How to Deskunk a Dog Using Home Remedies

There's no need to spend a lot of money on a visit to the veterinarian or on expensive prescription shampoos when your dog is sprayed by a skunk. You can remove the odor yourself and save both time and money with formulas made from ingredients found around your home. Forget the old remedy of tomato juice, which is messy, ineffective and can even stain your dog's coat.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oranges
• 1 Tbsp. liquid dish soap
• Bucket
• Plastic gloves
• Baby shampoo

Peroxide Bath

1. Mix baking soda, peroxide and dish soap in an open, widemouthed container such as a bucket.

2. Wet your dog's coat with warm water.

3. Put plastic gloves on and apply mixture. Massage thoroughly into the coat.

4. Use a washcloth to apply carefully to the face.

5. Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse well with warm, clear water.

6. Wash off with shampoo.

7. Rinse with water and repeat if necessary.

Orange Bath

8. Cut up 5 to 10 oranges. Leave the peel on and mix in a blender. The amount of oranges depends on the size of the dog and the strength of the skunk odor.

9. Mix with 1 Tbsp. of liquid soap in a bucket.

10. Wet the dog with warm water. Wear plastic gloves and lather the dog's coat thoroughly with the mixture.

11. Leave mixture on the dog for 10 minutes to soak into its coat.

12. Rinse well with clear, warm water.

13. Wash the dog with baby shampoo and rinse. Repeat all steps as necessary.

Carbonated Soda Bath

14. Bathe your dog with two bottles of any brand of bottled carbonated soda.

15. Wear plastic gloves and work soda into the coat.

16. Rinse thoroughly with water.

17. Wash the dog with baby shampoo.

18. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

Skunk Prevention

19. Bring all uneaten pet food indoors. Keep garbage in a trash can with a secure cover.

20. Remove brush piles, stacked lumber, wood and rock piles and other sources of shelter.

21. Locate any holes that lead under your home or spaces around pipes. Block all but one exit hole with rocks or wood until you have time to fill them permanently.

22. Spread fine sand, dust or flour around the skunk's suspected exit. Wait until after dark, when the skunk has left to find food. Tracks will be visible in the sand or flour and will indicate that the skunk is gone.

23. Line all holes with heavy-duty wire cloth or fill with cement while the skunk is foraging for food.

Skunk Removal

24. Bait a humane trap with dry cat food.

25. Set the trap in the area where the skunk visits.

26. Contact animal control when you trap the skunk.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the solution immediately because it will lose its effectiveness if it's stored.
• For large dogs, double the formula.
• The sooner you wash your dog, the easier it is to remove the odor.
• To avoid getting the skunk odor on yourself, wrap a towel around the dog if you have to pick it up to wash it in the sink or tub.
• Skunks can carry rabies. To avoid being bitten, don't handle a trap with a skunk in it.
• Don't shoot the skunk or use a spring-type trap. A skunk that is frightened, injured or surprised will spray as a reflex action.
• Be humane and don't trap mother skunks. Look for babies before you put out a trap.

Resources

• Learn more about skunks from the Humane Society of the U.S.
• Read these tips on bathing your dog.
• Information about spray-proof skunk traps

[rbley]

on 1/3/2009 Worked great for me!

[lfontaine2]

on 6/27/2008 used the peroxide bath on two dogs who got sprayed at midnight. Worked great the first time.