Dogs are fantastic creatures, they provide us with companionship, unconditional love, and acceptance. They also provide us with a large variety of odors, not all of them pleasant! From walk-by fart blasts to rolling around in the stinkiest of finds in the park, they provide a full range of odors for us to experience.
The most surprising smell that some owners report is their dog’s paws smelling like popcorn or corn chips. Although most people don’t mind the smell of popcorn or corn snacks coming from their dog’s paws, they wonder why they smell that way.
The popcorn or corn chip smell is caused by Proteus or Pseudomonas, found on their paws and ears, harmless bacteria found naturally in the environment.
Is the popcorn smell on dogs’ paws normal
Even the cleanest of dogs will have microbes on their paws. They are walking around outside, they pick up all sorts of things on their paws, then they will lick their paws clean spreading microbes found in their mouths.
Dogs don’t sweat the way people do to cool down. They pant but they do sweat from their paw pads. The sweat can build up in the fur in their paws causing trapping the odor. The smell is normal for many dogs.
Can I get rid of the popcorn smell from my dog’s paws
You may not be able to get rid of the smell completely, but you should be able to reduce the smell. There are some simple steps to take:
- Wash the paws with doggy shampoo.
- Spread the paws to make sure you wash and rinse in between the pads and toes.
- Rinse thoroughly, paying close attention to the fur between the pads.
- Dry thoroughly, make sure you dry between the toes and pads.
- Trim the fur between the pads and toes.
My dog’s paws smell awful
If the odor from your dog’s paws is musty or horrid-smelling, there may be an underlying health issue. Some things to look out for are:
- Excessive paw licking.
- Change in walking/gait or limping.
- Cut or other wounds on the paw or between the pads.
- Dry flaky skin on the pads.
- Cracked or flaky nails.
- Hairloss around the paws.
- Oozing or leaking sores around the pads.
- Redness or swelling around the pads or nails.
- Lumps or bumps around the pads or nails.
If you are unsure or are worried then you should book an appointment to see your vet. The vet will be able to investigate and provide any necessary treatment for your dog.
Popcorn paws – My final thoghts
Our dogs provide us with no end of joy and entertainment. They help fill our lives and make a house a home. They really do become part of the family, even if they also fill our nostrils with some eye-watering smells at times.
If your dog’s paws smell of popcorn or corn chips, it’s a small price to pay for a loving companion. After all, popcorn smells a lot better than some of the things that my dog has rolled in – I’ll take popcorn over rotting fish any day!
I hope that you found this article helpful.
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