How to remove skunk odor from your dog

Rinse your dog well with lukewarm water. Repeat the massaging and washing until the odor is gone.You may want to use an old towel to dry your dog until she's only damp just in case you need to repeat the process.An added precaution would be to clean her mouth and brush her teeth.  Use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs as human toothpaste can upset a dog’s stomach.Be sure to also check your dog for scrapes or cuts as you won't want any of the skunk's spray to get in to open wounds.In some cases, a dog's coat may become slightly lighter as a result of the solution.  Depending on how many times you need to treat the affected area, this may be small.  If this occurs, it should resolve over time.  It will still be better than skunk smell!Skunk’s spray is an oily substance and can sit on the skin.  The recipe in this list creates a chemical reaction breaking up the oils and neutralizes the odor.First, you will want to protect your dog's eyes.  1-2 drops of mineral oil will protect your best friends eyes from any stray solution.  Avoid getting the solution in your dog’s eyes, ears or mouth.Put on some old clothes, rubber or latex gloves and quickly begin cleaning the sprayed area.  There is really no need to soak your dog’s coat with water prior to bathing.  Just begin by thoroughly massaging the solution deep into your dog's coat.  This is especially important for long-haired dogs as the oily substance be lost in the hair shaft and can sit on the skin.  You may need to add some lukewarm water for longer haired dogs, as well.  You may prefer to use a sponge or washcloth.  Let the solution sit on your dog's coat for a minimum of five minutes.  This solution can be left longer if a strong odor persists.First, you will want to first protect your dog's eyes.  1-2 drops of mineral oil will protect your best friends eyes from any stray solution.Quickly begin cleaning the sprayed area.  There is no need to soak your dog with water prior to bathing.  Just thoroughly massage the solution deep into your dog's coat. You may prefer to use a sponge or washcloth.Let the solution sit on your dog's coat for a minimum of five minutes.  This solution can be left longer if a strong odor persists.Avoid getting the solution in the eyes, ears or mouth. To remove the smell of skunk on pets, the first thing you want to do is move quickly!  The longer you wait, the longer the stench sticks around on clothing and in the air.One of the favorite homemade remedies that actually seems to work is as follows:1 Qt. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide1/4 c Baking Soda1 tsp Liquid SoapThis is a mixture that has to be made on the spot and not ahead of time and kept. Do not bottle this and keep it.Other home remedies are vinegar, a liberal amount of veterinary use deodorizer, tomato juice, or a weak solution of household ammonia can also help remove the foul odor from clothing.For those doing the bathing, adding several drops of oil of wintergreen on random pieces of corrugated cardboard or on cotton balls can also help cover the offensive odor before and after the bathing process. View the list ยป
One of the easiest ways for dogs to come in contact with a skunk is at night while skunks are feeding or searching for food.  Skunks are nocturnal animals and feed on pet food and garbage.  They also eat fruit that has fallen from trees and vegetables from a garden.  If your dogs stay outside, do not leave their food and water out at night.  Make sure lids are on securely if pet food is left outside as well.Since they are able to discharge their musk several times with accuracy to about 10 feet, curious dogs are often on the unlucky end of the spray. 

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Pepe Le Pew is about as close as I ever got to a skunk, that is, until I became a dog owner. I have learned way more information than I wanted to know about skunks after my dogs have had two nasty run ins with skunks.

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The first time I was sorely smacked with reality. This was while having a fun day at the park turned into a long and smelly walk home. Running through the park enjoying the fresh air and my dog runs into the soybean field only to return several minutes later with ears down, foamy mouth and smelling worse than anything I ever experienced or imagined. Being out in the open on a wonderful, sunny summer day, albeit with a super smelly dog, didn't give me the necessary warning about what was to come a couple of years later!

The second encounter came when during the middle of the night, my dogs wanted to go outside. Not a common occurrence, but obviously sometimes necessary, so I let them out, only to have two out of breath, very embarrassed dogs come scampering through the front door and well into the house. Within seconds, I realized this was a whole other problem. Now the smell was inside the house and it planned to stay!

This has consequently driven me to search for a remedy, a proven remedy, to get rid of skunk smell on a dog and in the house. The list I have compiled are both store bought and homemade remedies.

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  • One of the easiest ways for dogs to come in contact with a skunk is at night while skunks are feeding or searching for food.  Skunks are nocturnal animals and feed on pet food and garbage.  They also eat fruit that has fallen from trees and vegetables from a garden.  If your dogs stay outside, do not leave their food and water out at night.  Make sure lids are on securely if pet food is left outside as well.Since they are able to discharge their musk several times with accuracy to about 10 feet, curious dogs are often on the unlucky end of the spray. 
  • To remove the smell of skunk on pets, the first thing you want to do is move quickly!  The longer you wait, the longer the stench sticks around on clothing and in the air.One of the favorite homemade remedies that actually seems to work is as follows:1 Qt. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide1/4 c Baking Soda1 tsp Liquid SoapThis is a mixture that has to be made on the spot and not ahead of time and kept. Do not bottle this and keep it.Other home remedies are vinegar, a liberal amount of veterinary use deodorizer, tomato juice, or a weak solution of household ammonia can also help remove the foul odor from clothing.For those doing the bathing, adding several drops of oil of wintergreen on random pieces of corrugated cardboard or on cotton balls can also help cover the offensive odor before and after the bathing process. 
  • Skunk’s spray is an oily substance and can sit on the skin.  The recipe in this list creates a chemical reaction breaking up the oils and neutralizes the odor.First, you will want to protect your dog's eyes.  1-2 drops of mineral oil will protect your best friends eyes from any stray solution.  Avoid getting the solution in your dog’s eyes, ears or mouth.Put on some old clothes, rubber or latex gloves and quickly begin cleaning the sprayed area.  There is really no need to soak your dog’s coat with water prior to bathing.  Just begin by thoroughly massaging the solution deep into your dog's coat.  This is especially important for long-haired dogs as the oily substance be lost in the hair shaft and can sit on the skin.  You may need to add some lukewarm water for longer haired dogs, as well.  You may prefer to use a sponge or washcloth.  Let the solution sit on your dog's coat for a minimum of five minutes.  This solution can be left longer if a strong odor persists.First, you will want to first protect your dog's eyes.  1-2 drops of mineral oil will protect your best friends eyes from any stray solution.Quickly begin cleaning the sprayed area.  There is no need to soak your dog with water prior to bathing.  Just thoroughly massage the solution deep into your dog's coat. You may prefer to use a sponge or washcloth.Let the solution sit on your dog's coat for a minimum of five minutes.  This solution can be left longer if a strong odor persists.Avoid getting the solution in the eyes, ears or mouth. 
  • Rinse your dog well with lukewarm water. Repeat the massaging and washing until the odor is gone.You may want to use an old towel to dry your dog until she's only damp just in case you need to repeat the process.An added precaution would be to clean her mouth and brush her teeth.  Use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs as human toothpaste can upset a dog’s stomach.Be sure to also check your dog for scrapes or cuts as you won't want any of the skunk's spray to get in to open wounds.In some cases, a dog's coat may become slightly lighter as a result of the solution.  Depending on how many times you need to treat the affected area, this may be small.  If this occurs, it should resolve over time.  It will still be better than skunk smell!
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, Columbus American Staffordshire Examiner

Jane Mosley is a freelance writer, dog lover, gym owner and Muay Thai instructor. She has written for several online sites and print magazines. She is passionate about pit bull awareness and wants everyone to experience what makes them a lovable pet and family member.

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