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Excerpted from: VetCentric.com web page May 15, 2000 Magazine
Owners Claim Product Blasts Odors
Written by: Justin D. Honsch, Staff Writer
It has been said that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin after accidentally leaving out a piece of bread that eventually produced mold. Christopher Columbus stumbled upon the Americas while trying to
navigate his way to the Orient. And legend has it that Sir Isaac Newton’s idea for the law of gravity came after he was plunked on the head by a falling apple.
Although pet odor may not be as “weighty” a subject as gravity, to millions of Americans, it is a heavy topic. And like some of the world’s most important discoveries, one company’s remedy for
eliminating foul dog and cat smells was stumbled upon unintentionally.
Formed in June of 1999, Atlantis Technologies manufactures products with low levels of copper sulfate pentahydrate designed to clean air, water, and wastewater. Currently, its first two licensed technologies on
the market area bactericide made to cleanse drinking water and wastewater, and to control odors. It can also serve as a filter for a number of applications.
According to John W. Mangham, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Annapolis, MD-based Atlantis, there is reason to believe that the products can be used to help rid odors from a family pet and in
the areas it has been.
“It happened in an anecdotal sense, “ Mr. Mangham said. “We didn’t plan on being in the consumer business or the pet odor business.”
The product, called “Pet Odor Destroy, “ has not yet been proven scientifically to eliminate pet odors, although future testing is planned. However, anecdotal evidence has been extremely positive.
The Atlantis product is one of a number of products claiming to provide relief from bothersome pet smell. Odorfiix is said to utilize natural enzymes in order to accelerate the natural biological process that
eventually removes odor. More specifically, it contains specific enzymes that promote the hydrolysis of the area, urine’s chief solid component.
End EcoChem Organics, a company that deals in agriculture and waste management, has developed CB-Pet, an organic liquid designed to eliminate odor resulting from ammonia, mercaptans, amines, and skatole gases emitted
from urine and feces – which cause the majority of pet odor problems.
But veterinarians warn that these products may mask a pet’s real problem. A foul smell could be an indicator of a medical problem that needs treatment, and destroying that odor may prevent owners from picking
up on clues to a possible disease.
Of course, odors in cats and dogs can be caused by the “usual” sources: urine, feces, gas skin oils, and contact with foul-smelling material from the outside. However, dental disease, skin problems,
anal discharge, and discharge from the ears and eyes may also be the source of the unpleasant scent. Cases such as these may need the attention of veterinarian. In addition, inappropriate urination and
defecation within the house may be signs of behavioral problems.
Nevertheless, owners seeking to eliminate the normal unpleasant odors that pets tend to carry around with them may see products like Pet Odor Destroy as a terrific discovery.
Caprice Beers, who breeds pedigreed cats in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, had problems with odors from the litter box and in other areas of the house where her cats had urinated. After using the Atlantis formula,
Ms. Beers claimed that it had “eliminated the smell completely in every area we used it.”
“We used it on our stereo speakers, and cat urine usually doesn’t go away,” said Dave Beers, co-owner of the cattery. “Now it smells like new wood.”
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