A weird smell defined as a ‘musty smell’ often lingers in many homes during monsoon, due to the dampness and moisture in the air. Monsoon season can be challenging if you have pets at home when the earthy smell from the first rain gets replaced by a stinky pet odour. As much as it appears to be normal and heavy rains could be blamed, it can be embarrassing if you have people coming over. It’s also a matter of concern because healthy pets typically do not have an offensive odour which is a warning sign and means they need medical care to resolve the issues. 

Everyone loves monsoon, including your furry friend but as the humidity rises in the atmosphere, the growth of moulds and mildews is promoted. This leads to an unpleasant smell which only gets worse if you have pets at home.

What Causes Pet Odour?

Pet odour is usually caused by bacteria and yeast metabolizing secretions, especially skin oils. Places where the skin is moist and dark–mouth, ears, skin folds, and under the tail—have the highest concentration of yeast and bacteria. Even though they tend to grow even on healthy pets, their number is minimum, but in an unhealthy pet, they multiply rapidly and secrete oils in much larger quantities. These bacteria and yeast secrete oils with a stronger and more offensive smell.

Yeast and bacteria irritate the skin of the pet and in turn, they scratch the itchiness which causes inflammation, swelling, and heat so that pet odours become even more offensive. The humidity of the air traps onto the scent molecules longer causing the smells to be stronger and last longer. This is the reason why our pets smell during the monsoon much more than usual. 

So What Should Be Done To Get Rid Of This Smell?

The solution lies in the problem and all the possible reasons which could lead to pet odour should be avoided. Here is some advice to help you out.

1. Dry Your Pets Out Well

If you want your pets to have some fun time in the rain, let them have it. The monsoon is actually a fun time and they enjoy it all however make sure that they are completely dry when they come back home. If they have any dirt or grass, take it out as soon as possible. If there is any dirt on the paws, clean them out soon.

2. Shower Them With Antiseptic

Pets need showering from time to time. Their body secretes oils and sweat which can make their skin smelly or itchy. As mentioned above, this is the season when bacteria and yeast could grow on the pet’s skin, so using bathing with antiseptic shampoo can give your pets some relief.

3. Avoiding Infections

Pets are the most susceptible to infections during monsoons. Dogs mostly suffer from Malassezia which causes itchy skin rashes and burns, whereas cats are prone to respiratory infections. Avoid getting your pets wet toit that to avoid cold, cough or pneumonia and keep them as dry as possible.

4. Protect Them From Ticks And Fleas

If your pet has any ticks or fleas, they could be very irritating to the pet causing a lot of itching, red rashes and inflammation. The constant scratching could lead your pet to end up bleeding. So right care should be taken in case your pet comes in contact with ticks or fleas and if needed visit a vet.  

5. Taking Care Of Your Pet’s Gastrointestinal health

Clean drinking water and healthy food should be fed to your pet during monsoon to avoid an upset stomach. Excess of meat and chicken should be avoided and if possible, boiled and filtered water should be provided to them.

6. Proper Grooming

During the monsoon, your pet should be properly groomed. Long furs can promote infection more easily as the moisture can get trapped. Regular brushing is important at this time. Also, the nails should be clipped from time to time. Ear and teeth should be cleaned more often during monsoon.

7. Use Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers help to maintain the humidity of the room. Once the humidity is maintained, the chances of infections are reduced massively. So try insuring that the proper humidity is maintained in the room.

8. Keep Your House Clean

A clean house is very important during the monsoon. Pets have the habit of nibbling or licking anything. This could lead to infections, so proper cleaning of your home, carpets and furniture is a must.

Our Final Thoughts

Taking care of your furry friend is very important during the monsoon. The musty smell though seems to be a superficial problem that has a lot to do with your pet’s health, so be careful the next time it rains and give extra love and care to your pet. 

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