Posted on 05/12/2010 3:31:19 AM PDT by 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.
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Two of the cats I’ve had occasionally smelled like cinnamon. Absolutely no chance that they got into the spice drawer.
He was an interesting chap.
Our cat smelled like pipe tobacco.
Try dried pineapple. My usually carnivorous Akita loves it. If we open a bag, he follows us around with that adoring expression. Hint: it is full of sugar!
My cats usually smell like kitty litter. If Misty has been having digestive problems, I pray she smells like kitty litter.
Too Funny!!!! My labs paws smell just like Frito’s!!! I just recently told my husband to smell them.. Who Knew???/ he he!!
Hint: I don’t do allot of sugar in my diet.
Fresh is best.
Unless it is Chocolate. Then I have no self control and as we all know the Chocolate for Doggies is deadly.
But BOY you should see the beggin eyes when Momma is enjoying the dark cocoa. yuuuummay...
: )
I’ve heard there’s some kind of medication you can get that will make him quit. Have you tried that already?
The cherry kind?
A couple of times, when my dog had farted particularly loudly, he turned around and growled at his rear.
He’s usually gassiest in the early morning, when we drive to the jogging track; I learned very quickly to drive with all the windows down!
Poor Lucas was having some problems, and he started going in my dirty dish towel basket. I was wondering why the cat box room was smelling so bad until I discovered the dastardly deed. The basket and most of my dish towels went into the trash, Luke is going to the vet, I’m in the market for dish towels, and I have a new place for the dirty towels.
PK! I hope that he’s okay because if I lose him and my Rocket at the same time, it’ll really be rough.
According to our vet, the dose is the poison, so it depends on the dog’s weight vs. the amount of chocolate. He went on to tell us that in over 30 years of practice, he hasn’t seen a dog ill or dead because of chocolate and that included a small one who ate most of a box.
Anecdote: a friend ruined a batch of brownies and threw them out. She was secretly hoping that the neighborhood mutt pack would eat some and then disappear. Well, the dogs gobbled the burnt brownies and lived on to annoy everyone.
We give ours just a taste now and then of milk chocolate. At 10, the tests he had prior to surgery last Fall showed him to be exceptionally healthy. Doc even said he was a *very young 10”.
At one point, we were only buying the dried pineapple for the dog! AFAIK, the sugar isn’t added. At least, it wasn’t on the label as such. I think in the drying process, the natural sugar in the pineapple is concentrated, so it tastes sweeter.
I think next time I see pineapples on sale I will dry some and see if that is the same as the organic dried brand we have been using.
Our guy gets only small amounts of people food. Anything with tomatoes is popular. As for his paw smell, I have no idea. When he is dry, in the winter, especially, he smells like a clean fur coat. When wet or in the humidity of summer, he stinks like any wet dog.
Frito feet = The paws that refreshes
Yes. Fritos. Popcorn.
Almost makes up for their other aromas.
Just plain, Maine Coon Cat.
Yeah, we’ve tried about six or seven different pills that are supposed to make his refuse taste, well...like crap. He must like the texture or something.
We will continue to explore...
The dog was forced to be a vegetarian on the “Goode Family.” There were missing dog pictures all over the neighborhood because he was eating them at night. Very funny.
Poor baby! I hope they’ll both be OK.
Your Maine Coon smells like pipe tobacco, but not the cherry kind? That’s still cool. It’s just that my late father-in-law smoked the cherry kind.
My Rocket (a Maine Coon) is one of the ones that smell like cinnamon from time to time.
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