A smelly dog can empty a room – and dog smells that he leaves behind can be a problem too. If your dog smells or has urinated in the house, leaving smells that you have to find a solution to, know that there are ways to rectify the problem and get your dog and your home smelling good in no time.
First, dog smells should always be addressed when you take your pooch to the veterinarian. He’ll tell you if the smell is a result of its being sick or if it’s just a hygiene problem that bathing or adhering to a special diet can take care of.
If it’s your dog that has the smelly problem you may want to take him to your vet for a complete checkup to be sure he doesn’t have dental, skin or ear problems. Your dog may be the type that needs to be bathed on a more regular basis than most. Dogs that produce a lot of oil on their skin such as water dogs or Shih Tzus may need more baths to prevent odor that excess oil causes.
A temporary fix to a smelly dog might include purchasing some doggie cologne and squirting a small amount to help mask the odor. Also, be sure that the dog’s bedding and crate is clean and free from dog smells too. Laundering the bedding properly can get rid of most smells.
Be sure that your groomer or vet is properly cleaning your dog’s anal glands. If they’re not cleaned on a regular basis, an odor could result. Don’t try cleaning your dog’s anal sacs yourself unless you’ve been properly instructed as it may result in an infection.
Some dog food brands might cause your dog to develop bad smells. Changing the dog to a homemade diet of more natural – and less processed – foods can go a long way in preventing dog smells. Monitor what your dog may be eating that it shouldn’t such as grapes, nuts, raisins and avocados.
If your dog isn’t properly potty trained or gets sick on your carpet, you need to have it professionally cleaned periodically until the problem is under control. There are many products on the market that you can purchase and clean the affected area(s), but sometimes it’s difficult to tell which area is affected.
Crating your dog during the day when you’re gone and at night when you’re sleeping is a good idea if your dog isn’t yet trained. There are also pads that you purchase to train your dog on if it stays mainly indoors. Investing in a steam-carpet cleaning device might also help keep the dog smells at bay.
Of course, dogs will be dogs. If your dog smells from rolling in smelly stuff or has gotten sprayed by a skunk, there are certain methods of getting rid of the odors. You can go online to find the answer to your particular problem or ask your veterinarian for recommendations.