What have you done to eliminate (or mitigate) dog smell in your house?
July 16, 2019 9:09 AM Subscribe
Our Old Boy is a stinky one. He's super sweet 14-15 year old Cairn Terrier mix with skin fungus, alopecia, and he's progressively more incontinent. All of these lead to him being a stinky dude, which in turn makes my small house (~900 sq ft + basement) really stink. How do I eliminate or even mitigate this odor?
What we're already doing:
- give him meds for the fungus and alopecia. Neither seems to be be very effective but he seems just little a bit less itchy when he's on the meds. (The vet said at his age there's not much more that can be done as medication or treatments go.)
- bathe him twice a week with prescription shampoo.
- rotate and wash his bedding regularly (every other day at most, with sensitive skin formula detergent.)
- sweep or vacuum as much as possible (hardwood only; no carpet or rugs in the house because of this issue.) This is a must with as flakey as his skin is.
- open the windows and run a window fan to blow air out of the house, weather allowing.
- febreze/freshen the upholstered furniture somewhat regularly
- put him in diapers to help minimize messes and odor from incontinence (in addition to letting him outside often.)
- incense, candles, etc. (even though I know it's just masking odors, even if poorly)
I don't expect to eliminate the scent but the odor is such that I pause at having friends over (one recently asked "what the fuck is that smell?") and I'm really nervous about bringing any dates over to mine.
What am I not doing?
What we're already doing:
- give him meds for the fungus and alopecia. Neither seems to be be very effective but he seems just little a bit less itchy when he's on the meds. (The vet said at his age there's not much more that can be done as medication or treatments go.)
- bathe him twice a week with prescription shampoo.
- rotate and wash his bedding regularly (every other day at most, with sensitive skin formula detergent.)
- sweep or vacuum as much as possible (hardwood only; no carpet or rugs in the house because of this issue.) This is a must with as flakey as his skin is.
- open the windows and run a window fan to blow air out of the house, weather allowing.
- febreze/freshen the upholstered furniture somewhat regularly
- put him in diapers to help minimize messes and odor from incontinence (in addition to letting him outside often.)
- incense, candles, etc. (even though I know it's just masking odors, even if poorly)
I don't expect to eliminate the scent but the odor is such that I pause at having friends over (one recently asked "what the fuck is that smell?") and I'm really nervous about bringing any dates over to mine.
What am I not doing?
Air Purifier, the best you can afford, even if you can only afford this. It works pretty well, would get a couple to spread around, but only run them right before guests show up as the filter needs changing often.
I also always have one of those reed oil diffuser things with a light clean scent (nothing fruity or musky) by the front door to my apartment or where ever guests enter so that the immediate association with entering isn't a nasty one.
Activated charcoal bags.
Be making fresh coffee or baking something when friends come over.
(former cat owner in small apartment)
posted by greta simone at 9:25 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
I also always have one of those reed oil diffuser things with a light clean scent (nothing fruity or musky) by the front door to my apartment or where ever guests enter so that the immediate association with entering isn't a nasty one.
Activated charcoal bags.
Be making fresh coffee or baking something when friends come over.
(former cat owner in small apartment)
posted by greta simone at 9:25 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Does your home have vents or air ducts that you can either clean or hire a professional to clean? Can you change or upgrade any filters?
posted by juliplease at 9:27 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by juliplease at 9:27 AM on July 16, 2019
Do you have an air filter? I use one (Winix 5300-2 ) that makes a big difference.
I don't know if it'll work with your hardwood floors, but putting a little rubbing alcohol in with my floor cleaner helps get up some of sticky residue in dog urine.
posted by Candleman at 9:30 AM on July 16, 2019
I don't know if it'll work with your hardwood floors, but putting a little rubbing alcohol in with my floor cleaner helps get up some of sticky residue in dog urine.
posted by Candleman at 9:30 AM on July 16, 2019
I foster many, many dogs, and I am often the one pulling rescue dogs from the shelter, so they arrive with a stench hard to remove from the house.
I use kennel cleaners like Rescue, which is what shelters and dog kennels use. You can use it in laundry as well. It could also help with your dogs fungus issues. Follow the instructions for use and do fabric testing on sensitive items; it's powerful stuff.
Consider using things like Odoban instead of Febreze. Febreze has very specific instructions relative to dogs because a small number of dogs react badly to it. It could be contributing to your dog's skin issues.
I also use straight white vinegar for problem areas, rather than enzyme cleaner, to address smells and to discourage marking. Spray it on, and let it dry. If possible, avoid fabric softeners on bedding and other fabrics, as they tend to trap odors, and can irritate the dog's skin. You can use white vinegar in the fabric softener section of the washing machine, and dryer balls with minimal heat to avoid stiffening fabrics. The vinegar smell leaves pretty quickly.
During flea/tick season, I also spray kennel ares with pure cedar oil spray, which smells amazing and helps repel fleas/ticks. Let it dry before allowing your dog into the sprayed area, since the smell can be a bit much at first.
Have you considered changing his food gradually? Some dogs do better on different diets lower in things that contribute to fungus development. Maybe the vet can help with this?
posted by answergrape at 9:47 AM on July 16, 2019 [12 favorites]
I use kennel cleaners like Rescue, which is what shelters and dog kennels use. You can use it in laundry as well. It could also help with your dogs fungus issues. Follow the instructions for use and do fabric testing on sensitive items; it's powerful stuff.
Consider using things like Odoban instead of Febreze. Febreze has very specific instructions relative to dogs because a small number of dogs react badly to it. It could be contributing to your dog's skin issues.
I also use straight white vinegar for problem areas, rather than enzyme cleaner, to address smells and to discourage marking. Spray it on, and let it dry. If possible, avoid fabric softeners on bedding and other fabrics, as they tend to trap odors, and can irritate the dog's skin. You can use white vinegar in the fabric softener section of the washing machine, and dryer balls with minimal heat to avoid stiffening fabrics. The vinegar smell leaves pretty quickly.
During flea/tick season, I also spray kennel ares with pure cedar oil spray, which smells amazing and helps repel fleas/ticks. Let it dry before allowing your dog into the sprayed area, since the smell can be a bit much at first.
Have you considered changing his food gradually? Some dogs do better on different diets lower in things that contribute to fungus development. Maybe the vet can help with this?
posted by answergrape at 9:47 AM on July 16, 2019 [12 favorites]
Greenbug makes the cedar oil I use. It's expensive too, but it smells great and it's human and pet friendly, and doesn't harm beneficial insects like bees.
posted by answergrape at 9:54 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by answergrape at 9:54 AM on July 16, 2019
Could bathing him so much be irritating his skin?
posted by answergrape at 9:55 AM on July 16, 2019
posted by answergrape at 9:55 AM on July 16, 2019
You might consider a veterinary dermatologist if you haven't seen one already. Skin stuff requires a lot of specialized knowledge and a lot of experience that most GP vets don't have. I would be very surprised if there aren't additional options, even for an old stinky dude.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:34 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:34 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
I addressed a similar situation using Blueair Pure air purifiers with the particle + carbon filters, in combination with enzyme cleaners. I tried the purifier in one room and it worked well enough that I bought them for the rest of the rooms. I happen to use the Nature's Miracle laundry boost, floor cleaner, and spot cleaners, but I don't really know if there's a better brand of enzyme cleaner.
Other than that, it's just a lot of love and doctor visits.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 10:36 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Other than that, it's just a lot of love and doctor visits.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 10:36 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Generally it's fabrics that trap the smell and with today's high efficiency washers, that stuff just doesn't get cleaned out properly (see also cloth diapers.)
You need to kill the bacteria that are making the smell. Things that do that:
-cheap vodka in a spray bottle sprayed to soak the fabric after initial wash and dry then left outside to dry in the sun ideally.(idea stolen from the Madmen set designers who had to get the stink out of all kinds of vintage furniture)
-UV light. Get those fabrics out in the sun for a full day and let the UV rays kill the bugs.
-Copious amounts of neat white vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle, add some drops of a favorite essential oil and a drop of washing up liquid, shake, spray liberally.
posted by merocet at 10:53 AM on July 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
You need to kill the bacteria that are making the smell. Things that do that:
-cheap vodka in a spray bottle sprayed to soak the fabric after initial wash and dry then left outside to dry in the sun ideally.(idea stolen from the Madmen set designers who had to get the stink out of all kinds of vintage furniture)
-UV light. Get those fabrics out in the sun for a full day and let the UV rays kill the bugs.
-Copious amounts of neat white vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle, add some drops of a favorite essential oil and a drop of washing up liquid, shake, spray liberally.
posted by merocet at 10:53 AM on July 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
I would put loose covers, sturdier than a sheet, but loose fabric works well, over any furniture or location he prefers. That way, you can easily wash the cover. Fix him a very comfy space in the kitchen or any room with no carpet. Maybe put down newspaper for accidents. Please give him some scritches from MeFi.
posted by theora55 at 11:10 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 11:10 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for so many great answers. Some I've been doing in addition to what I've described. Some I could be doing better or at least differently. Briefly:
- I have a Coway air purifier. It seems to help, just a bit. I probably need to be more diligent about filter replacement.
- I launder his bedding (loose covers) with Nature's Miracle. I should probably change to the laundry specific version.
- His food has been changed in the past year or so. For a while he smelled like rotten meat - that thankfully has gone away with new food. Maybe it's time to make another change.
I've been trying to post a link to photos of our stinky dude but between poor mobile connectivity and work blocking access to certain sites it can't be done at the moment. I'll try in a few hours from home.
posted by brokeaspoke at 12:43 PM on July 16, 2019
- I have a Coway air purifier. It seems to help, just a bit. I probably need to be more diligent about filter replacement.
- I launder his bedding (loose covers) with Nature's Miracle. I should probably change to the laundry specific version.
- His food has been changed in the past year or so. For a while he smelled like rotten meat - that thankfully has gone away with new food. Maybe it's time to make another change.
I've been trying to post a link to photos of our stinky dude but between poor mobile connectivity and work blocking access to certain sites it can't be done at the moment. I'll try in a few hours from home.
posted by brokeaspoke at 12:43 PM on July 16, 2019
Our indoor air quality was helped significantly by getting a robot vacuum. It sucks up all the little bit of fur and dander and it has a built-in air filter.
posted by mai at 1:13 PM on July 16, 2019
posted by mai at 1:13 PM on July 16, 2019
This may be too expensive for the potential benefit, but get a sealed vacuum like some of the Miele models and use a HEPA filter to make sure you're trapping as much dander as possible. The C1 Pure Suction (entry-level model) is for hardwood floors and can do this as long as you use the right filter/bags. It's more pricey than the average vacuum but you will also...have a nice, surprisingly quiet vacuum to use in the future.
(BTW, someone who was caring kindly for an old pupper in his last decline despite such inconveniences would be a definite plus on the dating market for me, at least! Not that you're necessarily wrong not to want to expose a date to the smell.)
posted by praemunire at 1:21 PM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
(BTW, someone who was caring kindly for an old pupper in his last decline despite such inconveniences would be a definite plus on the dating market for me, at least! Not that you're necessarily wrong not to want to expose a date to the smell.)
posted by praemunire at 1:21 PM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
What are you feeding him?
posted by answergrape at 7:56 AM on July 17, 2019
posted by answergrape at 7:56 AM on July 17, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
As far as other smells, you might consider trying to figure out what is "trapping" the smells. Put him outside, air out the house for a bit, and sniff around. For example, is there a particularly stinky spot on the couch where he likes to lie down? How do the curtains smell?
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:23 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]