Although skunks are generally docile, they will definitely let you know if you’ve threatened their space. Normally they will quickly waddle away, duck under a bush or use some other flight mechanism. But sometimes a dog doesn’t quite catch the hint. The result being that distinctive make-your-eyes water-smell you cannot seem to easily get rid of from a poor pup’s furs.
But it occurred to me not every dog is so lucky (and I’m sure our day will come). Even though the first thing that will tip you off that your pup has been sprayed by a skunk will be the smell, there are other signs that suggest being sprayed including drooling, vomiting, red or swollen eyes, face rubbing, sneezing, temporary blindness, maybe even rolling trying to get that stench off it’s fur. If lethargy, weakness, a change in urine color or pale or brown gums appear hours or days later after being sprayed, you should take your pup to a vet right away. The components in skunk spray are definitely irritating and can result in damage to red blood cells and the last thing you need is anemia on top of the stink. Remember too that skunks may carry rabies so if your pup was bitten as well as sprayed, be sure to check with your vet.
Obviously you’ll want to bathe your pup. Sadly regular shampoo for dogs isn’t gonna cut it but a homemade mixture of 4 cups of 3% fresh hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid soap (Dawn is a decent choice here). Lather up the dog, and leave in for at least 5 minutes. Rinse. Rinse again, and rinse yet again. Repeat. The peroxide might lighten your pup’s fur so be aware but it’s not toxic. If your pup took a direct hit to the eyes, rinse out with gobs of tepid water for 20 minutes to relieve the discomfort. As this recipe from the ASPCA doesn’t store well, you should make it up fresh whenever there’s an encounter with Pepe Le Pew.
Naturally prevention is the best way to deal with skunks but if it does happen to your fur-kid, you’ll know how to take care of the problem. Remember to keep food or bird seed in well sealed containers without easy access by the black and white stinker. Keep your pet away from wood piles, limit access to underneath decks or any obvious areas where they might make a den. A motion-activated lighting system may help as skunks prefer dark areas. If you find a suspected den, sprinkle kitty liter to signal that location should not be used to set up house.
Has your pup ever had an encounter with a skunk? What did you use to get rid of the stink? Here’s wishing you a smell-free weekend. At the very least, one without skunks.
Live, love, bark! <3
Nope, we have never had a skunk incident, but a couple of years ago Jolie Amie had a terrible encounter with a hive of honey bees that had set up housekeeping under the deck of the new house we had just moved into. What a horrible experience! Thank goodness her fur was thick and gave her some protection. She was one sick poodle girl. With excellent vet care she pulled through but the bee toxin set off arthritis in her back and hips.
Yikes! That could have turned out even worse. Hope she hasn’t had any other bee sightings.
No, we’ve never been skunked but Jan remembers the smell from childhood when skunks used to get hit by cars and the area would reek of the horrible odor!.
Knock on wood, we’ve never been sprayed but have smelled critters who weren’t as lucky. That’s one smell that stays with you, long after it’s gone!
The guy I was dating before I met Sam told me that when their family Husky had encounters with skunks – which apparently were numerous – they bathed her in tomato juice first, and then when the smell was gone, they used regular dog shampoo to wash out the tomato juice stains. Apparently it worked because any time I saw her, she was nice and clean and fresh-smelling.
I’ve heard that tomato juice works as well. Oh those Huskies who have a hard time learning a lesson. 🙂
Norman got skunked once, not a good smell. lol
And it lasts for such a long time! Ick.
We had this “fun” with our very first dog. We tried apple cider vinegar at the time. It helped, but it really took weeks for the scent to completely go away. Any time Shelby got wet the scent would come back to haunt us again! Luckily we haven’t had any skunk encounters with any dogs since (knock wood)!
Hope springs eternal! 🙂
There are skunks in my area. Fortunately, Tippy has not had an encounter as of yet. I do not let her outside at night off leash. I hope one doesn’t come along during the day. If it does, I’m sure she would pursue it and get sprayed. I’ll keep this recipe in mind, just in case.
Since skunks are usually nocturnal, let’s hope the luck holds! 🙂
Great advice! Unfortunately the only one in our family that has been sprayed is me…and now I know to say away from drains when walking in the evening! 🙂
Oh no…like I said…that stinks!
In the Sonoran desert we have no fleas, ticks, or skunks. We do have bobcats, coyotes, rattlesnakes and scorpions. If we used hydrogen peroxide on the coyotes, their fur would be white.
We have been lucky and haven’t meet any skunks at lest not the ones with 4 legs.
Bwahaha. Good one!
I guess that’s what Mom means when I stick my head under the bushes and she says, “One of these days….you’re going to get a real surprise….”
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Listen to your mom, Cupcake, she’s very wise. 😉
No but I live in fear. That smell! I hope I won’t have to use the recipe you posted here but, at least, I know now.
Fortunately we do not have skunks ( four legged type) here in South Australia. Actually I don’t think we have them at all in Australia – but I could be wrong. I have noted the recipe – just in case.
Ugh thanks for the warning! We have a few that hang out where we live, that is something I worry about all of the time!! DakotasDen
Yeah you don’t want to risk an encounter with Pepe Le Pew! 🙂
Thank you for this recipe. Mom saved in in her computer where she keeps her important things (except me). She also wanted to add that putting the sprayed pup in front of an ionizer will get rid of the smell.
Ooh…that’s a great tip, Lexi! No wonder you’re running for Blogville’s mayor. 😉 You’re way too smart in addition to being adorably cute.
We can occasionally smell skunks in the woods near our home. The dogs are only allowed in the backyard on a leash at night so they haven’t encountered one. Keeping our fingers crossed on that one! PeeeEwww!
Good luck to us all!
This has not happened to us before and I hope it does not. But I am going to write this skunk off shampoo down just in case!
A couple years ago me and Stanley both got sprayed by the same mean skunk! First he sprayed Stanley (I got it on a side angle) and I yelled at the skunk that I would NOT permit him to treat my brother and me that way and chased him out of the yard.
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Pee Ess – Mom used Nature’s Miracle with good results. You can even spray it on the carpet.
Gah…skunk direct hits are the worst! We’ll check out the ingredients on Nature’s Miracle. Good to know you can use it on carpet. 🙂
Well, our Buster had more than one encounter with a skunk, and after that was banned from the house for about 2 weeks. He didn’t mind very much, though as for much of his younger life he had never wanted to come inside anyway.
Have a great weekend,
Pit
Gah! Clearly he didn’t learn a lesson about those black & white kitties. 😉 Happy weekend to you too! ღ
There are a few advantages to keeping a dog on the end of a 6ft leash! 🙂
True, then again, sometimes they come into your yard. 😉 Happy weekend.
They can… and do …… but at least the risk is minimized. 🙂
We have had encounters in the past and have had success with the bath you described. There is nothing worse than coming home from dinner to find your loved one smelling like a skunk (not to mention the house)! We didn’t immediately think it was our dog but thought something was burning in the walls. We checked the whole house including climbing on the house to check out the roof! I am sure our loveable furball thought we were crazy! Once we realized it was our puppy we felt like idiots then got online to find a remedy. Took a couple of times but finally got rid of the smell. Ended up throwing out the bedding though. What an experience! 🐶
I’m actually surprised dingbat never had an encounter up at Karna’s but then that would have meant leaving my side. BOL!
Well we have critters here in the urban area. Cole has found possums, raccoons and foxes in our fenced in yard. It was when he caught a squirrel running by, and got scratched, we went to the vet. They gave him a rabies booster. I yelled “drop” and he spat it out! Then he was mad at losing the squirrel.
Prevention is the best remedy, but sometimes those high prey instincts are just too hard to combat. Not sure how Sam would handle that situation when he had something in his mouth, but a quick gulp is the first thing that comes to mind. 😉
I really hope I’ll never need this, but it’s nice to know anyway. Thanks for sharing!
Always better to be prepared. 😉