Skunk Odor Remover

How to get rid of skunk smell when your dog is sprayed

A recipe for success

Your family pet has just been sprayed - you need an instant skunk odor remover! Well, read on.

The skunk's foul smelling spray is a defence mechanism. Skunks don't use it unless they are threatened. When they do, the spray can reach a target as much as 10 to 15 feet (3 - 5 metres) away. And close up, the smell is overwhelmingly awful.

If your dog is sprayed by a skunk, the common remedy that everyone knows about, but that is, in fact, of doubtful effectiveness, is to wash the animal in tomato juice. I've also heard that rubbing equal parts vinegar and water into the fur, then washing with soap and water will help remove skunk smell.

When our dog was sprayed,we found a recipe that was very effective:

• 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
  

• 1 tablespoon liquid soap

Mix the ingredients in a bucket or bowl (it will fizz - don't try to store it in a closed container).

Thoroughly wet your dog with warm water, then apply the solution liberally into his coat. Be careful to keep the formula out of the dog's eyes, nose, and mouth. Let the solution sit in his coat for 10 minutes (that can be a bit of a challenge) and then rinse thoroughly (we used a hose). Be sure to protect the dog's eyes when rinsing.

Note:

If you think the skunk's spray got directly in the dog's eyes, take your pet to the vet.

We used this formula and I was amazed at how well it worked to eliminate skunk odor. Initially the smell was so strong I didn't know if we could ever bring our dog Murphy in the house again. After using this, we had him in the house that night with only a very faint odor. For a few weeks I noticed a bit of an odor when his fur got wet but otherwise the smell was gone. It was remarkable!

Save the tomato juice for a Bloody Mary or a Caesar instead... you might need one!