Oh No! A Skunk Sprayed Your Dog: Here’s What to Do
A few years ago I was out hiking with my dogs when the worst thing imaginable happened. I refer to this incident as the “great skunkening,” and my house smelled for weeks after 2 of my dogs were sprayed by a skunk. I though I would never get that skunk smell out of my dog’s fur.
Learn from my mistakes about what to do when a skunk sprays your dog. Skunk odor is strong and lingers for a long time on your dog’s fur if you do not take immediate action. You can enjoy your dog outdoors while still being respectful to wildlife, especially since skunks can carry the rabies virus and are attracted to readily available food sources like trash, pet food, or backyard chickens. However, accidents do happen. Keep reading to learn what to do when your pup gets sprayed by a skunk and the best ways to remove skunk odor.
Keep Your Dog Outside
If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, do not let this inside until you have treated them for the skunk smell. Chances are your dog will start rubbing against rugs, walls, and your couch to get rid of skunk oils from their fur. Then your house and dog will reek of skunk spray! Keep them outside and check your dog’s eyes, mouth, and skin for any swelling or redness. It is safe to immediately flush any irritated eyes or skin with water.
Remove The Oils and Neutralize The Odor
Some dogs can have an allergic reaction to skunk oils, so make sure you clean up your dog quickly! But be careful, using water can intensify the skunk smell. Instead, use a homemade solution or purchase some over the counter products. A good skunk odor remover shampoo will aid in breaking down the skunk oils before they soak into your dog’s coat and irritate the skin.
Home Remedies
While a bath in tomato juice is the traditional skunk spray remedy, it probably won’t get rid of the skunk smell. Instead, you will have a tomato and skunky mess and a pup that still smells like skunk spray.
To make your skunk shampoo if your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, mix one cup baking soda, three cups hydrogen peroxide, and one teaspoon of dish detergent (whatever liquid soap you use to hand-wash dishes is perfect!) Be prepared with the proper ingredients to make this homemade solution so you can bathe your dog right away. While the hydrogen peroxide is bubbling, scrub the solution straight into your dog’s coat. Lather it into their fur and rub it into your dog’s skin. Then simply use water to rinse off the mixture.
Be careful not to get this mixture in your pet’s eyes, nose, or mouth. Hydrogen peroxide can make them sick if they consume it. Be forewarned that peroxide might bleach fur, making your canine companion look lighter. However their hair will grow back normally, and it’s worth it to get rid of the smell of skunk spray! Also note, that the mixture will not keep.
Commercial Products
While a homemade recipe works in an emergency, it is not the perfect solution. Some dog owners might still notice the skunk smell months after using peroxide solution, especially if their pup gets wet. If your dog is sprayed by a skunk, a store-bought shampoo like Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover or De-Skunk Shampoo usually works better to get rid of that terrible odor. They have great reviews and work well. Personally, I always have a bottle of skunk shampoo in my cupboard. I have not had to use it in a long time, but spend a lot of time with my dogs outdoors and want to be prepared for the next skunk encounter!
Wash And Dry
Once you have washed your furry friend with the skunk shampoo of your choice, bath them again with your favorite regular dog shampoo. This second bath will aid in breaking down the oils and removing the skunk spray. Make sure to towel off your pup and give them a chance to completely air dry!
Cleanup
When you have finished cleaning up your dog, you will probably smell some skunk oils on your own body and clothes. Luckily, regular laundry detergent will wash skunk spray out of your clothes. Feel free to add a little baking soda or washer-safe skunk odor remover to your washer to clean your clothes. Soaking in a baking soda solution or soaping up with a grease-cutting dish detergent will help clean off the smell on the skin by getting rid of the skunk spray oils.
So next time your pup has a run-in with a skunk, use this guide to help them smell fresh again!