Banishing Pet Odors from Your Home

Doing a little spring cleaning this time of year? Now is as good a time as any to discuss keeping pet odors at a minimum. For comprehensive tips on tidying up with pets in mind, check out our article on Spring Cleaning for Pet Owners. Here, your Springdale, ON veterinarian tells you what to do if your home is starting to smell a little too much like your animal companion.

Grooming Tips

The first thing you can do to try and reign in smells is deal with the source of the odor: your animal companion. Grooming can make a huge difference! Brush your pet regularly; not only does this remove loose and dead fur from the coat, preventing it from falling all over your home, it spreads essential skin oils through the fur to moisturize it naturally and removes smelly grime. The occasional bath is another great way to keep Fido or Fluffy smelling fresh!

Check Odor Hotspots

Do you have a cat? Clean the litterbox regularly. For both dogs and cats, it’s a good idea to toss pet beds in the washing machine now and again, as these can collect pet odors very easily. You can even try sprinkling baking soda over the bed, allowing it to sit for a few hours or even overnight to soak up remnant smells, before returning it to your pet. Pet toys can also get smelly, so try washing them as well.

Odor Neutralizers

For urine, vomit, and feces messes, pick up pet-specific odor neutralizers and stain removers at your local pet store or retail outlet. Standard household cleaning supplies just won’t do the trick! In addition, don’t bother with air fresheners to cover up pet odors; these only mask odors, allowing them to return over time. Odor neutralizer products, on the other hand, combat the enzymes that cause odors at the root.

Regular Cleaning

Let’s face it—there’s just no getting around regular cleaning when it comes to keeping your home smelling fresh. Vacuum and dust on a weekly basis. Pay special attention to easily forgotten areas like windowsills, blinds, and shelving where pet hair and dander might collect.

See the Vet

Does your pet smell particularly strong? Has your animal friend seemingly started smelling worse out of nowhere? It’s time to pay a visit to the vet’s office. Medical issues could be to blame, including skin infection or an infestation of some kind. If you suspect skin problems might be the cause, our pet allergies and veterinary dermatology service can help diagnose and treat these issues.

Want to know more about pet odor control? Call your Brampton, ON animal hospital today for more tips.