There are some cases where a Pug just smells bad all over and this can be due to one of several issues.
#1: Accumulation of Body Oils.
A dog's body is constantly producing body oils that are expelled through hair follicles. This is the body's natural way of helping to keep the skin moisturized. Over time, these oils accumulate because they do not evaporate. Once there is a buildup, it can smell quite bad.
Pugs can start to smell from this if they have not had a bath within the past 3 weeks (typically the time frame that there is enough oil that you can notice the odor), if a Pug has not been properly brushed (brushing removes dead hairs that can become coated in oil) or if they did have a bath but the shampoo used did not properly rinse those oils away.
If a Pug gets wet in a way that does not include an actual washing, like getting soaked from the rain, the water droplets displace the particles in the oil, which can cause a dramatic rise in odor, producing what is commonly known as a 'wet dog smell'.
Prevention and treatment:
1.
Remove shedded hairs.
This is a heavy shedding breed with a dense coat, so lots of hairs will be falling off but getting trapped in the thick fur and eventually coated with body oil if it stays there long enough. So, the goal is to use a grooming tool that reaches through a Pug's coat and grabs those hairs, removing them along with the odor that they carry.
If you're looking for a tool that works great, you may be thinking about a brush, but a glove like the
Pet Grooming Glove by Delomo
can actually work better. This is super-easy to use and the 200+ tips grip tons of loose and dead hairs with each swipe.
Go over the coat at least every 3 days and as often as once per day.
2. Use a leave-in spritz.
Once the coat is free of dead hairs, go over it one more time using a leave-in conditioner spray. This will offer a nice scent while offering a layer of protection to repel urine and fine debris and help fur retain moisture for shine and good texture.
A recommended spray is
Nootie Daily Spritz
which offers several awesome scents including vanilla cookie, coconut lime, Japanese cherry blossom, and cucumber melon.
3.
Give baths every 3 weeks, even if your Pug doesn't look dirty or hasn't started to smell yet. The goal is to rinse away all of the accumulated body oil so that your dog can start again with a clean slate. Be sure to thoroughly soak the coat down to skin level; using a nozzle can help accomplish this.
Massage in a good shampoo (see next tip), reaching every area of the body including arm pits and groin. For the face, use a soft washcloth, making sure to clean out all of the facial wrinkles. Rinse your Pug, ideally using a nozzle, massage in a wash-out conditioner, allow it to soak in for 2 to 5 minutes, and do a final rinse.
Be sure to dry your Pug well using an absorbent towel and do not skip any body area with skin folds like the arm pits, groin and neck and dry the areas between the toes. Facial wrinkles should be dried with a thin washcloth.
4. Use an effective shampoo.
Several things can happen if the wrong shampoo is used. Ones that have too high or too low pH balance or additives like chemical preservatives, parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrances
can be very harsh on the skin which can lead to everything from overly dry and itchy skin to a full-body skin yeast infection. And, if a shampoo is subpar, it may simply skim over stinky body oils instead of removing them. In these cases, a Pug can smell bad soon after a bath.