Pets offer a lifetime of unconditional love and loyalty, but accidents do happen. When a pet urinates on your carpet, there’s not only a bad smell, or a cleaning inconvenience, but other problems you might have to deal with. Some are as simple as carpet repair, but there are other factors you might not be aware of. Check the list below for potential risks caused by carpet pet damage.

Pet Urine Problems

1. Health Issues

Pet urine contains ammonia. Inhalation can cause flareups for people with respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, and certain types of allergies. Possible reactions might include difficulty breathing, headaches, hives, wheezing, and sneezing. Remember, occasional accidents don’t require carpet repair or replacement. Cleaning the area quickly and meticulously will be enough to keep everyone healthy.

2. Creates Patterns

If the accident isn’t sufficiently cleaned—eliminating the odor—it may signal your pet that urinating on the carpet is acceptable. Cats particularly consider the smell as marking their territory. If the smell remains, the cat believes the area’s theirs to do with as they please, leading accidents to become intentional. If your carpet has seen habitual accidents, carpet repair or replacement might be more effective than cleaning.   

3. Mold Growth

Sporadic accidents aren’t a problem, but habitual accidents will stain the carpet’s design and seep into the padding below. Several types of mold, such as Penicillium and Aspergillus, may grow over time. Long-term exposure to mold can cause lung and immune system conditions. Carpet repairs can often be made despite mold, forgoing the expense of a complete replacement.

4. Floor Damage

If the carpet’s padding gets oversaturated with pet urine, it can soak the floor below. If the floor is made from wood, structural damage and rot can occur. In those cases, both floor and carpet repair will be necessary. Depending on the damage, an expert might suggest replacing the damaged areas.

5. Dog Illness

Be sure to clean your carpet quickly if your dog has an accident. A dog’s urine contains many types of bacteria that can lead to diseases like Leptospirosis. While rare and treatable, domesticated dogs usually contract the bacteria through soil or water. It can be spread to other dogs through mucous membranes or contact with infected urine, like in fresh carpet accidents.  

If pet urine has damaged your carpet, reach out to Kelly Prater Carpet Repair-Installation. Offering carpet repair despite extensive damage, Prater’s superior customer service and craftsmanship have made him a popular choice in Lincoln, Omaha and the surrounding areas for nearly 30 years. For more information on his many services, including carpet replacement, patching, and restretching, visit his website, or give him a call at (402) 440-5848 to set up an appointment.