Even the best dogs sometimes have accidents in the house. Here are the steps to handle it correctly so you can prevent repeat behavior and take of the mess and smell.
- Catching them in the act. If you see your dog going to the bathroom inside, use it as a chance to teach your dog. Do not punish your dog, because then they will try to be sneaky next time and go where you cannot see them. Instead, say “Whoops, outside,” and take them quickly to where they usually go to the bathroom.
- Immediate damage control. As quickly as possible, take a paper towel and blot out the urine from your floor or carpet. Do not attempt to dry any excess urine with a hair dryer since this will cause the stain and odor to become more prominent. If any washable materials such as clothing have been soiled by your dog, proceed to put it through a cold rinse cycle followed by a normal wash cycle with detergent for best results.
- Fixing the deeper problem. Even when you have cleaned up the surface stain, the urine can still damage the padding and subfloor. dust and allergens can also linger and cause allergens and other health problems if not taken care of. Avoid steam cleaning the area as the heat can set the stain and odor, and the water can take a long time to dry, causing mildew to grow. Instead, you want to hire a professional carpet cleaner who specializes in pet accidents to make sure the smell and dust are completely removed.
- Determining the cause. There are a number of reasons that your dog might have had an accident, including:
- Stress. Major life changes can cause distress for your dog, leading to accidents.
- Schedule changes. If your dog is used to being taken outside to relieve himself at specific times and the schedule changes, it can take some time to adjust. If possible, make these changes gradually, over the course of a few weeks.
- Home renovations. Changing your dog’s environment can be stressful, particularly if strange construction workers are going in and out of the house all the time. A new carpet may also smell different to some dogs and cause them to mark it with their own scent.
- New medications. If you recently started giving your dog a new medication, it may trigger accidents. Check with your vet to learn about potential side effects.
- Health issues. A loss of bladder control may be a symptom of an underlying health problem. If you notice your dog’s behavior changing, be sure to check in with your vet.
Training is key! You can’t really consider a dog fully house-trained before he is at least a year old. When you’re dealing with a new puppy, accidents will likely be common. In order to house-train your puppy:
- Begin by taking the dog out frequently, and then gradually increase the amount of time between trips outside.
- Go outside with your dog and praise him when he urinates in a properly designated spot, then reward him with a treat afterward.
We hope that these tips will help you when your dog has an accident. Pet urine isn’t ever fun to deal with, but it is a problem that you can address and take care of properly.
Jeff’s Chem-Dry is professionally trained to deal with pet accidents. Chem-Dry developed P.U.R.T.® in order to handle these hard-to-clean pet stains and smells. When P.U.R.T. comes in contact with the source of the odor, it immediately begins a chemical reaction that destroys the urine crystals, eliminating the odor. Give Jeff’s Chem-Dry a call today and we’ll take care of your pet stains!