Put the tomato juice away! If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, it’s not going to help. We hope you never need this post … but if you do, this is how you get rid of the stink.
Life is funny sometimes. A recent road trip has had us strolling down memory lane. We’ve been reminiscing about our travels with Ty and Buster and some of the funny things they did. It was all quite enjoyable … until last night.
Just before heading off to bed, I asked Myles if he wanted a “final-final.” (That’s what we call the last potty break of the day.) Like most evenings, he was already curled up on the sofa. And about half the time when I ask that question he just looks at me, closes his eyes, and goes back to sleep.
But last night, he hopped off the sofa and headed for the door.
We lucky to have a yard that’s complete fenced. So I just let Myles out and went about my business. Seconds later, I heard a noise come from Myles that I’ve never heard before. It was like a combination of a bark and a yelp.
By the time I made it outside he was already coming toward me, sputtering, shaking his head and licking his lips. And then the odor hit me. He’d been sprayed by a skunk!
Memories Of Buster
Those of you who’ve been following this blog a while might remember the time Buster got sprayed by a skunk.
We’d just settled into an RV park outside San Francisco and were taking the dogs for a walk around the marsh. It was a lovely summer evening, and the sun was just starting to go down. Buster and I were in the lead, and as we rounded a corner on the trail Buster came nose to tail with a skunk!
The poor boy took a direct hit to the face. The funny thing is that the sputtering, head shaking, and lip licking that Myles was doing last might were a perfect impression of Buster on that day! Upon closer inspection, Myles had a tell-tale yellowish stain on his chest. It wasn’t a hit to the face, but it was darn close!
This wasn’t the kind of memories we’d been having fun remembering. But when you have dogs, it’s usually what you don’t see coming that gets you.
When Dogs Get Sprayed A Skunk
If you love dogs the outdoors – and who doesn’t?! – there is a possibility that, at some point, your dog will get sprayed by a skunk. Skunks live in both urban and rural areas, so you could meet one at any time. Though, in my experience, it’s most likely to happen when the stores selling any kind of anti-skunking shampoo have closed for the night.
Should you ever have a similar encounter, we’re sharing our tips for removing “eau de skunk.” Fortunately, it’s a combination of a few simple ingredients you probably keep around the house.
In fact, it might be a good idea to add these ingredients to your dog’s suitcase!
READ MORE ⇒ What To Pack For Your Dog For An Overnight Trip
Recipe For Removing Skunk Odor
In the event that your dog is sprayed by a skunk, combine a large bottle of hydrogen peroxide with a quarter cup of Dawn dish washing liquid and 2 tablespoons of the baking soda. Then hold your breath, apply liberally to your dog, and scrub, scrub, scrub.
The Dawn and peroxide break down the oil in the skunk spray, which is the secret to eliminating the smell quickly. And the baking soda helps absorb any lingering odor.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse the soap out of your dog’s coat before drying him off.
The Results
I’m happy to report that this concoction has worked for us … twice! Both times our dogs’ coats were a bit more fluffy than usual after their de-skunking. No doubt that’s due to the oil-removing properties of the dish soap. But the skunk odor was mostly eliminated. And some coconut oil with Myles’ food for a few days will help avoid any issues with dry skin.
All in all, our skunkings have been pretty painless.
Has your dog been sprayed by a skunk? Did you use something else that worked well to get rid of the smell?
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