Did your dog get into the chips? Were they using their paws to each with? Why do the paws of dogs smell like some of our favorite snacks?
The Smell
Dogs are the most popular pet in the world, and hundreds of thousands of people across the globe have man’s best friend living in their home. When a person thinks of a dog, they often think of friendly personalities, loyalty to their owners, and a love for chasing tennis balls and sticks. What doesn’t often come to mind is the scent of Fritos, or another type of corn chips, on the paws of a dog.
It may sound strange, but many dog owners whose furry friends are of various breeds have described smelling a scent that reminds them of old popcorn or Fritos, but there is actually a completely normal explanation for this phenomenon.
The Bacteria
When the question of why dogs’ paws smell like Fritos began to circulate, one common theory developed was that dogs had more corn in their diets than they previously had, and this was causing a scent of corn chips on the dog’s paws.
The answer to the question of the scent is actually a commonly occurring bacteria, one that is completely natural. Bacteria and fungi live on the skin of all living things, so it isn’t exactly abnormal, and because dogs are outside a lot of time and walk through grass and dirt without protection, there are even more bacteria on their paws. The types of bacteria that give off the yeasty, snack-like scent are Proteus and Pseudomonas.
Dogs only sweat out of their paws, and because there isn’t a lot of air that circulates down to the toes, leading to a buildup of bacteria and a buildup of the scent. These two types of bacteria are often found in dirt and grass, which explains why dogs are so likely to pick them up on their feet, resulting in the Frito-like smell on the feet of many pups.
Should Pet Owners Be Concerned?
Just like the bacteria, it is completely natural for pet owners to be concerned about their furry friends and wonder if they should do anything about the scent. While the scent isn’t much to be worried about if it grows increasingly strong, the dog begins to lick at his or her paws excessively, or the paws become red or look in some other way infected, then dog owners may want to have their dogs checked out for an infection or some other issue with the paws.
If an owner simply doesn’t like the scent, there are several things they can do to wipe away the corn chip smell. Dog owners can trim the fur that grows between the pads on the paws; if the fur isn’t trimmed, the sweat, and consequently the Fritos scent, soaks into the fur and settles there. After the fur is trimmed, pet owners can wash and shampoo the paws to get rid of the remaining scent.
When it comes down to it, if a puppy’s paws have begun to have a snack-like scent, it is most likely nothing to worry about and just one of the many idiosyncrasies of man’s best friend.
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