can be treated using medications and a strict bathing regime, although canine seborrhea itself is not curable.

Other issues can cause the yeast infection beyond canine seborrhea, such as parasites, hormone imbalances, fungus, and just inflammation. Allergies also can cause yeast infections, especially if you find your dog to be scratching all of the time. The ears and paws are also likely places where the yeast infection could be coming from, so it’s not always the outer coat itself.

2. Your Dog is Suffering from an Allergic Reaction

Since the most common cause of your dog smelling like cheese is the result of a yeast infection, it makes sense that the allergic reaction could be the root cause of the situation. Some allergies happen year-round, while other allergic reactions are seasonal and environmental. Not all allergic reactions are food-related, as some can be due to weather or something found outside. The allergic reaction will result in your dog scratching more, which results in open sores and bacterial infections that can smell like cheese.

3. Your Dog is on a Poor Diet

Just like with humans, if you are feeding your dog a diet of unhealthy or low-quality foods, it’s going to have negative impacts both internally and externally. If your dog is sensitive to certain ingredients, it could create a situation where your dog develops a yeast infection due to excessive scratching. It’s important to not feed your dog products that contain ingredients they are allergic to or just sensitive to.

A lot of illnesses that your dog could get as a result of a poor diet can contribute to the cheese odor, which some people liken to Fritos. The poor condition of the skin could all be related to their diet, such as not be getting enough omega-3 fatty acids.

How Do I Make My Dog Smell Better?

Taking your dog to the veterinarian is the first step in addressing the reason why your dog smells like cheese. The veterinarian will recommend certain medications if there is an allergic reaction or if there is a present yeast infection. Antifungal medications might be given if the cause is fungus, or antibiotics might be given if the dog has an active yeast infection.

Another way to help your dog if they smell like cheese is to give them medicated shampoo baths as directed. If you bathe your dog too much, you are getting rid of the natural oils on the skin and that’s not good either. The goal is to bathe your dog regularly with this medicated shampoo which can decrease the yeast, the scratching, and the smell coming from your dog.