Why do my dog's paws smell so good?

BoingBoing.net ^ | May 11, 2010 | Lisa Katayama

[Daffynition]

I have always loved falling asleep to the smell of my dogs' paws. I started telling other dog-lovers this recently, only to find that many others feel the same way. Then, Dogster founder Ted Rheingold pointed me to a phenomenon referred to as Frito feet:

Bacteria and yeast naturally reside on the skin of all animals, including cats and dogs. The feet of both species contain many folds and pockets, such as the areas between toes and the spaces between the foot pads. These areas have increased levels of moisture and decreased air circulation at the level of the skin.

The increased moisture and decreased air circulation in these environments enables the resident bacteria and yeast to proliferate exuberantly. These micro-organisms give off odors, and I suspect that they are the cause of Frito feet. Because cats groom themselves more thoroughly than dogs, they are less likely to have foot odor.

One bacteria in particular is famous for smelling like corn tortillas. That bacteria is called Pseudomonas. It is often associated with skin or ear infections, and I can't promise that it has anything to do with causing Frito feet. But I am a bit suspicious.

[Daffynition]

'Morning P73! So good to cybercya!!!

You have to teach them to wash and dry their paws "after."

Much love FRiend.

[Daffynition]

Sounds down right EVIL!

[BruceysMom]

Give your dog pineapple to eat, after a week or so he will stop eating his own “stuff”

[Global2010]

I shared some fresh pineapple with the Cold Nose Crew last week and they refused it.

Oh and no they don’t eat poop.

Just suprized they didn’t care to eat pineapple.

(they eat just about everything else in the food world that they have been offered)

[Global2010]

I have one Lab that always smells like a musty old room.
(has a naturally big undercoat)

The other Lab has no scent at all.
(next to no undercoat)

And the Dachshand smells snuggly.

[a fool in paradise]

[MNnice]

My Westie’s feet smelled like popcorn.

[BunnySlippers]

Wow, I have never had my chihuahua, Fidel, washed because I like the smell of corn. Did not know anyone else had this experience.

[Ditter]

Yuck! Where do you find this stuff? Fritos stink and so do dogs feet but I don't see any similarity between the smells. One of my dogs has allergies and she and her feet and ears smell like Parmesan cheese. BARF! I bathe her about every 4 to 5 days or she is so stinky I can't have her in the house much less in my bed. If dogs walk in their own urine it is even worse.

[Vermont Lt]

THAT, I haven’t tried. Thanks for the tip!

[Cyclone59]

I have a black lab and a yellow lab. About a 1/2 hour after they each finish a rawhide chew, the farting contest begins. And they are BAD ones too!

I hear ya, room clearing, my two chocs to the same thing. The funny part is when they fart and look at you like you did it while giving you that classic head tilt.

[sniper63]

Alpo farts are really nasty. LOL

[sniper63]

That is not a dog, that is a small pony....LOL

[green pastures]

Holding my dog's front paws in my hand... For measurment sake, my hand is 6 3/4 inches from the bend in the heel of the hand to the tip of the middle finger... This picture has part of one of her paws on my wrist area, not included in the measurement...

[sniper63]

What the he!! is that, a living Chupacabra?

[a fool in paradise]

It looks like a Sumarian Rat Monkey.

[windcliff]

ping

[EnquiringMind]

Paw fetish anyone? Lol. I don’t really care why a dog’s paws smell, good bad or otherwise. Kinda gross...

Not at all gross. Guess you don't own a dog.

[Slings and Arrows]

A philosophical question worthy of Socrates, to be sure.

[dmz]

Poopcicles in the winter and pooptarts in the summer.