Dealing With Pet Accidents Wisely.

Why does it seem that as soon as you turn you’re back, Fluffy feels compelled to use your carpet as a toilet?  And, no matter how much you clean, you just can’t get rid of that smell!

While yelling at your pet (not that you, a mature and responsible pet owner, would do that) may help some people relieve a little frustration, it will not solve this problem.  In fact, it may create new ones while harming your relationship with your pet.

But don’t despair, reducing the frequency of accidents, even eliminating them, is possible.  However, it takes some hard work and patience. This is accomplished by locating the accident areas and cleaning them, while training your pet not to do his or her business there anymore.

1. Start by using your eyes and nose to find the accidents, but be aware that your senses may not suffice.  Consider purchasing a black light. These will even reveal old hidden accidents that you thought were no longer a problem.  You can find one at most home supplies stores and many pet stores.  To use it, turn off all the light and shine it around the room: pet accidents will glow.  Now that you know where the problem is, you can clean it with a quality enzymatic cleaner and get rid of the odor with pet odor neutralizers. These can be purchased at most pet stores and many mass merchandisers.  As soon as you get these products home, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on a low visibility area, such as the inside of the closet.  Dry the test area thoroughly with a blow drier at a cool setting and inspect the test area closely.  If there are no changes to the color or texture of you carpet, you can proceed.  DO NOT SKIP THIS TEST. YOU MUST BE SURE THAT THE PRODUCT IS SAFE FOR YOUR CARPET.
2. Now that you have your supplies, visit your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the accidents.  If your pet is healthy, you’re now ready to begin the cleaning and training processes.  But remember that cleaning and training go hand in hand. If you do not clean the area thoroughly your training efforts will be in vane, and if you do not teach your beloved Fluffy the right place to go, you will soon be cleaning new accidents. You can make thing better both of you, if you follow these tips:
3. Think of ways to make the old accident areas as unattractive as possible or keep them off limits.
4. Make the appropriate area to eliminate as attractive and available for your pet as possible.
5. Crate your pet or confine them to a small bathroom when you leave your home.
6. Use lots of praise and positive reinforcement when your pet goes in the right place.
7. Use your computer or visit your local library to research topics such as preventing or solving litter box problems, housebreaking puppies, or house training your adult or senior dog.
8. Clean washable items.  Machine wash as usual, adding half a cup of baking soda along with your regular detergent to each load.  If possible, air dry these items.  If a stain or odor remains,  re-wash the item and add enzymatic cleaner.  Again, carefully following the manufacturer’s directions.
9. If a bed is Fluffy’s favorite toilet, cover the it with a vinyl, flannel backed tablecloth while training.  It’s machine washable, inexpensive, and unappealing to pets.
10. To clean carpeted areas after new accidents that are still wet. Pick up as much as possible with paper towels. Use paper towels to soak up urine. The more fresh urine you can remove, the easier it will be to remove the odor.  Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and stand on it for a minute.  Remove and repeat until the area is barely damp.
11. If possible, put a little bit of the soiled paper towel where it belongs: your cat’s litter box or your dog’s designated outdoor bathroom area.  This will help your pet to recognize the right place to eliminate.
12. Rinse the accident area thoroughly with clean cool water. After rinsing, remove as much of the water as possible by blotting or with a wet vac.  Now you can use the enzymatic cleaner according to package directions.
13. If a stain is already dry, use the enzymatic cleaner followed by the pet odor neutralizer.
14. Avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine from carpet and upholstery.  The heat can permanently set the stain and odor by bonding the protein into the fibers. See what the Carpet & Rug Institute says about this under the topic Special Tips for Pet Owners.
    .We recommend that you avoid using general cleaning chemicals, especially those with strong odors such as ammonia or vinegar. These can actually encourage your pet to scent mark the area.
15. Keep in mind that neutralizing cleaners can not work efficiently if you have not rinsed every trace of cleaner from the carpet.  In fact, any non-protein-based substance will weaken the effect of the enzymatic cleaner.  The enzymes will work on the old cleaners, instead of on the stain you want removed. if you have any cleaning residue on your carpet you may have to treat your pet stains repeatedly.
16. If the urine has soaked into the padding.  You must take the drastic measures of  removing that carpet and padding, treating the sub-floor with enzymatic cleaner, and replacing both carpet and padding with new materials, in order to eliminate the odor.
17. If your furniture, walls, baseboard, or wood floors are discolored, the varnish or paint have reacted with the acid in the urine.  You need to remove and replace that discolored layer, but make sure the new product is safe for pets. Employees at your local hardware or home improvement store should be able to help you find what you need.

Training your pet may take a few weeks, and eliminating pet stains and odors will cost you time and money.  But remember that it took time to build your pet’s bad habit, and it will take time to change it.  Be patient with your pet.  Keep up the positive re-enforcement.  Clean accidents as soon as they happen, and keep up with your professional Dry Solutions LLC cleanings every six months.

If you found this post on dealing with pet accidents helpful, you may benefit from reading: Pets Shed.