As much as you love your pet, you can’t help but accept that they sometimes smell and this inevitably also means that your house begins to smell as well. This can be the smell of any accidents that they may have had or just their general odor. You do not want to get rid of your pet and this means that you will have to take some action to get rid of the odor. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can do this.
Make Sure Old Pet Food Is Disposed Of
If your pet does not eat all of their food then the leftovers can soon start to smell. If you are feeding them dry food then it can be tempting to keep just topping up the bowl which means that the old food at the bottom can go bad. When you are sure that your pet has had enough food you should make sure that the bowl is completely emptied and cleaned ready for the next day. Some pets may also take some of their food out of the bowl and store it somewhere else so it is worth having a quick check around the house every now and again to see if you can find anything.
Brush Fur Regularly
If your pet’s fur is not brushed regularly, then things such as debris and oils can soon start to build up and this can cause odor. Different brushes work best for long and short fur and so you will need to choose the one that is right for your pet. Many pets will enjoy having their hair brushed and will enjoy this aspect of grooming. Many people choose to brush their pets outside because they do not have to worry about cleaning up any hair that has been shed.
Get Into A Dental Hygiene Routine
Bad breath can be a major cause of pet odor but it is fairly easy to deal with this by getting into a good dental hygiene routine. Teeth should be brushed several times a week, daily if possible. There are also treats that you can buy which will help to keep your pet’s breath fresh. These can be very useful in addition to brushing but should not be used as a substitute. Make sure that you do not use human toothpaste as the fluoride that it contains can be very harmful. There are toothpaste and brushes that can be purchased that have been designed especially for pets and these are relatively inexpensive.
Make Sure That They Are Washed And Dried Properly
If you have a dog then you will know how dirty they can get after some walks, especially if it is quite muddy outside. Many dogs dislike having a bath but it is something that needs to be done in order to get rid of the odors on their hair and skin. You should use a pet shampoo when bathing and make sure that all residue of this shampoo is washed off when you rinse your dog down. It is also important that your dog is dried off completely after they have had their bath. Bacteria can breed quickly in wet fur and these bacteria can be the cause of pet odor.
Invest In A Pet Stain Vacuum Cleaner
There are specialist vacuum cleaners like Bissell SpotBot that you can buy that are designed specifically to deal with pet stains. These vacuum cleaners are often used alongside a special shampoo that has been designed to remove stains from carpets and upholstery. They can also be used as a vacuum cleaner and they will be better than standard cleaners at removing pet hair from fabrics and the carpet. There are many different brands of pet vacuums that are available to buy and they will all have different features so you may have to do some research to find the one that is right for you.
Wash Bedding At Least Once A Week
Dog bedding is another place where smells can build up quite quickly. Therefore it needs to be washed on a regular basis, ideally at least once a week. You may want to consider having two beds so that there is always a spare one when the other is being washed. When the bedding has been washed you will need to make sure that is completely dry before letting your dog use it again. This will help prevent a damp smell developing almost straight away.
Consider Using A Dog House For Overnight
If your pet has a lot of accidents in the middle of the night, then you may decide to put them in a dog house overnight so they can go to the toilet in the garden when they need to go. There are many dog houses that you can buy which are very comfortable and using this does not necessarily mean your dog will feel like they are being punished. Dogs can actually enjoy having a place that they feel is their own and it can give you peace of mind that they are protected from the elements while they are outside.
Ask Your Vet For Advice
There is a lot of advice that your vet can give you about getting rid of pet odor. Some odors are caused by an unhealthy diet and changing the food that your pet eats can have an almost instant effect on how much they smell. Your vet will be able to help you with this by telling you the sort of foods that your pet should be eating, and what they should avoid.
There are also sometimes underlying health issues that cause pets to smell. Often, these issues are nothing that cannot be treated but they can remain undetected for some time meaning that you will not be able to get rid of the odors, regardless of the action that you take. If you have tried all the advice in this article and have found that the smell remains, then it may be worth asking your vet for advice.
Following above advice will help you to get rid of pet odor. But what about outside cats and dogs? You should get rid of them using pet deterrent only to avoid odors.