How to get rid of dog smell in your apartment for a long time - 6 useful tips

Pets give their owners love and lift their spirits. But how unpleasant it is when the smell of an animal hits your nose right from the doorstep. It's a shame to invite guests. Luckily, you can completely eliminate dog odor from your home if you take proper care of your pet. Cleaning products from pet stores and folk methods will help you deal with puddles on carpets and sofas. We will tell you how to keep your apartment clean and fresh, despite the presence of your four-legged friend.

Tip 1: Wash your dog regularly

There are certain dog breeds that smell stronger than others. These are, in particular, German shepherds, English bulldogs, Pekingese, Yorkshire terriers, pugs, sharpeis, and St. Bernards. They should be washed at least once every 2 weeks. Representatives of other breeds only need to be bathed once a month.

If you ignore this rule, a persistent dog smell will appear in the house. The dog's sebaceous glands secrete oil, which attracts dust and promotes the proliferation of microbes.

The same shampoos that are used for humans are not suitable for washing a dog. Your pet's skin has a different pH level. The use of conventional means leads to the following consequences:

• increased activity of the sebaceous glands;
• skin irritation;
• fragility and hair loss;
• the appearance of a strong dog odor.

Suitable Shampoos for Dogs

You will have to go to a pet store to get dog shampoo.We advise you to pay attention to the following brands that have positive reviews:

"FitoElite"

This budget shampoo is produced by the Russian company Veda LLC. It offers lines for short-haired, wire-haired, and fluffy dogs. The shampoo contains nettle extract and pine paste, which have an antibacterial effect. And coconut oil softens your pet's skin.

Espree

The shampoo is produced by an American company that positions itself as a manufacturer of environmentally friendly and safe products for pets. The product contains only natural ingredients:

• coconut base – cleanses the skin of dirt and oil;
• aloe vera and jojoba oil – moisturize;
• panthenol, vitamins A, D, E – soften and nourish the coat;
• salicylic acid – suppresses the activity of microbes.

The shampoo is suitable for adult dogs and puppies. Its only drawback is the high price.

Hartz

Hartz is another American company that produces pet products. Its shampoos belong to the middle price segment. The products have a balanced pH and contain emollient components. They are economical in consumption.

Wash your pet in warm water, starting from the head and gradually moving towards the tail. Remember to rinse the shampoo out of the wool thoroughly. After bathing, dry your dog thoroughly with a microfiber towel.

Tip 2. Groom your dog properly

The most common reason for a bad dog odor is laziness of the owners. To prevent your pet from stinking, you need to regularly and properly care for it.

• Walk your dog more often

Most pets can wait 10–12 hours before going to the toilet, so it is enough to take them outside 2 times a day: in the morning and in the evening.But if the dog is stressed or has some health problems, the number of walks will have to be increased to 3-4.

• Clean up your pet after going outside

After going outside, it is enough to wash the dog’s paws and the area under the tail (especially if the breed is long-haired). Use warm water without detergent.

At the pet store you can purchase deodorant sprays to care for your dog's coat. For example, Beaphar contains jojoba oil, which absorbs excess sebum.

• Don't let your dog get wet

In summer, some dogs enjoy splashing on the banks of ponds and even in puddles. Wool becomes saturated with dirty water and becomes a favorable environment for the growth of microbes. If you ignore the problem, your house will smell like dog.

As soon as possible, dry your dog with a hairdryer on the cold setting or with a towel. Better yet, wash your pet with shampoo.

• Carry out hygiene procedures regularly

Brush your dog at least once every 3 days. This simple procedure allows you to remove the undercoat, where moisture accumulates and microbes multiply. Regularly clean your pet's ears, claws, and rinse his eyes.

An unpleasant odor may come from the dog's mouth. Once every 2 days, brush your pet’s teeth using a special toothpaste from a pet store (for example, Trixie, Cliny, Brighton) and a children’s toothbrush. Toothpicks and chewy dog ​​snacks can also help get rid of bacterial plaque.

• Take your dog to the vet

You groom your dog properly and regularly, but it still smells bad? Perhaps it's an illness. An unpleasant odor may appear due to the following ailments:

• worm infections;
• blockage of the paraanal glands;
• otitis;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys;
• viral or bacterial infection;
• malignant neoplasm.

Typically, a sick dog’s appetite deteriorates, urination becomes more frequent, and lethargy or irritability appears. In such cases, she should be shown to a veterinarian.

Once every 12 months, the dog should be taken for a preventive examination.

Tip 3. Review your pet's diet

Surely you have noticed before that due to poor nutrition, acne and oily shine appear on a person’s face, hair becomes brittle, and digestion becomes sluggish. Something similar happens to a dog that is fed “junk” food. For example, cheap food or meager cereals. With this diet, the dog sweats more and often emits foul-smelling gases.

What foods should be included in a healthy dog ​​diet?

• 50% – meat and offal;
• 30% – sour milk;
• 20% – vegetables and fruits (cucumbers, carrots, sweet peppers, pumpkin, apples, bananas are suitable).

The menu must be changed every day so that the dog’s body receives the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals. If you are going to give your pet industrial food, choose premium and super-premium products.

The dog should not be given bones, table food (especially fried and smoked), sweets, alcohol, citrus fruits, onions and garlic.

Tip 4. Clean your apartment more often

Dust in the house absorbs the smell of the dog. Therefore, the apartment in which the dog lives has to be cleaned frequently.

Once every 2 days (or preferably daily), the following activities should be carried out:

• vacuum the floor, carpets;
• wipe furniture with a damp cloth;
• Remove dog hair from clothing using a stiff brush.

Once a week, wet cleaning of the apartment is required. It is advisable to wash floors with warm water with the addition of an odor eliminator (for example, “Pchelodar ZooWash”, Natures Miracle 8 in 1).Home remedies include laundry soap, vinegar, citrus, tea tree or lavender essential oils.

Do not use chlorine-containing wet cleaning products. Chlorine releases caustic fumes that are harmful to the health of people and pets living in the apartment.

Do not forget to regularly ventilate the room so that the dog smell does not accumulate in it. If you have a sensitive sense of smell, buy an air ionizer. This device generates negatively charged oxygen ions, which create a feeling of cleanliness and freshness. In addition, the ionizer destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi in the home.

Tip 5. Learn to remove urine stains

Alas, no dog owner is immune from puddles on the floor and wet spots on upholstered furniture. If a problem is discovered, you need to act as quickly as possible. Old traces of urine have a persistent odor that only intensifies over time.

To remove a wet stain from carpet or upholstery, first try “pulling” the moisture out with paper towels. But do not rub the dirt on the surface. Then use a cleanser that masks or breaks down the urine odor. The most effective are listed in the table below.

Table 1. Professional and folk remedies for urine stains and odors

Tip 6. Find and eliminate the reason why the dog shits in the house

Dogs rarely shit in the house due to lack of training or harmfulness. Usually this behavior serves as a “wake-up call” for the owner.

Why might a dog relieve itself on the floor, carpet or upholstered furniture?

• Overstimulation of the psyche

Perhaps the dog is excited because of a move, a rearrangement of furniture in the apartment, a scandal, or the departure of a family member. Even outdoor games can lead to emotional tension and accidental relief in the wrong place.

• Lack of patience

During the hot season, dogs drink more water. Therefore, they need frequent walks outside.Hypothermia can also lead to frequent urination.

• Age

As a rule, after 7–8 years of age, the muscles of the urethra and sphincter weaken in dogs. This leads to urine leakage.

• Disease

A dog may urinate frequently due to cystitis, urolithiasis, pyometra, and even spinal injuries. If proper care and a healthy diet do not help solve the toilet problem, take your pet to the veterinarian.

If the dog is absolutely healthy, but due to its nature it craps in the apartment or is still too small, find what smell repels dogs and try to raise a dog through smell.

So, to get rid of dog smell, you will have to overcome laziness and inattention. Clean the house more often, feed, wash, clean and comb your pet properly. Fortunately, pet stores now sell special products (sprays, deodorants, solutions) that make cleaning tasks easier and help get rid of the specific dog odor almost instantly.