Have you ever caught a whiff of your dog's paws and suddenly had a hankering for Fritos or popcorn?

Ask almost any dog owner and they'll confirm their dog's paws smell eerily similar to a bag of corn chips, to the point where you wonder if they've somehow gotten their paws into a bag.

But as it turns out, there's actually a scientific reason why dog feet smell like corn chips, and it doesn't have anything to do with their diet!

The Frito smell is totally natural and totally common among dogs. It's caused by a bacteria even on the cleanest of dog paws. The bacteria, called Proteus or Pseudomonas, gives off a yeasty smell which our noses associate with corn chips.

It's similar to how certain bacteria and microorganisms give off the smell of body odors in humans. It's just a way of life.

The Frito smell is completely normal, but if you find it's getting worse it's probably a good idea to get your dog checked out!