# Why do dogs smell like scabs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231 "2005-11-29T17:41:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/1 "2005-11-29T17:41:54Z")
As someone who repeated skinned their knees as a child, I have come to know the slightly putrid smell of large scabs. I have also noticed that many dogs smell like this. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/2 "2005-11-29T17:53:54Z")
Couldn’t tell ya. But I can tell you that rat fur smells like grape pop. Substansially better than scabs. As to why, I don’t know that either. Maybe rats drink grape pop on the sly? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/3 "2005-11-29T22:26:33Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > As someone who repeated skinned their knees as a child, I have come to know the slightly putrid smell of large scabs. I have also noticed that many dogs smell like this. Why? WAG They don’t use anti-biotic ointments and band aids. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/4 "2005-11-29T23:13:35Z")
I’ve smelled _thousands_ of dogs over the years. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed the scab thing though. Different pathology can lead to specific odors; ketosis has a smell, _Malessezia_ in the aural canal has a smell, _Pseudomonas_ has a smell. But scabs? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/5 "2005-11-29T23:47:27Z")
None of my three dogs smell like scabs. However, their feet DO smell like Fritos. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/6 "2005-11-30T00:11:57Z")
I have owned multiple dogs for 45 years . I have been to hundeds of dog shows , and trained for a local obedience club, putting me in contact with more dogs than most people see in a lifetime. And I have never , ever , NEVER smelled one that smelled like a scab. I have, however, noticed the Frito smell on their pads. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/7 "2005-11-30T00:35:38Z")
You know, the Frito thing is something that I have heard related many times. What I’ve never understood is what all these people were doing smelling their dog’s feet? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/8 "2005-11-30T02:54:44Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > You know, the Frito thing is something that I have heard related many times. What I’ve never understood is what all these people were doing smelling their dog’s feet? 😉 Not on purpose…I always caught a whiff of the Frito smell when I dried my dog’s feet after she went outside in wet weather. (She had longish fur between her toes, as well as fringe down her legs.) Even after her feet had been towelled dry, she would lay down in the floor and carefully lick each foot. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/9 "2005-11-30T03:08:15Z")
**csharpmajor** : have you considered the possibility that your scabs smell like dogs? ---
**Author:** ![blackhobyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blackhobyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackhobyah)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/10 "2005-11-30T07:01:46Z")
I just sniffed my dogs and I don’t think any of them smell like scabs, even the very old one. But then, I’ve never noticed that any scabs I’ve had have smelled unpleasant. Just off the top of my head; if I imagine scabs smell like anything I’d assume it was dried blood … if the dogs you’re smelling have a flea problem it is possible you’re smelling the dried blood left on the dog’s skin from flea bites. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/11 "2005-11-30T07:18:40Z")
How weird. I thought I was the only one that thought dog feet smell like Fritos. Can’t tell you about the scab thing. Scabs just smell iron-y to me. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/12 "2005-11-30T08:06:30Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > However, their feet DO smell like Fritos. 🙂 Yes, that’s it! Fritos! Suddenly corn chips are a lot less appetizing. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/13 "2005-11-30T08:12:17Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > **csharpmajor** : have you considered the possibility that your scabs smell like dogs? Hee hee. To be able to smell a scab it has to be quite large and even then it’s not a strong smell, or an _unpleasant_ smell, it’s just not… quite… right. Seriously though, every dog I’ve met has this smell. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/14 "2005-11-30T12:25:54Z")
I suspect you’re just smelling some sort of generic bacteria-feeding-on-body-fluids odour. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/15 "2005-11-30T12:59:19Z")
Well, one more time this board has blown my mind. I thought I was the only person in the world who thought her dog’s feet smell like Fritos. The OP is on her own with the scab thing, though – although, to be completely honest, I’ve never actually smelled a large scab, so I couldn’t tell you for one hundred percent sure that my dog _doesn’t_ smell like one. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/16 "2005-11-30T14:15:01Z")
I have had dogs my entire life, and I have never smelled their feet. \>\>\>\> But you can bet I will tonight. Thanks a lot weirdos! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/17 "2005-11-30T14:30:20Z")
I never smelled a dog who smelled like anything but “dog.” Dirty dog, hot dog, wet dog, or nice clean dog, they all smelled like dog. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-smell-like-scabs/333231/18 "2005-11-30T14:33:53Z")
I’ve never noticed scabs smelling like anything, and I’d certainly never associate the smell of dogs with anything. I never noticed their feet smelling like Fritos. However, I notice that _my_ worn socks smel like Fritos. Eddie Murphy’s character in **Mulan** made the same observation about socks.