Yes, Your Dog’s Feet Really Do Smell Like Fritos

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While it’s not recommended to go around sniffing your dog’s feet, there is science to back up any claims that your pet’s little paw pads indeed smell like Fritos – or popcorn, depending on who you ask.

As it turns out that the aroma is due to the microorganisms living on the foot pads – specifically the bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus. Since the hair grows longer between your dog’s toes, it can create a safe haven for the bacteria and creates the perfect environment for them to grow – hence the smell. But there is no need to worry, it’s all completely natural.

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Unlike humans – who sweat all over – dogs only sweat through the parts of their bodies that aren’t covered by fur. That means that the most sweat glands are located in your dog’s paws, with a few more in their nose. That is why if it’s a very warm day, you may notice little wet doggie paws on the floor – it’s their sweat!

This also explains why on a hot summer’s day, your dog will sit panting after a long walk in the park, because in general, the areas of skin on their feet and nose isn’t large enough to cool them down. As a result, they heavily rely on the evaporation of moisture from their tongue, as well as from the lining of their lungs, in order to lower body temperature.

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But similar to people, the sweat that dogs produce doesn’t really have a scent on its own – it’s the microorganisms that produce the scent. But if you’re worried about the smell coming from your dog’s paws, there are a couple of things that you can try in order to keep the smell to a minimum.

The first trick is simple: just wash the soles of your dog’s feet. The second is to very carefully trim the hair between your dog’s paws.

However, there is a word of caution to keep in mind. While a little bit of a smell to your dog’s feet is perfectly normal, just keep an eye out for excessive smell, discharge, or swelling from their feet. Any of these could be a sign of an infection and should be given immediate medical attention at your local vet.

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Source: Petful

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