As Newfoundland dogs have thick bushy coats, causing many people to wonder if this giant breed is smelly. So are Newfoundland dogs smelly?
Newfoundlands don’t typically smell any worse than other dog breeds, but their fur can collect a bit more dirt and germs than your average dog. With proper grooming and regular baths, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Unfortunately, bad smells can come from various other sources too, which we’ll cover in this article. There are quite a few problems and diseases that may cause anything from bad breath to smelly skin conditions.
The following are the most common reasons for your Newfoundland dogs being smelly, along with tips on how to manage this effectively:
Bacteria in Coat
One common problem for Newfoundland is bacteria building up in their double-layered coat. They’ve got a lot of fur, and the longer it goes unwashed, the more it may get dirty, matted, and provide a breeding ground for germs.
Washing and brushing out your Newfie regularly should help with any unpleasant smells in their fur. These get rid of dirt, dead skin, and more.
Also, consider washing their bedding as often as you can, as bacteria can live there as well.
If you take care to wash your Newfie, their bedding, and brush them regularly, their coat shouldn’t be much of a problem.
You can also go to a professional groomer to get their fur regularly taken care of if it’s too much of a hassle for you.
Infections of the skin
Dogs can get a variety of skin conditions that can make them smell. Both seasonal and food allergies can cause skin inflammation, leading to excessive oil secretion, producing an extra musky scent.
A poor diet can also lead to skin infections, including diets high in carbs and processed dog foods. Switching to a protein-rich, non-processed food diet can help with some skin conditions.
Bathing and ear cleaning can also help with certain skin conditions, such as canine seborrhea. Other skin conditions include hormonal imbalances, fungus, and parasites.
You’ll likely notice your dog scratching and licking themselves excessively if any of these conditions are present.
Newfoundlands tend to have more fur-related diseases and less skin folded illnesses compared to other dogs. This is because skin folds in dogs need to be cleaned thoroughly to prevent becoming a place for bacteria from multiplying, and the same goes for untamed fur.
Infections of the ears
Like bacteria in their fur, bacteria and fungus can also grow in their ears and cause dogs to smell. If they do get an ear infection, there’s a good chance it will smell pretty bad.
Because Newfies have hairy and floppy ears, their ears are more prone to infection than other dogs.
You can get medicine to clear out the infection, usually antibiotics. You can also clean out your dogs’ ears regularly to help prevent more severe infections.
Usually, ear infections aren’t something too serious to worry about, but they should be taken care of whenever they come up.
Dental disease
Dental disease is a huge factor in a dog’s bad breath, which is one of the most common reasons a Newfoundland smells. Just like in humans, regular plaque build-up causes a significant amount of bad breath in dogs.
Smaller breeds tend to have worse dental problems than larger breeds, so Newfoundlands tend not to have terrible dental issues.
Even so, dental health is always a concern as dogs age, and without some care over time, their plaque will build up.
Bad breath for dogs, like with humans, tends to come along with it. You can use an at-home dental routine with your dog to help clean it, as well as get their teeth cleaned at the vet every few years.
A diet high in fish and other smelly foods
If you give Newfoundland dogs a diet high in fish and other smelly foods, there’s a chance it’ll come off in their breath. They love fishy food from their water dog history that would help fishermen out with their catches.
There’s not much you can do about this one except to change their diet.
Fishier foods will always linger on the breath, but you may be able to find dental bones or similar treats that can help to cover up or wash out the smell.
Excessive drinking and panting
Excessive drinking and panting occur most often when your dog is very thirsty. This occurs most often when they have a urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes, or kidney disease.
If it seems like your Newfoundland is consistently very thirsty, it may be time to check for these conditions.
UTI’s are especially common in older Newfoundlands and can cause quite a smell. If you notice a very thirsty Newfie and a bad smell, that might be something to look into. Thankfully, they are easily treated with antibiotics.
Drooling
Beyond just dental disease, the build-up of saliva and excessive drooling in a Newfoundland can also cause bad smells.
Their drool can get caught in their fur and dry up, leading it a gross smell. You can clean it up regularly or talk to your vet to see if diet and medicines changes can help.
Skin parasites (mange, demodex)
Skin parasites like mites which cause mange can be a big problem for dogs. They are highly contagious and cause terrible itching for them.
In addition, they are too small to be seen by the naked eye but feed on a dog’s skin and lay eggs in the top layer of their skin. They are really nasty, so it’s essential to deal with them as they appear.
The first symptom is only itching, but over time your dog might get hair loss, scabs, and wounds, which, if infected, can cause your dog to smell bad.
Bad smell is one of the later symptoms of parasites, so if it has already progressed this far you should consider immediately going to see the vet.
Skin parasites are a severe illness for your dog and causes them a lot of pain.
There are over-the-counter products that can temporarily help your dog with mange, but a full diagnosis with your vet is about the only sure-fire way to get rid of them.
New advances in medicine mean that it is easier to get rid of the mites with just some oral medication.
Genetic predisposition to smelliness
Some Newfoundlands simply are genetically predisposed to smell worse, whether that’s excess oils or other body odors.
All animals have genetic odors that differ slightly from one another, and the wrong combination can lead to a bad smell with little that can be done about it.
Being in Heat
Female dogs give off an intense scent when they are in heat. There are evolutionary reasons for this, but it can be frustrating for owners going through the process.
In this case, the smell is more prominent to male dogs than humans, but even that can cause many problems. You can mask the scent by dosing the female dog with liquid chlorophyll once they go into heat. This helps to cover the scent.
Doggy diapers are another option that will contain the scent. You can buy these at your local pet store and keep them on your dog for the entire time she’s in heat.
Various Diseases
Unfortunately, if none of these other causes seem to relate to your Newfoundland’s bad scent, they may have some other type of disease.
One problem area, I’m sorry to say, is their anal glands. These glands produce a scent that other dogs smell when greeting each other but can also go haywire when there are problems.
Another thing to watch out for is sweet-smelling breath, which could be a sign of diabetes.
Many other diseases have their own scent-related problems, so if anything is smelling off with your pup for a long time, it may be time for a vet check-up.
When to Consult a Vet
If the smell persists after a good washing and brushing for multiple days, it might be time to check with your vet.
It is only of serious importance to check with your vet if there are other troubling symptoms that something bad is going on. For example, if they are scratching very often and aggressively or otherwise acting strangely.
Final thoughts
For Newfoundland dogs, smelly odors can come from various sources, but most often comes from their thick hair.
Other problem areas include their teeth and mouth, drool, and specific skin and ear problems.
If you are taking care to brush and wash your Newfoundland regularly, this should solve many of the most common problems.
If that’s not working, it may be time to check their skin for mites and consider other smell sources. Bad breath is common, but you’d notice that as coming from their mouth. A little trickier is dried saliva smells, which can get matted into their fur.
Finally, if the smell persists for a long time and is very bad, it’s time to consult your vet.
