Pets and unpleasant smells: the natural remedy

How lovely it is to welcome a four-legged friend into our life! From the very first moment they become part of the family. Sometimes, though, a few things get overlooked, and we end up dealing with unexpected difficulties.

Which owner of a long-haired dog has never had to deal with... the smell? And yet, however hard you try, solving the problem is not easy at all. Let's look together at what causes it and at a natural remedy that will help bring a pleasant scent back for you and your furry companions.

Why animals give off unpleasant smells

Just like people, animals are subject to the usual hygiene issues which, if neglected, become unpleasant for our nose: a good owner knows how to keep their pet's things and bed clean, and a bath becomes necessary from time to time.

Even so, a dog or a cat can still have smell issues linked to their diet or their state of health: the vet will help you work out where the problem comes from.

And what if even then we cannot find a solution?

It can happen that the smell persists despite all the care, or when our dog or cat has a health condition (for example, serious bad breath). So we need a solution that lets us remove or limit the smell naturally. The usual remedies do not work

Have you bought even very expensive products for your four-legged friends' hygiene and found they did not work?

The main problem with these items is what they are made of: very often they are products with a high chemical content that can cause irritation and discomfort in animals if they are not carefully dosed. Household cleaning products deserve a mention too: they are just as chemical and harmful, and very often they bother animals, who do not tolerate their strong, sharp smell. If you want to clean the house in a completely natural way, you can try these plant-based detergents. But let's get back to the natural remedy for our animals' smells.

Aromatherapy

The simplest way to clear your pet's smell from the house is to turn to aromatherapy. It can be seen as a branch of herbal medicine, since it uses essences and extracts of natural origin from flowers or other plants. There are two main benefits: the first has to do with how our nervous system perceives them, since these products contain particular molecules and substances whose active principles give a feeling of calm and relaxation; the second, no less important, is the pleasant fragrance that will let our nose breathe a sigh of relief.

There are several ways to put aromatherapy into practice: you can use incense, essences for room diffusers or essential oils. The risks: what not to do Since animals are very curious and could put themselves in danger, burning incense is not an option worth considering, because it involves lighting the sticks: animals are curious and, drawn by the novelty, could end up scalding or burning themselves.

Applying essential oils to the body and coat needs the same care: given their keen sense of smell, the amount applied has to be dosed carefully to avoid problems such as itching or irritation.

The solution that suits a house with animals best seems to be essences for a diffuser: these release the scent without being a source of worry of any kind, and they help to perfume the house and relax the nerves of owner and pet alike.

Palo Santo and the properties attributed to it

Among the most intriguing and effective aromas is Palo Santo: a tree typical of South America, scientific name Bursera graveolens, used precisely to obtain fragrant incense. It is very well known in its native countries, where it is tied to a long shamanic tradition: it is used in rituals for smudging and purification, and even in infusions. Palo Santo wood is naturally rich in essential oils: the wood is taken from dead trees which, left to mature on the ground, become richer in active principles.

Traditional use credits Palo Santo with a number of properties:

• it is traditionally credited with soothing, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties;
• it is traditionally used to relax body and mind;
• as a result, it is used to help settle sleep and to clear a sense of negativity;
• it is a natural repellent against mosquitoes and flies, which are generally attracted by bad smells: this is because the trunk of the tree, seasoned naturally on the ground, becomes richer in limonene.

Being a highly sustainable product with no chemical substances at all, using its fragrance to clear the smells of our furry companions is the healthiest solution, and it is not only our nose that benefits but our spirits and those of our friends too. This is the natural remedy for our animals' smells; or at least, it is the most effective one.

The house will smell pleasant and relaxing, your dog will be the centre of attention only in a good way, and you will enjoy the benefits of a lovely atmosphere. All with a single product.