Home Remedy for Pet Odors

Pet owners will inevitably have to deal with some type of odor at some point. The most common source of pet-related smells is urine. Many products are on the market to help you neutralize pet odors. but you can also neutralize the odors with everyday ingredients.

  1. Urine Odors

    • Urine odor is a common problem when housebreaking a puppy or with male cats that like to spray. For urine on carpet or fabric-like materials, wash the spot thoroughly with soap and water and allow the spot to dry for about 24 hours. Once completely dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area and leave it for a few hours before vacuuming. For hardwood floors or other hard surfaces, scrub the area with full-strength hydrogen peroxide. If the odor is retained in the hardwood floors, you may need to strip the varnish to remove the remaining scent.

    Skunk Odors

    • Skunk odors on pets that wander outside are fairly common. There are two home remedy options to help with the smell. You may bathe your pet in enough tomato juice so that the fur is thoroughly soaked. Allow the tomato juice to sit for around 15 minutes before rinsing. Alternatively, you may shampoo your pet using a dash of liquid dish soap with a quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide solution and 1/4 cup baking soda. Follow both methods with a normal wash using regular pet shampoo.

    Body Odors

    • Pet have just as many sources of body odor as humans do. You should bathe your pet regularly to keep them fresh in general. For bad-breath situations, feed your dog or cat a raw turkey neck or raw carrots and avoiding give them any leftover human food. For dreaded "wet dog" odors, lightly rub a dryer sheet on your dog's fur to deodorize him and make him smell fresh.

    General Odors

    • Pet beds and litterboxes are common odor sources. To deodorize pet beds, sprinkle baking soda on them and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Vacuum the baking soda or shake it off outdoors. For litterboxes, mix some baby powder or baking soda in with the litter to absorb existing and future sources of odor.