How to Make a Homemade Formula to Remove Skunk Odor from a Pet's Fur

There's a good chance that at some point in your time as a pet owner, your cat or dog will be sprayed by a skunk. Skunk odor is pungent and the skunky smell can cling to a pet's fur even if the skunk spraying incident was not a "direct hit." And inevitably, pets seem to get sprayed by skunks on nights, weekends and holidays - when the groomer is not open to de-skunk the dog or cat. So for times when your pet has been sprayed by a skunk, keep this homemade recipe on-hand. This recipe uses items around the house to remove skunk odor from a pet's fur efficiently and quickly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Dish Soap
• Baking Soda
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Conditioner (optional)

1. Collect your ingredients for our homemade solution to remove skunk odor from a pet's fur. The skunk odor remover will consist of hydrogen peroxide (3%), dish soap and baking soda.

2. Measure out the ingredients for this homemade skunk odor removal remedy, which notably, can be safely used on dogs, cats and other pets.
   You'll need: One quart of hydrogen peroxide; 1/4 cup of baking soda; and two tablespoons of dish soap.

3. Mix the ingredients together until the baking soda is completely dissolved.

4. Apply generous amounts of the skunk odor removal solution to the affected area using a sponge. Saturate the fur of the area that was sprayed by the skunk. Be careful when applying the solution near the eyes.

5. Allow this homemade skunk odor removal solution to sit for ten minutes. During this time, massage the solution into the dog's fur and skin.

6. Use warm running water to rinse the solution from the pet's fur.

7. Bathe the dog with normal dog shampoo and conditioner to give the dog's fur a fresh smell – that's for people who don't enjoy a dog who smells like lemoney fresh dish soap following a skunk spraying incident.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes, it's unclear where the pet was sprayed by the skunk. In these cases, run your hands over the pet's body to feel for dampness. If this does not reveal the location where the skunk sprayed the pet, begin by treating the head, face and chest area - this is the region that's most likely to be sprayed by a skunk. If necessary, treat the pet's entire body.
• This solution contains peroxide, which can and will cause slight discoloration to a pet's fur. This is more problematic in pets with a dark coat. You've been warned!

Resources

• More Tips to Remove Skunk Odor From a Pet's Fur
• A How-To on Removing Skunk Odor from a Dog or Cat's Fur

[dawnrae]

on 7/9/2009 Oh my God 2 skunk smelling dogs! They have been chasing critters for 3 days, Turkeys, Bunnies, Moles and now a dam skunk!!! One catches it in his mouth and while shaking his head the other idiot has to run up and see what he has, needless to say he gets sprayed right in the face!! So now I'm on my way to the store to get this recipe! Wish me luck!!!

[maryellen1001]

on 11/19/2008 I didn't even know there was a home made recipe for de-skunking! I'm so glad I found this, but I sure hope I never need to use it.

[bossypants]

on 11/10/2008 We have been looking for an alternative. We used to use the old fashioned douche powder -- and it did work! But they don't make it anymore. (I know people joke about using Summer's Eve, but it's the old stuff, called Trichotine, that does the trick.) Thanks for the recipe and directions! Hope we'll never need it!

[miacarter]

on 10/18/2008 Oh my goodness! Three skunky dogs at once! I'll admit - I've never had that occur before (surprising with my six dogs! Very mischievous! Two of which are Pits, by the way! Great breed!)
And yes, the recipe does work wonders - I actually prefer it to the special de-skunking shampoos! I'm sure your three pit bulls will be fresh and clean in no time! Oh the things our pets get into! Glad you found it helpful! ;-)

[sbd48463]

on 10/18/2008 I am about to go to the store and buy the ingredients for my DOGS! It is 3 am here in MI and my dogs all go out like they normally do,BUT this time thy got sprayed by the skunk I could not remeber the recipe and when i saw this page I knew I was in the right section. I couldn't remember the full recipe we used before when my 1 dog got sprayed. This recipe does work thanks again! off to a store. will let you know when I am done bathing my 3 pitbulls!!!!!!!!!!