How to Get Rid of Pet Odors in the Home

No one wants pet odors to permeate their home, especially with the possibility of guests coming over for the upcoming holidays. If your living space is starting to smell a little too much like your furry friend, it’s time to act! Here, your Omaha, NE vet gives you a few helpful hints.

Grooming Tips

You’ll be surprised at what regular grooming can do to cut back on pet odors. Run a brush through your pet’s hair daily; this will remove grime and reduce shedding by moisturizing the fur, preventing it from winding up all over your home. The occasional bath—using a specially-formulated canine or feline shampoo—is also very helpful for combating odors.

Clean Regularly

Let’s face it: there’s no substitute for good old-fashioned cleaning. Dust and vacuum your home regularly, and be sure to hit pesky spots like windowsills, blinds, and bookshelves that tend to collect pet hair and dander.

Odor Hotspots

Be sure to clean a few spots frequently to keep your home smelling fresh. One, of course, is the litterbox; if you own a cat, daily scooping is key to maintaining a clean-smelling home. Your pet’s bed is another common odor hot-spot since your pet spends so much time there. Throw it in the wash every now and again, and sprinkle baking soda on the bed once it’s dry. Allow the baking soda to absorb odors for a few hours before vacuuming it off and returning the bed to its normal spot.

Odor Neutralizers

Air fresheners mask over smells, defeating them initially but allowing them to return over time. Odor neutralizers, however, combat odors at their root. There are many products available on the market made specifically to combat pet odors, from urine cleaners to litterbox refreshers. Visit your local pet supply store or big-box outlet to browse the selection, and ask your vet to recommend a good product.

Space Restrictions

Some pets simply come with more of an odor built-in. In these instances, one option is space restrictions. This means limiting your pet’s movements to one floor of the home, or perhaps allowing them on only one piece of living-room furniture, rather than giving them free reign of the whole house. Ultimately, this makes odor management a lot easier!

Do you still need help combating your pet’s persistent odors? Give your Omaha, NE animal clinic a call today to speak with a veterinary healthcare professional.