How To Get Rid of Pet Odor

Pets can be wonderful companions to have in your home. They give you company and can warm your heart. However, taking on a pet can be challenging given the long-term maintenance involved, including managing pet odors.

What is Pet Odor?

Pet odor is the scent that in-house animals emit. It may come from their sweat, excretions, territory-marking secretions, breath, and otherwise limited hygiene that requires human intervention. The results can make for a stuffy, unpleasant, and uncomfortable home.

Pet odors spread via osmosis, a chemical process, and in a short while, your house may be marked territory. The smell is part of the animal’s biological process, be it defense or dominance.

Chemical Composition of Pet Odor

Pet fur has many Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs, like phenol, benzaldehyde, cresol, dimethyl-trisulfide, and diethyl-methyl pyrazine. When wet, these VOCs break free, and the scent spreads courtesy of water vapor. Each of the compounds has a distinct smell from fruitiness to fecal and earthiness. When combined, the odor can become quite strong.

Eliminating the Pet Odor

How Do You Get Rid of Pet Odor?

Below are several things you can do to mitigate pet odor and make life with your pet more pleasant:

1.  Clean Up After Them

A sure way of dealing with animal scents is by cleaning up after your pets. It may seem to be too much work, but it is a small price to pay for the rewards.

Excretions make up for significant animal scent that engulfs your space. Some pets may relieve themselves in unwanted areas like the carpet or furniture. You will have to exercise patience and bring your best effort to keep the household items stainless and odorless in such cases.

You should note that dogs and cats shed their fur occasionally. The hair may contain their sweat and makes the room feel stuffy. A vacuum cleaner will do your house justice in these cases. 

2.  Bathe Your Pets

We bathe to prevent body odor, and the same action is needed for pets. Wash them gently, use a neutral shampoo, and ensure that they are dry. A towel or blow dryer will do a good job.

Additionally, clean their accessories such as leashes, toys, feeding bowls, etc. Typically, veterinarians are an excellent resource for the best guide to cleaning your particular pet.

3.  Pet Training

A great way of dealing with strong pet odors is proactive training. This will give your pets the skills they need to relieve themselves and mark their territory outside the home.

 4.  Declutter Your House

Sometimes, your house may have a strong odor because of too much clutter. In this case, you do not have sufficient space to allow for air circulation. Clear away junk and other useless items that may take a lot of space. After removing the clutter, clean the place and open the windows and other air inlets to let in the fresh air. You will notice a difference. 

5.  Consult Your Vet

If you notice a more pungent scent from your pets, more so dogs and cats, you may need to consult your veterinary doctor. The issue may stem from their diet, and other times, it may be an issue with their anal glands. In any case, the vet can advise you on the proper course of action. Book an appointment with the animal doctor before the problem gets out of hand. Should it get serious, the odor will become unbearable, and your pet’s health may be at risk. 

6.  Use a Conventional Air Freshener

An air freshener can be a handy tool for combating pet odor. Many come in the form of a spray can, making it easier to cover your entire house. An air freshener can help neutralize the smell from your animal buddies. When looking for an air freshener, avoid strong sprays as they may lead to breathing complications like coughing and sneezing.

7.  Use a Non-Conventional Air Freshener

You can also opt for the homemade variety. For example, baking soda/powder is a key ingredient used in odor adsorption. Put a cup of baking powder into a canning jar, followed by a few drops of essential oil. Use a paper towel or paper cloth to cover the jar and secure it with a rubber band.

8.  Consider More Outdoor Time For Your Pet

If the smell gets out of hand, your pet may need to have some outdoor time to make your space bearable. For some, this seems harsh, but if you have respiratory issues, it is an excellent solution. If the pet is a dog or cat, you can create a shelter outside the house. Make the new home comfortable for your pet to enjoy its outdoor stay. Meanwhile, you will need to address the odors in your house.

Air Purifiers For Pet Odor

In addition to the aforementioned suggestions, adding an air purifier to your home can certainly help with pet odor. In addition to HEPA Filters that trap air borne particles, Carbon Filters remove gases, chemicals, and Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) from the air.

We recommend the following three models for Pet Odor 

To learn more about air purifiers and related topics, we invite you to check out our Blog.