When we invite pets into our homes, the last thing on our minds is how their odors will transform our fragrant environments. Every domesticated animal has natural body odors, and the added stench of their waste can be enough to make people reconsider having an animal companion. Luckily, you do not have to live with "eau de kennel" just because you are a pet lover. There are several easy and inexpensive ways to cut down on offensive scents without banishing your beloved pet to the basement. Whether you own a cat, dog, ferret, or other exotic animal, these suggestions will help you eliminate the most common pet odors.
The most frequent complaint among pet owners is that they cannot get rid of urine odors. No matter how they scrub and spray, the offending smells are noticeable again. Often times, they think that the smell is gone until a warm, humid day draws it up again. Even after thorough cleaning, their pets return to soil the area over and over. Why is this? Urine, whether from human or animals, is a mild acid full of bodily wastes. The chemicals and bacteria it contains will remain unless they are destroyed, a job that regular carpet shampoos cannot do. As unsanitary as it seems to people, animals have an instinctual desire to mark their territory. When they detect the lingering smell of their waste or that of another pet, they will continue to spray the area to claim it as their territory. What is disgusting to us is a sign in your pet’s mind that reads, “Fido lives here.”
In order to permanently eliminate urine odors, you need to neutralize them on a chemical level. This means using products containing beneficial enzymes and bacteria, which are available in most pet shops. After soaking up the majority of moisture, douse the soiled area with this cleaner and allow it to dry before letting your animal back into the room. This also works well for removing lingering fecal matter smells, although you may have to use another cleaner to remove stains. Alternately, many pet owners endorse the use of common household products to cancel out these smells. Vinegar or baking soda, mixed with an equal quantity of warm water, can be applied exactly like the above cleaner to destroy rank smells for good.
Unfortunately, even pets that do not have "accidents" have litter that gives the home a pungent aroma. Cat litter boxes quickly stink up the room in which they are located, no matter how often they are changed. Try adding a cup of baking soda to your regular litter or exchange it for odor-absorbing pine cat litter. Rodents, ferrets, and rabbits should have their bedding changed every few days. Make sure that you wash and disinfect the base of the cage, feeding bowls, and toys weekly, since a pet's' odors can creep into all of them. It is also vital to bathe your animal regularly -- usually weekly, depending on the species -- with an appropriate shampoo. When you vacuum up spilled litter, try putting a laundry dryer sheet over the filter to catch offensive litter dust and absorb some of the smell. If pet odors hang in the air, place a bowl of white vinegar in the room. This will absorb foul smells, including "wet dog smell" and dirty litter as long as it is replaced weekly.
What goes into your animal can adversely affect what comes out. Consult your veterinarian for an appropriate diet for your animal, making sure not to supplement it with human food. While your dog may seem to tolerate fried chicken scraps well, he is not really equipped to digest it properly. Likewise, cats should not be given milk, ferrets should not eat cat food, and mice need more than vegetable bits to thrive. Not only will a pet's waste be exceptionally offensive if it eats the wrong foods, but its breath and bodily odor can suffer. Offer a well-rounded diet rich in the nutrients your animal requires. Also, keep in mind the oral health of your pet. Halitosis (bad breath) is a big complaint for pet owners, who rarely expect the cause. When food particles remain on a pet's teeth, they create dangerous -- not to mention smelly -- bacteria. Arrange for dental cleanings with your vet if possible and ask about at-home brushing and tooth-cleansing biscuits. On occasion, pets can become particularly offensive because of an ear or gland infection, which your vet can diagnose and treat.
Other odor-causing problems are specific to certain pets. Few pet owners with a cat or dog that stays outdoors on occasion have escaped the smelly issue of skunk spraying. Although your vet will be the best authority on how to banish the odor, different pet owners have different remedies. These range from baths with tomato juice, baking soda, peroxide, or lemon juice to dunks in vinegar or human shampoo. Some people recommend using feminine douche on skunked pets, which is reputed to remove every trace of smell. Some vets also suggest washing your pet with dish detergent, which cuts oils including skunk spray. No matter which cure you use, make sure to apply petroleum jelly around your pet's eyes to keep irritants out. Ferrets are reputed to have an especially musky smell, despite owners' best efforts to keep them clean. In their defense, these members of the weasel family naturally have a distinctive scent that some people dislike. However, you can have your pet de-scented and spayed or neutered to limit rank smells. Regular bathing and cage maintenance should eliminate the majority of other smells you may encounter.
Clearly, limiting pet odors in your home can be a constant battle. While some smells can easily be neutralized, others are unavoidable. If you cannot tolerate the distinct aroma of rodents, then gerbils, hamsters, and mice are probably not suited to you. Likewise, your cat will probably always have fish breath and your dog will never smell like fresh flowers when wet. Tolerating these minor odors is part of conceding to share your home with members of the animal kingdom. However, by following the above suggestions, you can make sure that guests are not scared off by your pet store-scented home. Understanding the underlying causes of pet odors will help you treat them so that everyone in the family can breathe freely.
