How to Get Skunk Smell Off Your Dog

He's cute now - until the skunks get him!

Face it - dogs love sticking their noses in things. And if you live in an area that has a few patches of trees and bushes or even if you just have a garden, there's a decent chance that your dog will eventually stick its nose right into a skunk. This is a stinky and even scary experience for lots of pet owners, but it doesn't have to be. Read on to get that smell off quick!

Instructions

1. 

   Don't panic! Because dog noses are so much stronger than ours, to them skunk spray is like a chemical bomb. They can react in almost any way from howling to vomiting to going into a kind of shock and not moving, and this can be very scary for a pet owner, especially if your dog has never been skunked before. Again: DO NOT PANIC. Skunk spray cannot kill your dog, transmit any diseases including rabies, or cause permanent blindness. In fact, the dog would get over it on their own eventually, but it's much better to get rid of the skunk spray as quickly as possible.

2. 

   There are lots of home remedies for skunking, and we'll get to them, but if possible you should avoid stinking up your own bathroom, rugs, towels, ect. Call your local big-name pet store featuring a grooming salon, such as Petco or Petsmart. Ask for the grooming salon, tell them your dog has been skunked, and see if they can get you in. If the grooming salon is closed or booked, ask if the store has skunk remover - many of them will, and it can save you from some sticky concoctions.

3. 

   If this happens late at night when pet stores are closed - and it very well may, because skunks are nocturnal - get ready to do it yourself. If you have a hose and it isn't the dead of winter, do this outside! And not in your good clothes either.

4. 

   The oldest remedies for skunking are acidic products like orange juice or tomato juice, which neutralize the alkaline ingredient in skunk spray - in fact, you can even cut whole tomatoes and oranges in half and rub them right on your dog. Another, newer choice is just about any dark syrup soda/pop/cola such as Pepsi or Coke, as these also have a high acidity. Another popular recipe is this one:

   1 Quart Bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide
   1/4 Cup Baking Soda
   1 Teaspoon Liquid Soap

   You can mix any combination of tomato juice, orange juice, and soda, but DO NOT MIX the Hydrogen peroxide recipe with anything else.

5. 

   Once you've picked your remedy of choice and the bath location, gather a lot of old towels and get started. Wet you dog first, then work your chose remedy into the fur down to the skin and let stand for about five minutes. Try to stop your dog from shaking it off! After five minutes, rinse and repeat the application. If your dog was skunked in the face, take your remedy on two fingers and apply carefully to the area around the nose and eyes - be especially sure not to get anything into your dog's eyes!

6. 

   It will probably take at least three applications to really get the stink off, and just to be sure you should still call your vet in the morning and let them know. However, this will provide your dog with relief from the pain, and everyone with relief from the smell.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that skunks can carry rabies and other diseases, so make sure that your dog hasn't been bitten as well as sprayed. If your dog has been bitten, even a little, get him or her to the vet as quickly as possible.

Resources

• De-Skunking Tips
• Skunk Remover