How to Get Rid of a Skunk Smell On Your Pets

Skunks generally spray pets at dusk or dawn.

Although skunks are generally peaceful nocturnal animals, they don't tolerate harassment from other animals. Rowdy pets can unintentionally alarm skunks, causing these furry omnivores to feel threatened. Angered skunks often do not automatically spray; they stamp their front feet, hiss and raise their tails to visually warn other animals. If a dog or cat continues to antagonize an angered skunk, the skunk may spray the pet with pungent, yellow oil. Wash this repulsive oil off dogs or cats using neutralizing agents.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• 1 qt. of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
• Spoon
• 1 tsp. dish soap
• 1/4-cup baking soda
• Rubber gloves
• Rag
• Water

Instructions

1. Prepare the skunk odor-neutralizing solution by first filling a bucket with 1 qt. of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide. Stir 1 tsp. of dish soap and 1/4-cup of baking soda into the hydrogen peroxide.

2. Put on rubber gloves to inhibit contact with the skunk oil. Drench a rag in the neutralizing solution.

3. Wipe the rag over your pet's body, focusing on the parts sprayed with skunk oil. Completely saturate your pet's fur with the neutralizing solution.

4. Continue wiping the odor-neutralizing solution onto your pet until the animal is thoroughly covered in the solution. Leave the solution on your pet for five minutes to fully dissolve the putrid oil.

5. Flush your pet's fur with water. Thoroughly rinse off the odor-neutralizing solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the odor-neutralizing solution away from your pet's eyes and mouth.

• The skunk odor-neutralizing solution may discolor your pet's fur.

References

• University of California Integrated Pest Management; Skunks; T. P. Salmon, D. A. Whisson, R. E. Marsh; June 2004
• Mansfield Animal Clinic; Skunk Spray and Your Dog; Cheryl Yuill
• The Humane Society of the United States; Solving Problems with Skunks; October 2009