Guide to Eliminating Dog Urine Odor and Stop Repeated Marking Inside the House
Having a dog pee inside the house is a very common challenge that many pet parents deal with. Not only is that unpleasant smelly odor left behind but it can turn into an ongoing problem if you don’t take care of it the right way. To keep your home clean and healthy, it’s important to know why dogs mark their territory and how to fully get rid of the smell and stop repeat accidents.
Dog Pee Smell
Dog urine contains a waste product called urea that gives it an intensely strong, unpleasant odor. When urea starts to break down in the environment, it undergoes a chemical reaction that releases ammonia – that sharp, nose-wrinkling smell associated with stall restrooms or dirty litter boxes.
A few key things can worsen the noxious urine smell coming from your pup’s accidents around the house. High humidity levels allow more ammonia vapors to be released from urine-soaked floors, carpets, or furnishings. Porous fibers in fabrics, carpet padding, and cracks/crevices act like little odor sponges, trapping stinky compounds and preventing thorough cleaning. And as you might guess, the longer the pee remains uncleaned, the more time the urea has to decompose into extra ammonia.
That powerful ammonia odor billowing up from lingering dog puddles or set-in stains isn’t just unpleasant. Prolonged exposure to ammonia gas released from pet urine accidents can negatively impact human respiratory health. Battling pet allergies or asthma already? Exposure to ammonia vapors floating up from urine-soaked carpeting could make those conditions worse. Other possible effects include irritated nasal and throat passages, coughing, nausea, and headaches.
The takeaway here? That strong ammonia smell can cause health issues too, especially breathing problems. So you’ll want to clean up accidents immediately.
Dog Pee Spray
Special dog pee cleaners or dog pee sprays, are made to tackle that stubborn urine odor. There are two kinds – enzymatic and chemical sprays. Each works a little differently.
Enzymatic Sprays
These contain enzymes – natural proteins that break down the smelly bacteria in the pee. Enzymatic cleaners attack the bacteria and smell at the molecular level, getting rid of odor without leaving behind any harsh chemicals. They effectively erase urine smells without residue.
Chemical Sprays
These work by using compounds that either mask urine odors or bind to the smelly particles in dog pee. Some chemical sprays just cover up the bad smell temporarily. Other ones neutralize odors more permanently by bonding with the odor-causing ingredients.
Choosing a Spray
Consider how bad the smell is, what kind of surface the accident is on and whether you want to use chemical formulas around your house. If you have babies or young kids crawling on floors and touching things, you may prefer natural enzymatic products. For really stubborn odors in carpets and pads, a chemical spray might be more fitting.
Remove Dog Pee Smell from Carpet
Accidents on carpeting call for a special cleaning process. Here is an easy DIY method to lift fresh dog pee odors from carpets before they have time to set in.
For Fresh Stains
1. Blot up excess urine gently with paper towels or a clean rag. Try not to spread the area wider or push deeper into carpet piles.
2. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water and sprinkle it onto the accident zone.
3. Let the solution soak for 2-3 minutes so enzymes can work.
4. Blot area with clean paper towels, pressing lightly.
5. Sprinkle a little baking soda onto the spot to neutralize acidic vinegar.
6. Let baking soda sit 1-2 minutes then vacuum up.
7. Check for odor – repeat steps if needed.
For Old or Set-In Stains
- Commercial enzymatic cleaners designed for pet stains are best. They break down all the compounds causing odors on a molecular level.
- Always spot test carpets first. Check for any discoloration or damage to carpet fibers.
- Follow instructions on cleaner packaging for set-in stains. You may need to let the solution soak longer.
- Look into carpet cleaning machines for very stubborn buildup over time. Steaming loosens odors trapped deep in carpet padding.
How To Stop Dog Peeing in the House
There are a number of possible reasons why dogs end up urinating inside, including health problems, anxiety, incomplete house training, territorial marking urges and more. To tackle indoor peeing issues, the following tactics can be very helpful for many pet parents:
Scheduled Potty Walks
Take your pup outside on a consistent potty schedule, including first thing when they wake up in the morning, about 30 minutes after mealtimes, right before crating or bedtime and every 2-4 hours during the day maximum.
Choose a specific potty cue like “Go pee” or “Do your business” and give treats when they go to the bathroom in the correct outside spot.
Until dogs are fully and reliably house trained, limit their access around the house when you can’t directly supervise. Either keep them close by your side with leashed tethering or place them in their crate if you’ll be occupied with tasks and unable to monitor.
Crate Train Properly
It’s important that crates are sized properly to discourage accidents yet don’t feel uncomfortably cramped. General advice is to allow enough room for dogs to stand up, turn fully in a circle and lie down comfortably – but not large enough to use one end as a bathroom and keep sleeping on the other end clean.
Gradually help dogs become accustomed to their crate through positive associations before actual crating periods. Start with doors open, fun chew toys or stuffed Kongs inside, using an encouraging happy tone when they investigate and building up to short test periods crated. The key thing is that once dogs are fully crate trained, they naturally avoid peeing where they sleep. Crates tap into that instinct to reduce household peeing temptations.
Rule Out Medical Conditions
Increased urinary accidents, frequency, uncomfortable straining or other troubling symptoms may potentially indicate medical issues like urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney disease, cognitive dysfunction syndrome or other problems. Senior pets in particular may experience forms of incontinence or mental decline.
Be sure to discuss any concerns about abnormalities with your veterinarian to explore whether medical treatment, dietary changes or other interventions may help resolve what’s causing symptoms.
Consider Specialist Help
In very stubborn ongoing cases of indoor urine marking and soiling by adult dogs, it can be enormously helpful to consult certified professional animal behavior experts. They can carry out detailed assessments of unique situations in home and outdoor environments to identify precise scenarios, rooms or objects which seem to trigger territorial marking urges.
Customized positive training programs would then help anxious, insecure or excessively scent-motivated dogs understand property boundaries and gain confidence around your home.
