Why Does My Dog Still Stink Despite A Bath?

TurbineVoyage Updated: 2025-08-21

Ear infections

One reason your dog still smells bad after bathing is likely an ear infection. These infections are serious, so your dog should be treated by a veterinarian immediately. Bacterial ear infections are the most common. You will usually notice some sort of discharge from the ears, which may smell sweet like grapes or caramel, or rancid like rotten chicken.

Anal glands

First of all, you need to understand what causes anal gland problems in dogs. Risk factors that can contribute include high toxicity exposure, infections, taking antibiotics, past injuries, age-related health problems, and poor bowel function.The anal glands are two small sacs located on either side of the anus at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, just beneath the surface of the skin between the external anal sphincter and the smooth muscle of the rectum. They produce a foul-smelling fluid that is excreted when your puppy poops.

Skin infections

Sometimes dogs smell after bathing for various reasons. One of the most common causes is skin infections. Infections such as parasites, fungi or yeast can cause a foul odor in dogs. They can affect the whole body or just certain areas such as the face and ears.