Home Remedies for Dog Odor

There are some easy home remedies for dog odors to try before shelling out money on perfumes and air fresheners. Aside from dogs just being dogs, there are a myriad of reasons why your pet might smell bad. Some pets have medical problems that cause their skin to emit foul odors. Others just really enjoy rolling in smelling stuff. After ruling out medical issues, it's time to clean the dog and its house.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Liquid dish soap
• Cotton swabs
• Cotton balls
• paper towels
• small mixing bowls
• Baking Soda
• Small toothbrush

1. Mix baking soda and water to make a tasteless paste for cleaning the dog's teeth between dental appointments. Use a small tooth brush or a fingertip style to gently rub the paste on the teeth and polish them. Remember to gently rub inside the jowls, too. Offer clean, fresh water for the dog at all times.

2. Clean the dog's ears thoroughly to remove dirt and yeast odors. All dogs with long ears, like Cocker Spaniels, have the potential for smelly ears. They do not have the ability to shake water and dirt out of them. Use a homemade solution of: 50% white vinegar, 25% rubbing alcohol and 25% water. Pour a small amount of the mixture in each ear and rub thoroughly. Use cotton balls and swabs to remove excess liquid. Use cotton swabs to remove any dirt in the ear as well. Be sure to dry ears completely. Sprinkle drying powder in the ear.

3. Give the dog a dry bath between grooming appointments to remove excess oils and odors. Apply baking soda to a dry or oily coat to absorb bad odors. Let the baking soda absorb the odor, it may even become darker in color as it absorbs oils. Brush out the baking soda completely with a slicker brush and comb.

4. Bathe the pet in a homemade de-skunk solution. Mix: 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap. Rub well into pet hair and down to skin. Rinse completely with clean tap water. Repeat the process until all odor is removed. Discard all left over solution. Do not cap and store. Dry the dog completely to avoid mildew odors. Use a blow dryer to speed the process.

5. Wash all dog bowls, bedding and toys to remove old smells and bacteria. Dog odors often get embedded in the home, making them hard to find. Wash the pet bedding in heavy duty laundry detergent. Make sure to dry completely to avoid mildew odors. Sanitize all hard dog toys in a solution of water dish detergent and a cap of bleach. Dog toys build up bacteria and should be washed weekly to avoid odors and the spread of bacteria. Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily.

Tips & Warnings

• Make dog food changes slowly. Mix old food with new for an easier conversion for the pet. Sudden food changes of any kind can cause more odor. Put tooth brushing on the daily schedule. Don't make a big deal of it. Treat it like a bonding time with your pet and enjoy the care. Start brushing teeth as a puppy, and the dog will allow it easily. Older dogs may need some TLC during the process, but they need it the most.
• Always seek medical advice from a licensed veterinarian before attempting to home remedy a new problem with dog odor. Do not over bathe the dog. It may dry out its coat. If your pet goes to regular grooming appointments, you will probably only need a dry bath in between. Bathe the dog according to any vet or groomer instructions. Do not attempt to seal and store homemade ear cleaning solution. The mixture is not to be sealed as a chemical reaction will occur. If you decide to make homemade dog food, check with your veterinarian first. Do not alter the recipe in any way.

Resources

• Eliminating Odor on Yahoo! Pets