What causes 'Frito feet' in dogs?

Ever notice a peculiar smell on your dogs paws? AccuWeather's Ali Reid may have a surprising answer for why that is the case.

Transcript

00:00As the temperatures rise and humidity kicks in, many pet parents start to notice something unusual,

00:07a distinct smell coming from their dog's paws. Dogs have this unusual smell, a lot of people

00:14think that their dogs do, that resemble corn chips or Frito-Feed. And it's a combination

00:20of bacteria and yeast. Yep, that salty, snacky scent isn't a mystery, it's microbes. And when

00:27spring hits, the heat and humidity turn your pup's paws into a cozy little petri dish. A lot of skin

00:33issues become much more prevalent in dogs, and especially in areas that don't get a lot of air

00:39circulation. Dogs don't sweat like we do, they pant to cool off. But that doesn't mean their paws stay

00:46dry. Moisture is a good medium for bacteria and yeast to develop. And so between the pads of a

00:54feet, moisture develops there. And if there's an imbalance, then the problem can become much worse.

01:01But how do you know if it's just a little spring funk or something more serious or dangerous?

01:07If all four paws smell about the same and the dog is not bothered, it probably isn't much of an issue

01:13to worry about. But if one paw smells distinctly different, or if a dog seems to be licking one

01:19or all paws, that should require a vet's attention. Skin infections can be more common in dogs with

01:25extra skin folds or wrinkly breeds. But a simple step at home can help keep Frito Feet from getting

01:32started. Washing the feet up with a mild dog shampoo, and then make sure they're very, very dry.

01:39And then just make sure you inspect them. Make sure that they're all look similar. Think of it as

01:44spring cleaning for your pup's paws. For AccuOther, I'm Allie Reed.