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How can I get rid of skunk odor on my dog?

“To neutralize the odor associated with skunk spray, you need to
break down the oils...”

To neutralize the odor associated with skunk spray, you need to break
down the oils so that they can be washed off the fur or skin, and you
need to change the chemical structure of the volatile compounds so
that they become substances with little to no odor. In spite of the old
wives’ tale, tomato juice just does not work to do this; it only makes a
big mess! Nor does vinegar work effectively.

Chemists have developed several commercial products; some of these
products are more effective than others at neutralizing skunk spray.
Unfortunately, many encounters between dogs and skunks occur in
the late evening or middle of the night when stores and veterinary
clinics are closed, meaning that you can’t go and buy the product
when you need it. By studying the nature of the secretions, scientists
have determined what combination of products that are readily avail-
able around the home has the potential to help neutralize skunk odor
on your dog. Most homemade recipes involve a combination of hydro-
gen peroxide, baking soda, and dish detergent in varying amounts;
Eye Ulcerations
The most common recipe for skunk-odor removal is a hydrogen perox-
ide/baking soda recipe:
It is probably a myth that skunk spray can cause permanent blind-
ness. When gotten into the eyes the spray often causes temporary
• 1 Quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide blindness, and burns like crazy, but there are no documented cases of
• 1/4 cup of Baking Soda skunk spray causing permanent blindness in a dog.
• 1 teaspoon of Liquid Dish Soap
If you dog does end up with ulcerations of the cornea, crate the dog
Use FRESH Hydrogen Peroxide... H2O2 will eventually turn into water.
for several days and load it up on antibiotics (cephelaxin is fine). The
only thing to fear is infection. The important thing is to let the eye rest
The dish detergent breaks down the oil so that it can be washed away, and heal.
while the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda act as oxidizing agents,
changing the chemical structure of the thiols into odorless sulfonic After your dog is sprayed, expect your dog to have small blisters and
acid compounds. To be effective, the solution must be used while ulcers around sensitive areas such as lips and ears -- this is normal and
‘fresh’, or still bubbling, and must be applied directly to the sprayed will go away. It is caused by the extreme acidity of skunk spray.
areas.
Feed and water your dog well and keep warm and rested for at least a
week after a skunk encounter.
Road flares placed in a skunk den are said to kill the animal, but if your
dog has just been sprayed and stink is pouring out of the hole you
may just want to get the hell out of there.

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

In both Canada and the United States, skunks are carriers of rabies
virus. On an annual basis, approximately 20% of the animals that test
positive for rabies in the United States are skunks, while in Canada,
40% are skunks.

Reprinted with Permission 2018
www.terrierman.com

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