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Smells and odors

Maltese Bad Smells and Odd Odors

Overview

Even dogs that are given baths and cleaned on a regular basis can develop an odd or unpleasant smell. This can seemingly come and go, worsen if the coat becomes wet, and even start to develop immediately after a bath. 

This article will cover the 6 most common reasons that a Maltese may smell bad and the top 8 ways to keep your Maltese smelling clean and fresh. 
Does your Maltese smell okay and you just want your dog to have a longer lasting pleasant fragrance? Jump to: 8 Ways to Keep a Maltese Smelling Fresh and Clean. 

6 Reasons a Maltese May Smell Bad

#1: Accumulated body oil.
A dog’s body is constantly producing natural body oils that are released through the hair follicles; this helps keep the skin and coat moisturized. However, these have a unique scent that can be quite unpleasant once they accumulate. 

One of the goals of giving baths is to remove these oils and start again with a clean slate. So, giving baths too infrequently than this can certainly lead to bad odors.
Another aspect is that even if baths are done on time, if the shampoo that you are using does not sufficiently wash away the oils, and instead skims over them, the oil and the bad smell will remain. This is a top reason why a Maltese can have an unpleasant odor soon after a bath. 

Lack of brushing can also play a role. Dead hairs that fall back into the coat can become caked with body oils, but brushing removes those hairs along with the oil that is clung to them. And, brushing helps distribute oil from the roots of the hairs down toward the tips which can disperse the associated odor. 
#2: Release of microorganisms.
There are a number of microscopic microorganisms that live on a dog’s skin and coat including yeast and bacteria. Normally, these are small enough in number that it has no effect and there is no detectable odor. However, under some circumstances, this can change. 

If a Maltese gets wet from the rain or another source that does not include being washed with a proper shampoo, molecules in the water displace the smaller molecules of the microorganisms, triggering their odorous compounds. In other words, a Maltese will have that ‘wet dog smell’ which can make your nose wrinkle. 
#3: Yeast infection. 
This is related to the previous microorganisms but involves naturally occurring yeast having a population overgrowth. When there is a higher than normal amount of yeast, of one or more strains but often involving the Malassezia species, this is referred to as a yeast infection which can produce a strong, unpleasant smell. 
The odor is often described as smelling like old wet socks or a dank musty smell. If this occurs on the paws, it may have a pungent smell akin to corn chips. 

Full-body yeast infections often involve the skin looking oily, there may be inflammation around skin folds (such as the armpits, genital area, etc.), itching, discoloration (pink at first that may progress to gray), and in some cases scaling, sores and/or discharge may develop. In some cases, the hair follicles will be damaged, leading to hair issues including patchy hair loss. 

If this occurs on a Maltese’s paws, there is often considerable itching, irritation and inflammation between the toes. And in the ears, there is also significant itching and discharge.
 
What triggers a yeast infection to occur includes certain medications, chronic moisture, overactive immune system (often seen with Maltese that have allergies), under-active immune system, and ingestion of dog food with hidden sugars (honey is a top one).
#4: Urine and feces. 
Of course, Maltese dogs cannot wipe their bums and genitals after going to the bathroom, so it’s no wonder that a puppy or dog can easily smell like urine or feces. And, depending on the surface that dog pees onto and the force at which the urine leaves the body, there can be back-splash that mists the belly and/or soaks into the coat. With feces, it is common for small bits to cling to the fine hairs around the anus.
#5: An issue with the anal glands.
All dogs have a pair of anal glands, also referred to as scent glands or anal sacs, which are located right on the rim of the anal opening. These hold an oil, which has an incredibly powerful noxious odor, that is released in tiny amounts when a dog meets another. This transmits information including a dog’s gender, health status and even their mood. A small amount may also be released during bowel movements if stools are healthy and firm.  

If the glands become engorged with too much oil, the skin there becomes itchy and irritated. A Maltese may then scoot their bum along the ground to scratch the itch, resulting in a tear of the skin. If the tear is large enough, you will see stripes of oil along the ground; it can range in color from light to dark brown or may appear to be a dark red. But, if the tear is small, you may not notice any fluid, but will certainly be aware of the stink. 
#6: Odors stemming from the mouth. 
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be quite overwhelming. Even if a Maltese’s body is clean and fresh, an unpleasant odor emitting from the mouth can overpower this. With this, you do not necessarily need to be right up close to your Maltese to notice the smell; moderate to severe bad breath can travel several feet and, in some cases, fill up a room with the smell. 

8 Ways to Keep your Maltese Smelling Fresh and Clean

Now that you know what can cause your Maltese to smell less-than-ideal, it’s time to resolve the issue and take steps to help your little guy or gal better hold fresh fragrances. 
#1: Give baths once every 3 weeks.
This is the time frame that most dogs have enough accumulated body oils that they need to be washed off. Baths are also your opportunity to soak the skin and coat in protective and restorative products. So, even if your Maltese smells fine and looks clean, try to stick to this schedule. 
#2: Use the right type of shampoo. 
Inferior shampoos without the right cleansing ingredients will skim over body oils, thus negating the main purpose of the bath. And, if a shampoo has the wrong pH, this can be harsh on the skin, causing irritation and leaving overly dry skin vulnerable to the elements. 

Avoid any product with soaping agents; instead, opt for plant-based cleansers. Look for those with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. 
Some recommendations include Earthbath All-Natural Mediterranean Magic Shampoo which contains rosemary, a natural ingredient that works well to neutralize odors. This is a quality shampoo with zero soaping agents, soothing coconut-based cleansers, and no parabens, sulfates or phthalates (all of which can be irritating). The pH is right on the mark. 
 And, if your Maltese tends to have a robust production of body oil, Earthbath All-Natural Sweet Orange Peel Shampoo is a terrific choice. Orange peel oil has long been known as natural ingredient that effectively degreases, deodorizes, and removes stains (a huge plus for this all-white dog).
Be sure to always use a wash-out conditioner when you shampoo the coat. The shampooing process opens up hair cuticles (which is good; it allows the product to do its job) but then you need to smooth those cuticles down with the conditioner. If not, a Maltese’s hair will be vulnerable to all environmental elements, often leading to poor texture, split ends, and dryness. For this, Earthbath has an accompanying conditioner, with a base of oatmeal and aloe.  
#3: Brush often. 
Brushing will help you free your Maltese’s coat of any loose or dead hairs which may have body oil clung to them. It will also distribute oil near the roots down toward the tips. Brushing also removes fine debris, stimulates hair follicles, helps prevent tangles and is a great way to refresh the coat, so it is recommended to brush your Maltese often, even if your puppy or dog looks or smells just fine.  
If you have a puppy or an adult with a short coat, brush at least every 3 days with a soft-bristle brush with moderate tension. Note that because the Maltese breed has fine hairs, soft bristles are recommended. One like the Chris Christensen Soft Tufted Boar Brush is ideal. 
If your Maltese has a medium to long length coat, brush at least every 2 days with a pin brush with polished tips. For this, the Chris Christensen Little Wonder Pin Brush works well. 
#4: Use a deodorizing leave-in spray. 
When you brush, using a coat spray can help neutralize odors and leave a fresh fragrance. There are other benefits as well; a spritz can help prevent tangles, offer a layer of protection from contact friction, and can even help repel debris, irritants, and urine splatter. So, this is an important step in keeping a Maltese smelling nice and clean. 
If you are behind on brushing and just don't have time at the moment, you can spritz the coat real quick, massaging this in by hand. 
There are a couple good options for this. One is Earthbath Mediterranean Magic Deodorizing Spritz which, just like their entire line of coat products, is all-natural with no parabens or other harsh additives; this particular one is great to help keep skin healthy and the rosemary oil in this has a fragrance that will last for 2 to 3 days. 
Another one to try is Nootie Daily Spritz which offers several wonderful scents including coconut lime, cucumber melon, sweet pea & vanilla, Japanese cherry blossom, and warm vanilla cookie

Treatment

#5: Spot clean with grooming wipes. 
Another way to keep your Maltese smelling nice is to regularly swipe away urine splashes and any bits of feces from the rear end with moist grooming wipes. Since urine rubs off onto blankets, bedding, and other porous materials that your puppy or dog may rest on, this will also help prevent a dog’s living area from getting stinky. 

An added plus to this is that wiping down the coat can remove fine particle debris, allergens, and irritants. 

You can wipe your Maltese as often after every bathroom trip, but even doing this once a day can be beneficial. 
A recommended wipe is Earthbath All-Natural Grooming Wipes which is well-sized, has a good texture, and has no harsh additives. There are a few options with these. If you do not want to have competing fragrances, you may wish to opt for the non-scented formula. But, if you do wish for a nice fresh fragrance, mango tango is wonderful (recommended over the green tea). 
 #6: Skin yeast infections need to be treated.  
In some instances, yeast infections on the skin can be treated at home. This said, moderate to severe yeast problems may need to be treated with prescribed oral anti-fungal medications such as ketoconazole or fluconazole. 

If there is a history of yeast infections, other aspects will be looked at including possible allergies, hormonal disorders, or other conditions that may cause an immune system reaction) and food ingredients will be evaluated. 
For at-home treatment if yeast is just suspected, a shampoo like Natural Dog Shampoo by Moosh can be a good choice. This is an all-natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, and anti-itch formula with bentonite clay (which pulls toxins from the skin) as well as shea butter, neem and argan oil, aloe vera, and other organic ingredients. 
For confirmed cases of skin yeast infections, a shampoo with chlorhexidine and ketoconazole is typically prescribed. This can be obtained over-the-counter with Curaseb Antifungal & Antibacterial Shampoo for Dogs being an effective choice, but note that you do not want to use this unless you are positive a yeast infection is indeed occurring. 
#7: If you suspect anal gland issues, have this addressed. 
If the odor is originating from your Maltese’s bum, and particularly if there is scooting behavior, this may well indeed be due to scent oil leaking from the anal glands. If this is not addressed, tears in the skin are vulnerable to infection and impacted anal glands can lead to full ruptures or abscesses. 

This warrants a vet visit for treatment which typically includes flushing out the glands and further maintenance may include regular expression of the glands, done either by the veterinarian or a dog groomer.
#8: Address any unpleasant mouth odors. 
Foul smelling odor from the mouth may be due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other dental issues that require diagnosis and treatment by the veterinarian. This typically involves x-rays to determine if there is any decay and a full-dental cleaning that includes scraping plaque and tartar from the teeth. Decayed or damaged teeth may need to be extracted. 

Once a Maltese has been cleared of any serious dental issues, there are some very effective methods you can do at home to keep teeth clean and breath smelling fresh. 

This includes brushing the teeth each day, using a dental spray, and offering daily dental treats.
Brushing is the most effective method of keeping plaque at bay and should be done with either a 3-sided brush sized for toy breeds or a finger-tip brush and a canine paste which will be non-foaming and fluoride-free since fluoride is toxic to dogs. For most Maltese, a set like the Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Triple Action Dental Kit that is sized for puppies often works best.  
A dental treat like GREENIES Teenie Dental Treats (made for dogs 5 to 15 lbs.) should be given in place of a dog’s regular snack once per day. Note that these are very hard treats, by design, and for this reason a Maltese should be supervised when chewing on these. 

A Final Word

While dogs will not smell like fresh daisies without a little help, ongoing strong odors or odd smells are not considered normal and should be assessed. In most cases, this is just a matter of tweaking grooming aspects like baths, brushing, and touch-ups. But, since there can be more serious issues at play including stubborn yeast infections, engorged anal sacs, or tooth decay, any odors on your Maltese that you cannot resolve at home should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. 
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