Do Shiba Inus Smell Bad? (Reasons & Solutions!)

Shiba Inus are brave and confident breed dogs. Initially, they were bred for hunting and chasing small birds. But they became good companions of humans day by day. A lot of people love Shiba Inus as their house dogs.

If you want to own a Shiba Inu for your house, you have to know the specifications of the Shiba Inus. One of the problems of house dogs is the smell problem.

So, you might be thinking about whether Shiba Inus smells bad or not. This article will tell you about the Shiba Inus and their odor specifications.

Do Shiba Inus smell bad?

Shiba Inus don’t smell bad at all. Shiba Inus clean themselves so well that they don’t smell. For their self-cleaning habit, sometimes people call them cat-like dogs. A healthy Shiba doesn’t have any odor problems. Sometimes, they go through some health issues that might cause smelling.

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Generally, Shiba Inus always try to keep them clean. When they play or go outside, they might get dirty. This might be a temporary reason for the Shiba Inus’ smelling issue. But they don’t remain dirty for a long time. When they get dirty, they clean themselves.

Suppose your Shiba Inu smells; notice where he has been. A temporary smelling problem might be solved by a bath or cleaning process. But if the smell lasts long, the Shiba might be facing some health problems.

Do Shiba Inus stink or smell bad?

No, Shiba Inus don’t stink or smell bad. Shiba Inus are considered one of the cleanest dogs. They immediately clean themselves when they get dirty. That’s why they are considered cat-like dogs.

But sometimes, Shiba Inus suffer from some medical issue that might be the cause behind smelling bad. Besides, there might be a temporary reason, like playing in a dirty place. You have to notice where your Shiba Inu is going.

You the Shiba Inu smells bad, or stinks for a long time or often, this might be a health issue. You should take the Shiba to the veterinarian to solve the smelling problem.

Do Shiba Inus smell like dogs?

Every dog has a smell of its own. Some dogs clean themselves, and some don’t. That’s why some dogs have a stinking or smelling problem. But Shiba Inus are comparatively clean. They don’t smell like dogs.

Shiba Inus smell less than other breeds of dogs. For their cleanliness, people considered them as cat-like dogs. So, Shiba Inus smell like dogs.

If Shiba smells sometimes, it might be a sign of medical issues. But this smell will not be like other dogs.

Why does my Shiba Inu stink?

Generally, Shiba Inu doesn’t stink. Even the Shiba Inu doesn’t smell like other dogs. But sometimes, when they smell or stick, there can be specific reasons behind it. Let’s see what the reasons behind your Shiba Inu’s stinking are.

Ear infection:

Shiba Inu can have an ear infection that can stink. Moreover, they might have wax build-up that might be the cause of smelling bad. This problem might go away on its own. But if the stink or bad smell continues, consult a veterinarian.

Anal Gland’s problem:

Like other dogs, Shiba Inu also faces anal gland problems sometimes. This might be a reason for the bad smell.

Skin problem:

Shiba Inus face skin problems, like allergies, bacteria, infection, etc. These problems can make the Shiba Inu stink. Infections are visible most of the time. But if you can’t recognize the stinking problem, take Shiba to the vet.

Diet:

Smelling bad or stinking might be a reason for a poor diet. Moreover, the Shibas who eat raw meat more are likely to stink. Diet has a great role in smelling bad. So, if your Shiba stinks, you might be careful with his diet.

Dental problem:

Sometimes, Shiba Inu faces dental problems that can make the Shiba stink. For example, Shiba Inu can build up plaque or tartar on their teeth. These problems can spread a bad odor.

Temporary reason:

Shiba Inu’s smelling problem might be temporary. When Shiba plays outside, he might get dirty. Besides, Shiba Inu sweats after excessive exercise. Sweat can spread a bad smell sometimes. These temporary problems will go away after a wash or bath.

How to clean the Shiba Inu smell?

Shiba Inus are not smelling dogs. They clean themselves most times. But sometimes, they can stink for different reasons. You can make the Shiba stink less by following some simple steps. Let’s see how to clean the Shiba Inu smell.

Groom your Shiba Inu regularly.
Brush the Shiba every day and twice a week when he is shedding.
Give your Shiba Inu a good diet and try to reduce raw meat.
Bathe the Shiba Inu every 3 months or three/four times a year.
Clean the places regularly where the Shiba lies down or sleeps.
Brush the Shiba Inu’s teeth to prevent plaque build-up and tartar problems.
Clean your Shiba Inu’s ears to prevent wax build-up and dirt.
Clean or wipe the Shiba Inu when he returns home from outside.
Take him to the vet when you notice a smell or for a regular check-up.

Do Shiba Inus need baths?

Yes, Shiba Inus needs baths. But not as frequently as other dogs. Generally, Shiba Inus remain clean on their own. They clean themselves so well that they are considered one of the cleanest breed dogs.

But cleanliness doesn’t mean that the Shiba Inu doesn’t need baths. Shiba Inus require baths every six weeks. If you don’t bathe the Shiba Inu, he might not be noticeably dirty. But eventually, he might stink.

Sometimes, Shiba Inus face some allergy and infection problems. Bathing can reduce the attack of bacteria and viruses and keep them clean. If you don’t bathe the Shiba regularly, he might grow skin problems. So, Shiba Inus need baths regularly.

How often should you bathe a Shiba Inu?

You should bathe a Shiba Inu every 6 weeks. Generally, Shiba Inus look clean. They also like to remain clean. So, they clean themselves like a cat. But Shiba Inus also requires baths. You have to bathe your Shiba Inu regularly after one or two months.

You might think that Shiba Inus don’t need many baths like other dogs. It’s true that the Shiba doesn’t stink or get dirty like other dogs. But a regular bath can keep your Shiba healthy.

Sometimes, Shiba Inus face skin problems that might come from dirt or dust. Moreover, skipping baths can increase the chance of allergies and skin diseases. So, you must bathe your Shiba every 6 weeks.

How often should you bathe a Shiba Inu puppy?

You should bathe a Shiba Inu puppy every month. Even you can bath them every two weeks. Shiba Inu puppies are also clean like the grown-up Shiba Inu. But they need to bathe regularly. Generally, puppies are more active than grown-up dogs.

Moreover, they have less cleaning experience. So, you should manually clean them. Bathing them every month will keep them healthy. Besides, bathing can prevent them from building up any skin disease at an early age.

You should also clean them every time they return home from outside. Keep them clean from sweating and dirt.

How to properly groom a Shiba Inu?

Grooming is essential for every dog. However, Shiba Inus are cleaner than other breeds of dogs. But they also need regular grooming. Let’s see how you can properly groom a Shiba Inu.

Use proper grooming kits for Shiba Inu because they don’t tolerate pain while grooming.
An adult Shiba Inu or puppy should be brushed at least twice a week.
If your Shiba Inu is shedding, brush him once a week with care or take him to a professional.
Brush the Shiba Inu’s teeth properly twice a week.
Clean the paws and nails of the Shiba Inu every week.
Clean the ears of the Shiba Inu every week, and don’t let the water go into the ears.
Bathe the Shiba Inu every two weeks with pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner.
Chip the nails of the Shiba Inu every two weeks.

Do Shiba Inus need their ears cleaned?

Yes, Shiba Inus need their ears cleaned. Even you must clean their ears regularly. Sometimes, Shiba Inus can face severe ear problems from dust and dirt. Though Shiba Inus don’t face frequent ear problems like other dogs, they can face wax build-up in their ears.

For cleaning the Shiba Inus ears, you can follow the following steps.

Fill the Shiba Inu’s ears with the vet’s suggested ear cleaning solution.
Massage the ear for 30 seconds.
After massaging, the ear build-ups or wax will be knocked out from the ear.

Shiba Inus are pretty clean dogs. They are self-dependent when it comes to cleaning. But cleaning themselves isn’t sufficient. So, you need to groom and clean the Shiba Inus regularly. Though Shiba Inus are clean dogs, they also need baths and cleaning regularly.

If you don’t clean your Shiba regularly, he might face many skin problems or stink. You can find the cleaning procedure and the necessity of cleaning the Shiba Inu in this article.