Any dog owner knows that all dogs are prone to the occasional accident. Whether potty training, sick, or in an unfamiliar situation, you can expect small problems with even the best behaved animals.
Fear not! This widespread problem and there are many solutions to make cleaning, and life with your pet, a little easier.
Here are some ideas for simple clean up of accidents:
Tackle pee stains fast with an absorbent material
The key to avoiding long-lasting pee smell and discoloration is to act quickly, especially with carpets! Dabbing the spot with an absorbent material, like a sponge or paper towel, will prevent the moisture from leaking into the carpet pad or beneath the flooring.
Once the spot is completely dry or at least close, pairing an applicable household cleaner (carpet stain remover, for example) with an enzyme infused, odor removing agent (ask your local pet store), will easily remove a stain, and the invitation for your dog to revisit the spot.
Carefully lift poop when cleaning
While significantly more icky, poop is not all that much more complicated to clean than pee. Just be sure to pick up the poop with caution, as to not smear it and make matters worse. Once the solid matter is cleared, follow the same instructions as when cleaning pee, first using an available and appropriate household cleaning agent (and possibly some gloves), then an enzymatic cleaner to finish the job.
Avoid ammonia
As stated before, enzymatic dog cleaners can actually discourage your pet from returning to the same spot for a repeat offense. Ammonia-based cleaners should be avoided at all costs, as urine contains ammonia, and the residual odor could actually encourage your dog to use the same spot as a future potty.
Consider your dog’s health
Cleaning accidents is important, but preventative investigation of their causes is paramount. The cause of an accident may be obvious in cases like potty training, but older dogs may lose their ability to hold it based on health problems, and these should be addressed with a visit to the vet as soon as suspected!
The key to cleaning up after your dog is moving quickly as to not create long term smells and encourage your pet to revisit the same spot. If a problem persists, don’t punish, as fear often perpetuates problems of this kind. Rather, consider crates, indoor dog potties, or one of many other options for helping your dog along their journey to proper potty etiquette!