What should I check if my dog smells between the toes?
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Overview
If your dog smells between the toes, the most useful thing to check first is whether there’s trapped moisture, dirt, or signs of skin irritation. Paw odour is often linked to everyday issues like damp paws, debris, or licking, but it can also be related to skin or nail problems, so it’s worth taking a closer look.
Things To Check
1. Check whether the smell is stronger after walks, wet weather, grooming, or exercise.
2. Look closely between each toe for redness, swelling, broken skin, scabs, discharge, or a sticky feeling.
3. Separate the fur around the paws and check for mud, grass seeds, burrs, stones, or other debris.
4. Feel the paws gently for heat, soreness, or tenderness compared with the others.
5. Check the nails and nail beds for cracking, splitting, bleeding, or trapped dirt.
6. Notice whether your dog is licking, chewing, or chewing at the paws more than usual.
7. Check for dampness that keeps returning after walks, washing, or time outdoors.
8. Smell both front and back paws to see whether it’s one paw or all of them, as that can help narrow down what’s going on.
Common Causes
The most common reasons are trapped moisture, dirt, and normal paw odour that becomes stronger when the fur stays damp.
Allergies, skin irritation, or yeast and bacterial overgrowth can also cause a stronger smell, often along with licking, redness, or greasiness.
Sometimes a foreign body, such as a grass seed or small splinter, can cause local irritation and smell if it’s been there a while.
Less commonly, nail-bed problems or deeper skin infection may be involved, especially if one paw is affected more than the others.
What To Do
Start by cleaning and drying the paws after walks, especially in wet or muddy conditions. Keep the fur between the toes trimmed if it tends to trap dirt, and check the paws regularly so small changes are easier to spot.
If the smell comes and goes, note when it happens and whether anything seems to trigger it, such as rain, longer walks, or certain surfaces. That pattern can be helpful if you later need advice.
If your dog is licking the paws, try to reduce the chance of ongoing irritation by keeping them clean and dry and checking for anything stuck between the toes. If the smell keeps returning or the skin looks sore, it’s sensible to get it checked.
Products That May Help
A gentle grooming routine can make it easier to keep paws clean, dry and comfortable between washes.
Related Questions
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Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.