At any given time, dogs have some level of bacteria and fungi on their skin. “When your dog’s paws have a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, they can give off a yeasty odor that smells similar to
,” says the American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM.
Q:I noticed my dog’s feet smell like Fritos. Why do dogs’ feet smell like Fritos? Is this normal?.
A: Frito feet, also known as dogs’ paws that smell like corn chips, are typically caused by bacteria and are normal unless you also notice symptoms of infection.
Your living room starts to smell like someone just tore into a fresh bag of Fritos as you’re curled up on your couch with your four-legged space heater dog. When you notice that the Eau de Frito is coming directly from your dog’s feet, you quickly stop wondering whether your home is being haunted by a ghost who enjoys corn chips.
If your dog is too short to access the vending machine in your workplace and you are certain they haven’t walked through a Frito-Lay factory, what could be the problem? Sarah Wooten, DVM, to find out what’s up.
What does this mean for dog owners?
Both pseudomonas and proteus can cause infections in immunocompromised humans, especially in hospital settings. However, Hoffmann says this isnt something healthy people need to be concerned about.
In fact, sharing some bacteria and fungi with your dog may actually be a good thing. A 2013 study found that adults who lived with dogs had a more diverse skin microbiome — thanks to sharing microbes with their pooch — than people without dogs.
And researchers have found that when you expose healthy people to a greater diversity of microorganisms, it can strengthen the human immune system, helping the body respond better to harmful pathogens, and reducing the likelihood of immune system overreactions to harmless microbes.
So, generally speaking, you do want diversity in your microbiome. And the dogs bring that; whenever they live together, they broaden the diversity of the human microbiome, according to Hoffmann.
Note: Your dog also benefits from sharing microbes with you, since a more diverse microbiome is associated with less-allergic canine skin. Moreover, a large 2018 study found that dogs living with families who had more than two children — as well as dogs who lived with additional pets or on farms — were healthier and less allergic.
It’s normal for your dog to smell like Fritos
The combination of bacteria, fungi, and yeast known as the skin microbiome, which typically coexists peacefully on your dog’s skin, is what causes the Frito feet phenomenon.
Sometimes, certain stinky microbes grow and out-populate others, which can cause your dog to smell. For example, an overabundance of the bacteria pseudomonas was associated with smelly, but otherwise healthy, bloodhounds in a small 2018 study.
Though it was the bloodhounds skin, not their paws, that were tested for bacteria, pseudomonas could be a player in Frito feet, according to Dr. Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, a veterinary anatomic pathologist who was one of the studys researchers.
Pseudomonas has a distinct smell described as a sweet, grape-like, and corn tortilla-like.
Note: Just because your dog has Frito feet doesn’t mean they’re sick or injured. Hoffman claims that the majority of bacteria on healthy dogs are not pathogenic. You need not be concerned about your dog’s health if they are otherwise symptom-free.
Dogs can pick pseudomonas up from places the bacteria inhabits in the natural environment, like soil and water. So, when you take your dog for a romp in the park or a swim in the pond, theres a chance that they will pick up pseudomonas and may get Frito feet soon after.
However, pseudomonas isn’t the only organism that could be the source of your dog’s odorous paws. Other microbes at play may include:
What Would Make Stinky Dog Feet a Cause for Concern?
You would only need to keep an eye out for additional symptoms in addition to the smell of Fritos, for changes in your dog’s foot appearance, or if they begin to exhibit noticeably different behaviors, such as excessive licking or chewing of their feet, limping, or lifting one of their feet off the ground. Dr. Infections and “bacterial or yeast overgrowth,” as well as hair loss on the paws, broken or cracked toenails, and an odor that smells more like “stinky cheese” than corn chips, can cause swelling and redness. ”.
FAQ
How do I get my dog to stop smelling like corn chips?
Regularly washing your dog’s feet with a mild, pet-approved shampoo will help to lessen the odor of corn chips. Dry completely, paying close attention to the spaces in between your toes. Additionally, trim any long hairs in between the toes. If your toenails are too long, you should also clip them while you’re at it.
How do you get Frito smell out of a dog?
- In a bucket, combine one gallon of warm water, four to six cups of white vinegar, and one cup of hydrogen peroxide.
- One of your dog’s paws should be placed in the solution, and it should soak there for about 30 seconds.
- Remove his paw from the bucket but don’t rinse it.
- Use a towel to gently pat his paw dry.
Are dogs paws supposed to smell like Fritos?
Two kinds of bacteria, proteus and pseudomonas, are to blame for your dog’s paws smelling like corn chips, say veterinarians. Since they are accumulated from walking around throughout the day, they are completely normal and present on the feet of all dogs.
Do most dogs have paws that smell like corn chips?
She continues by saying that while it’s normal for some dogs’ feet to smell like yeasty “corn chips,” it’s also normal if your dog’s feet don’t. It is not a cause for concern unless your dog is exhibiting symptoms of a skin condition, the expert advises.