Having pets in your home makes life better overall, but dealing with pet odor is one of the more unpleasant aspects of being a pet parent. Learn more about some of the most common causes of these smells and how to eliminate pet odor from your home.  

Yeast Infections

Yeast can cause an unpleasant smell when your pets have an infection. These infections can happen due to wet skin for a prolonged period of time or allergies that affect the skin, such as allergies to flea bites and certain chemicals. These conditions make it possible for yeast to grow and thrive, resulting in foul odors and other symptoms. Your pets might also be more prone to yeast infections if they have a lot of skin folds, such as bulldgos or Shar-peis, or conditions that cause hormonal imbalances. Treating yeast infections helps get rid of pet odor, while keeping your pets’ skin dry can help prevent yeast from multiplying. 

Ear Problems

Ear mites can cause bacterial infections in your pets’ ears, which causes a foul odor, redness and discharge. Your pets can also develop pet odor in their ears due to a foreign object in the ear canal, too much ear wax or too much ear hair. Yeast infections can also affect your pets’ ears. Keeping your pets’ ears clean and checking for signs of infections can help you avoid pet odor. Having these infections treated promptly helps ease odor and other symptoms. 

Dental Issues

Dental problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease, can result in unpleasant pet odor. These problems also lower your pets’ quality of life, especially in advanced cases. Having your pets’ teeth cleaned once a year at the vet’s and brushing their teeth on a regular basis at home can help you get rid of odor caused by dental problems. 

Gas

Pets with food sensitivities can end up having gas. Common culprits in commercial pet foods include corn, wheat and soy. Pets can also become gassy when they’re fed fatty foods and foods that are high in sugar. You can prevent pet odor from gas by feeding your pets a healthy diet that’s free of ingredients that don’t agree with their digestive system. 

Anal Glands

Your pets’ anal glands typically release a secretion after they have bowel movements. In some cases, this doesn’t happen, resulting in a foul, fishy smell. If your pets have this problem often, consult your vet about proper treatment. 

Treating the underlying cause of pet odor usually helps eliminate these smells. Bathing your pets regularly and using odor neutralizing pet candles and other products to freshen up your home can also help.