My 4 year old Golden Lab has, for the last six months or so, had the most awful smelling feet. When she awakes and moves we can smell her feet. It's a really bad smell somewhere between gorgonzola cheese and sweaty trainers!!! I am becoming obsessed by the smell and its making my (possibly my dogs) life hell because during the nice weather I put her outside and on colder and wet days I am forever spraying air freshner and burning incense sticks. She sleeps in a plastic basket which I wash every couple of days and spray with Febreze (without her around of course). I love her dearly and wouldn't be without her, but I'm becoming almost manic. Can anyone please advise if there is something I can wash her with or maybe change her diet. She eats Complete dry food and drinks plenty of water, has regular walks (at least 3 times aday). Help!!!

A dog's feet really should not smell at all to speak of. Ours do because they are not so well ventilated and the sweat builds up but with a dogs always being in the fresh air that really should not happen! Are you sure it is the feet? Is the area between the pads red and inflamed at all? If you really are sure it is the feet then I would see your vet because something is really wrong.

Regards, John

Thanks John, I check her feet regularly and have found no redness. I told my vet around four months ago when she was due her booster and he said that dogs sweat through their pads and like humans tend to smell and not to worry because although fairly unusual she is altogether a very healthy dog. I asked him to check her ears, teeth and nether regions for any abnormalities in case, like you say, the smell was coming from elsewhere and he said she was all clear. I guess I've got an unusual dog! Last year and the year before she had hayfever (typically unheard of in dogs) eyes watering, sneezing every morning when she rose and had her morning walk. Crazy!

Actually, hay fever I can accept, My old Kate used to sufer with that! Not good for a working gundog!!! :d

Best wishes, John

Call me strange, but my labs feet have that sort of cheesy smell... and I love it!!!!! I go up to them and lift a paw and have a good sniff. :D But ears... well bleh..

Wow! Whatever turns you on Walkhound! ;) The only time me dogs feet smell is if they have been stepping in Fox poo!

Best wishes, John

Taz's feet smell kind of like fresh popcorn.

Just as well its a nice smell, cause they usually under my nose on the pillow next too me!!! :D

Our lab's feet smelt distinctly like French sausages - very odd!
:)

Definitely seems to be a Lab pong thing then!! Love her to bits, so I guess I'll have to put up with it.

I call my girls feet Cheesy Digestive Labrador feet :)

Do you take her into water at all becasue that should help if they are really pongey !

Hi Walkhound
I wasn't going to admit it - but I love the smell of my Akita's feet!!!!!!

Hi Diamond43,
We had a similar problem with our border collie - I described the smell as sweaty socks but 10 times worse. At the time she was sleeping on a doggy quilt cushion in a plastic dog basket. When the weather was cold, there would actually be wet underneath - like a condensation I guess, between the cushion and plastic, caused by her body heat. So got rid of the basket, and just had the cushion on the floor, but it was still the same - in the morning would feel wet underneath, and that was the cause of the smell (both the cushion and the dog reeked!). She now has a single layer fleece blanket on the floor that she sleeps on, and no more smell!
Hilda

Maybe I'll try just a fleece as it could be the plastic basket that is making her sweat. I read somewhere that a foot powder similar to what humans use for atheletes foot could help. I didn't want to use anything with a drug in it, so just this afternoon I bathed her feet (which she loved) and smothered my hands in baby talc and rubbed all over her feet and between her toes. She smells lovely and seemed to enjoy the whole experience. Talk about pampered. She's been asleep pretty much the afternoon, so I guess when she rises the proof will be evident. Either pongy feet again or baby fresh tootsies!

my labs feet stink to high heaven we have recently pulled all our carpets up because her feet were making the carpets smell really bad now we have wooden floors you can only smell her feet when shes sitting next to you.
we spoke to our vet about it and an online vet, both had never heard of the problem before but both suggested washing her feet twice weekly in a weak teatree oil wash, with nose pegs on (more for the smell of the teatree as it makes me gag) i started twice weekly but then went once weekly, twice a month and now once a month, her feet donot smeel half as bad and she cant make the floor smell bad either, its worked for us
Walkhound youre not alone with liking the smell of dogs feet, my boss loves the smell of her rottis feet, cant under stand it though

Hiya

Have to admit I'm with walkhound. I LOVE the smell of my CKCS's feet, all warm and cheesy and digestivey and snuggly.
MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Ali

Monty's feet used to hum ding. I figured out it was using baby wipes on his feet (my partners mum uses them on her dogs feet and they STINK!). They still smell a little - possibly to do with all the gross stuff he HAS to walk in - but 10 times better since i stopped using baby wipes on his paws.
hth

Sam x