Why Do Dogs Smell Like Fritos?

Corn chips make a pretty tasty snack. But you may suddenly lose your appetite when you realize your dog smells like a bag of Fritos–particularly, their paws. But why do some dogs’ feet smell like Fritos?

Why do my dog’s paws smell like a bag of corn chips?

You’re not alone if you’ve ever taken a whiff of your pup’s paws just to see what they smell like. Do a quick smell test: Your dog’s paws or Fritos? It's likely that they’ll smell like Fritos, and depending on your sensitivities, you may or may not be grossed out by that. 

The Frito paw is definitely a weird phenomenon, either way. The short answer is that it’s simply an overgrowth of bacteria and/or fungi that’s causing the familiar scent. But let’s start at the beginning. 

Doggie paws: The perfect home for gunk

Dogs have two ways of cooling their bodies: panting and sweating. But they don’t sweat all over; only through their paw pads. A dog’s paws are also full of fur–some dogs have more between their toes than others. 

Then add anything your pup may pick up in their paws from walking around, like mud, dirt, soil, germs, and other yucky things. On top of that, dogs have a bunch of oil glands near the paws that release sebum, an oily mixture of fatty acids.

Mix all this up, and you have the ideal spot for bacteria and yeast to thrive. The Frito scent actually comes from two particular types of bacteria, pseudomonas and proteus. 

Is this Frito smell normal for dogs?

Now that you know the culprit behind the smell, should you be worried? 

The aroma alone is not cause for concern. Just like our bodies, it’s normal for a dog’s body to have some level of bacteria and fungi on their skin. The problem comes when there’s too much of it and it causes other issues aside from the Fritos smell.

If you see any of these signs, you might want to check with a vet:

• Redness or hot spots
• Swelling
• Open sores
• Limping
• Your dog licking and chewing their paws 

Your pup may have an infection that needs to be treated, and there could be an underlying issue like allergies that needs to be managed. 

Paw care routine 

If your pup’s paws tend to get dirty and smelly, we’ve got the perfect paw care routine to take care of the Frito smell and reduce the risk of bacteria buildup.

The first thing to note is that you don’t want to go overboard with the paw cleaning, because it can cause other issues if they get irritated. Never use wipes that were made for people, because a dog’s skin is more alkaline than humans. Using shampoos or soaps made for us on a dog can actually cause the problem you’re trying to fix. 

Instead, try one of these dog-safe options:

• Unscented paw or grooming wipes made for dogs 
• Medicated antibacterial and antifungal dog wipes (not for use on open sores)
• Paw washes or foaming cleansers
• Hot spot sprays for itchy paws
• Coconut oil for a natural paw moisturizer and scent reducer

If your pet has a lot of fur in their paw pads that tends to trap dirt and odors, do not use scissors to cut it. You can easily end up causing an injury. Instead, get an inexpensive dog fur trimmer to keep it in check.