Dolce & Gabbana creates perfume for dogs, but not all vets approve

Let’s be honest, we all like to pamper our pups, don’t we? If you find yourself spending a little more money than you expected on treats for your pup, you’re certainly not alone!

Most dog parents will find themselves buying plenty of the best dog toys and chews – the sort of things that first come to mind when you think of pampering your dog. Doggy perfume, on the other hand, may not have been on your radar.

However, Dolce & Gabbana has made a new perfume for dogs, called Fefé, in honor of Domenico Dolce’s poodle. It’s alcohol-free, but it’s divided vets and dog parents, with not everyone being a fan.

The perfume has been certified as suitable for animal use, and follows the Safe Pet Cosmetic protocol. On Dolce & Gabbana’s website , the company claims that all of the dog parents consulted agree that the fragrance is “gentle and well accepted by their pets”, with some vets approving of the project too.

The fragrance was created by Emilie Coppermann exclusively for the company, and it features notes of ylang-ylang, musk, and sandalwood.

However, some vets have criticized the product, as well as perfumes for dogs more generally, claiming that they might cause havoc with their sense of smell and even cover up scents that could be a symptom of disease. Dogs rely on their sense of smell a lot – and it can even help you tire your pup out, as this article shows: I tried a 45-minute 'sniffari', and it tired out my border collie more than a two-hour hike!

Federico Coccía, a vet based in Rome, told Euronews , “Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by a smell. When the dog arrives, he sees you, wags his tail, but first smells you and then recognizes you because you are stored in one of his ‘smell drawers.’ Therefore, this world of smells should not be changed.”

He also explained how dog perfume could make it more difficult to diagnose medical conditions: “In the case of sebaceous dermatitis, for instance, the smell somehow completes my diagnosis. The smell of breath, the smell of earwax are disguised by the perfume. So, it could be a problem even for us vets.”

If you’re not a fan of your dog’s smell (let’s face it, not everyone loves the ‘doggy’ smell, and dogs aren’t always the cleanest, most hygienic creatures!) and find yourself asking the question why does my dog smell? ’ you can finally learn the answer!