Homemade dog deodorant: clean paws and a cornstarch dry shampoo

Key points

• The corn chip smell from paws is normal and comes from yeast and bacteria on the skin.
• Cleaning the paw pads with warm water and drying well between the toes is enough for most dogs.
• A cornstarch dry shampoo freshens the coat between baths if you brush it out thoroughly afterward.
• Don't use essential oils or baking soda: they irritate the skin and bother their sense of smell.
• A strong or new smell, with itching, licking or redness, can be an infection.

Before you make a homemade dog deodorant, it helps to know what you're trying to get rid of. That popcorn or corn chip smell from their paws, so typical of dogs, is normal: it's produced by the yeast and bacteria that live on the skin of every healthy dog, helped along by sweat from the paw pads.

There's no need to perfume your dog, least of all with essential oils or baking soda, which irritate their skin and their nose. What does work is cleaning and drying their paws properly, plus a cornstarch dry shampoo to freshen the coat between baths. We explain both, and when a strong smell signals a problem that needs looking at.

Why your dog's paws smell like corn chips

Dogs sweat mainly through their paw pads. That sweat, the moisture between the toes and the bacteria and yeast that normally live on the skin (such as Pseudomonas, Proteus or the yeast Malassezia) produce compounds with that toasted-corn smell. It has a fitting nickname: Frito feet.

It's stronger in dogs that spend time indoors on warm surfaces, in dogs with lots of fur between their pads, and after sleeping. As long as the smell is mild and the paws are healthy, it's not a problem.

Why not to use essential oils or baking soda

A dog's sense of smell is tens of thousands of times more sensitive than ours: a scent that seems mild to you is overwhelming to them. Essential oils can also irritate the skin, and some are toxic if your dog licks their paws, which is exactly what they'll do. Baking soda is alkaline, disrupts the skin's pH, dries it out and can irritate cracked paw pads, and it isn't good for them to swallow in any quantity.

When the smell signals a problem

• Pododermatitis: if they lick or chew their paws often, the fur between the toes is stained reddish-brown from saliva, or there's redness, swelling or bumps between the toes. It's often an underlying allergy with a yeast or bacterial infection.
• Ear infection: if the strong smell is coming from the ears, with dark wax, scratching or head shaking.
• Anal glands: a strong fishy smell, especially if they scoot their bottom along the floor.
• Greasy skin with a rancid smell all over the body: it may be seborrhea or yeast dermatitis.
• Mouth: if the bad smell is their breath, see our guide to bad breath in dogs.

In these cases, the smell is a symptom: covering it up doesn't help, and the vet needs to find the cause. If your dog has sensitive skin, the oatmeal bath is a good complement. More ideas in homemade dog care.

What you need

• A small tub or container big enough for a paw
• Warm water
• A microfiber towel or soft cloth
• Blunt-tip scissors
• Plain cornstarch, not mixed with anything
• A brush suited to their coat

Step by step

1. Clean the paw pads

   After a walk, or whenever they smell stronger, dip each paw in warm water for a few seconds or wipe it with a damp cloth, spreading the toes to clean between them. There's no need for soap every day.

2. Dry well between the toes

   This is the key step: moisture between the toes is what feeds the yeast. Press dry with the towel and run the cloth between each toe.

3. Trim the fur between the pads

   If they have a lot of fur between the pads, trim it flush with blunt-tip scissors. That way it dries faster, smells less and they'll slip less on indoor floors.

4. Apply the cornstarch dry

   To freshen the coat between baths, sprinkle a tablespoon of cornstarch over the back and sides on a completely dry coat, away from the face so they don't inhale it, and massage it in to the roots with your fingers.

5. Wait, then brush thoroughly

   Leave it for about 5 minutes to absorb the oil, then brush thoroughly until there's no white powder left. Cornstarch built up against the skin can make it itch.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my dog's paws smell like Fritos?

It's normal. Dogs sweat through their paw pads, and that sweat, together with the moisture between the toes and the bacteria and yeast that live on their skin, produces compounds that smell like toasted corn. It's only a problem if the smell is very strong or new, or comes with licking, redness, swelling or limping.

Is baking soda good for getting rid of dog smell?

Not on the dog. Baking soda is alkaline, disrupts the skin's pH, dries it out and can irritate cracked paw pads, and your dog will tend to lick it off. You can use it to clean their bed or blanket and rinse it well, but for the coat a well-brushed cornstarch dry shampoo or a bath with dog shampoo is better.

How can I get rid of dog smell without a bath?

Brush them often, because dead hair holds oil and odor; clean and dry their paws and the area around the mouth well; use a cornstarch dry shampoo followed by a good brushing; and wash their bed and blankets every week or two. If the smell persists, there may be a skin, ear or mouth problem.

Why does my dog lick their paws so much?

It can be boredom or habit, but when it's constant the most common cause is itching from an environmental or food allergy, often with a yeast or bacterial infection on top. It can also be a wound, a grass awn or foxtail stuck in the paw, or joint pain. If they lick every day or the fur turns brown, have the vet take a look.