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My dog just got sprayed by a skunk, how do I get the smell out!?

ByCAAT

If anyone has ever had their dog sprayed by a skunk, they can tell you it is one of the strongest, long-lasting and horrible smells your nose will ever encounter!   Left untreated, the smell can last for weeks!

So, it’s not surprising that this question came through to our CAAT Community Corner.     How do you get the smell out?

Skunk spray not only smells horrible, it is very irritating to the eyes and nose.   Their oily spray can reach a distance of over three feet and it permeates everything it touches.

FIRST  –  KEEP THEM OUTSIDE UNTIL TREATED!!

If your dog does usually go inside your house, DO NOT let him in until you “de-skunk” him.   If he gets inside, the smell will be throughout your house!

Treat your dog’s fur as quickly as possible after the skunk has sprayed.   The longer your wait to wash it off, the harder it is to get rid of the smell.

FOR THE EYES USE WATER – Check the dog’s eyes, they often get part of the skunk spray in them and it can be quite irritating.   Flush them out with cool water to get the spray out and soothe the eyes.

FOR THE FUR, Mix together:

  • 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at drug store)
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

Rub the mixture through their fur thoroughly until they are wet to the skin.  Rub it into every area of their body not just where they got sprayed (except the eyes, be careful NOT to get it in the eyes). LET IT SIT ON YOUR PET’s COAT FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE RINSING.   Rinse them thoroughly with water, get it all off.   Smell them in different areas to determine if you need to reapply.

Now wash your dog again but this time with the pet shampoo and again, rinse thoroughly.

NOTE: DO NOT leave the solution on your dog longer than five minutes, the peroxide can bleach the fur.

Thoroughly towel-dry your dog, and, if it is not warm outside, be sure to place them in a warm, space so that they don’t get chilled.

FOR YOUR CLOTHES 

Put your clothes and the towels right into the laundry and use your regular laundry detergent mixed with a half-cup of baking soda or you can add detergent and 4 cups of vinegar to the wash water.   Otherwise, the scent will stay in your fabric of your clothes and stay there.

HINT: Hang your clothes to dry rather than using a dryer.   The dryer can actually bond the smell to the fabric if it wasn’t completely removed during washing.

FOR YOUR HOUSE

The skunk smell can get into your entire house even if your dog just came into one room.

  • open windows, run fans to try to move the smell out the windows
  • place bowls of vinegar in each room and leave them there for 2 days (48 hours).  Keep these bowls out of reach of children and pets.
  • floors and furniture can be treated with 10% vinegar and 90% water but test patch first!   You don’t want to ruin the floor or furniture if it is a sensitive surface.

IMPORTANT CAUTIONS:

DO NOT make this mixture up to have on hand just in case your dog gets skunked.  The ingredients, when mixed together and left in a bottle for a lengthy time could explode.  If skunks are an issue in your area, having the ingredients and recipe on hand is a good idea but mix them together when you need it and not before.   DO NOT PREPARE AND LEAVE IN BOTTLE.    PREPARE this solution ONLY when you need it.

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