If you’ve ever owned a dog, you’ve probably had the experience of your dog being skunked. There are lots of old wives’ tales on how to deal with a skunked dog like bathing them in tomato soup, but in this article we’ll examine some EFFECTIVE ways of dealing with a skunked dog.
Unfortunately, in recent week’s we’ve had more of our Tail Blazers Copperfield customers reporting that their dogs have been skunked – possibly due to the warmer weather! A customer asked me to write an article about what to do, so here you go!
Prevention is Key!
When are Skunks Most Active?
Skunks are most active in the spring through summer months, but make no mistake – my dogs have been skunked in the winter – more than once!
Skunks are less active during the day and prefer to wander from dusk till dawn. If you enjoy walking your dog at these times, there are a few things you can do to reduce the chance of encountering a skunk.
1. Have Your Dog Wear a Bear Bell
Skunks prefer not to spray, so if you attach a bear bell to your dog’s collar it could give the skunk a heads up and give them enough time to retreat before your dog gets close enough to get sprayed. (we’ll be receiving bear bells in our store next week if you want one!)
2. Walk Your Dog on a Leash in Open Areas
Skunks like shelter, so you’re less likely to encounter one on open sidewalks vs a wooded trail. If your dog is on leash and close to you during your walk they probably won’t flush out a skunk from a bush for example.
A skunk can spray up to 15 feet, so if you’re in an open area you’ll likely spot the critter before you get close enough to smell him!
3. Close off Potential Hiding Spots in Your Yard
Skunks like to hide under decks and other sheltered areas. If you’re able to close off any potential hiding spots, the skunk may choose to move into your neighbour’s yard instead!
4. Ensure there’s no Food in Your Yard
Like many wild animals, skunks like to live where they can access food. Ensure you don’t have any pet food or bird seed that the skunk can access. Also make sure your garbage cans are secured.
Plan for the Worst
Despite your best efforts at prevention, the inevitable still may happen! Here are a few ways you can be prepared for the worst.
Prepare a De-Skunking Emergency Kit
Have a kit ready because when it happens, you won’t be thinking clearly. Find a storage container big enough for the following items:
- Multiple sets of well fitting gloves that will fit you and your spouse for example
- Unwrapped roll of paper towel
- Large garbage bag
- Two towels per dog (these will be destroyed, so use old towels)
- A few bottles of saline eye drops
- Commercial skunk odor neutralizer or ingredients for the homemade solution (see below) with a mixing bowl
- Dog shampoo
- Change of clothes you don’t mind ruining (I use my “painting clothes”)
The best place to store this kit would be in a place that is easily accessible without having to rummage through your home should you be covered in skunk oil.
A garage may be a logical spot, or if you frequent areas outside of your home that may have skunks, you could store it in your vehicle and have it on hand should your dog get skunked away from home.
Commercial De-Skunking Products
There are many, many commercial products on the market you can have on hand for a skunk emergency. When I choose a product to bring home, I ensure it lives up to the standards of any other product I would put onto my dog’s skin.
I am of course less fussy if I am grabbing something in an emergency!
I would recommend researching a commercial product and having at least 1 bottle on hand PER DOG should you need them in a pinch.
Every single time my dogs have been skunked, it’s been late or middle of the night. Luckily, I own a pet store and can get something at any hour, but odds are you can’t so be prepared!
The two products we sell currently are the Skout’s Honor Skunk Odor Eliminator and the Purodora Skunk Odor Neutralizer Duo For Pets.
I have personally tried the Skout’s Honor product and I really like that it smells great (not too strong) and can be used on surfaces other than your pet like furniture and clothing!
Homemade De-Skunking Solution
If you’re unable to get to a pet store in an emergency, check to see if you have these simple ingredients on hand to make a homemade neutralizer.
Grab a container you can use to mix the ingredients in and add:
- 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh, unopened)
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 tsp dishwashing liquid
Fair warning: You cannot use this solution on clothing and it also may discolour your dog’s fur if you leave it on them too long. Hydrogen peroxide also has short expiry dates, so you may need to replace your stock often.
What to do Immediately Following a Skunking
When your dog has been skunked, chaos ensues. Trust me when I say, you will not be clear headed and calm, you will be frantic and mad as hell!
Take a deep breath, and if you do nothing else remember DO NOT IMMEDIATELY BATHE YOUR DOG which will be your very first instinct.
1. Contain and Assess your Dog
If weather permits, contain your dog outdoors in an x-pen, crate, or tied up while you get organized. The skunk smell can linger for MONTHS and you’re likely to prefer it not linger in your house and your clothing for that long.
Wrap/Cover your dog in an old towel in an attempt to prevent the spread of the oils onto yourself or other surfaces.
Take a look at your dog and if he’s been sprayed in the eyes or mouth, contact a Veterinarian for further instructions.
2. Retrieve De-Skunking Kit
Go retrieve your De-skunking emergency kit that you put together for just such an occasion!
If you did not put a kit together and you’re lucky enough to have this happen while a store is open, head to a pet store (call ahead to ensure they have deskunking products) or head to a drug store for some hydrogen peroxide assuming you have dish soap and baking soda on hand.
Have someone watch your dog while you’re gone, or send that person for supplies while you stay with your dog. Your dog will likely be in distress, so it’s not a good idea to leave them unsupervised for too long, or at all.
3. Change Your Clothes
Change your clothes, unless yours have already been contaminated. It’s unlikely you’ll ever get that smell out so you may as well wear what you have on if it’s too late and hope it’s not your favourite pair of PJs!
Once you’ve changed your clothes, put your gloves on and move onto the next step.
4. Flush Your Dog’s Eyes, Face and Mouth if Required
If your dog has been sprayed in the eyes or mouth, the best thing you can do is call a veterinarian to get their advice for immediate next steps. If you do not have this option (due to time of day possibly) read on.
When my dogs got skunked, at least one of them got it in the face and the eyes. You may notice their eyes have a cloudy appearance which admittedly scared me the first time.
Flush the eyes out extensively with saline eyedrops – don’t be shy! I went through a couple of bottles!
Since you can’t apply a neutralizing solution to the eyes, face, or mouth you may have to use cool water to flush these areas if your dog is in distress.
If possible, try not to wet yellow, sprayed fur with the eyedrops or water.
My dog Kingsley got sprayed really good in the eyes and mouth, and we think it may have affected his taste for some time afterward since he suddenly went off of food.
He also developed a chronic cough afterward and still has it occasionally.
Although no Veterinarians would acknowledge that skunking in the mouth and possible inhalation of the substance would cause any issues, we are often curious if this was the cause.
5. Blot and Gently Wipe Your Dog’s Fur
Next, remove the towel from your dog and with a dry paper towel, try and gently wipe off as much of the yellow skunk spray as possible. Do not rub the fur, gently blot it off being careful to avoid rubbing the yellow skunk liquid onto the skin where it can be very irritating.
Dispose of towel and paper towels in a garbage bag so they don’t contaminate anything else.
6. Apply Neutralizing Solution onto DRY Fur
If you’ve purchased a commercial de-skunking product, follow the instructions on the bottle as every product is different.
If you’re using a homemade solution, mix the ingredients together into a bottle or disposable container and apply to dry fur. It may create more of a paste than a runny liquid, so apply as best you can and ensure the solution gets right down to the skin.
Leave on until the odour is neutralized.
Please be aware that leaving the peroxide on too long could cause the fur to change colour. You likely won’t care too much unless Fido is a world famous show dog, but you should be aware!
Dispose of the remaining solution once you’ve completed this step. It will not retain its potency for future use so throw it away.
7. Rinse and Shampoo Your Dog
Unless the instructions on your commercial product specify otherwise, now it’s a good time to grab your second emergency towel and shampoo and head to a water source.
If you can get your dog to a tub or shower without making contact with carpets or furniture this is best. Hard surfaces are easier to clean than absorbent surfaces.
First rinse the neutralizing solution off your dog, and then shampoo.
8. Dispose of contaminated towels and clothing
Throw your unsavable clothing, towels and gloves into a garbage bag and seal and store out of reach of kids and pets.
Why Can’t You Bathe Your Dog Initially?
We all know that oil and water don’t mix, and since skunk spray is an oily substance, instead of washing the oils off, water acts as a seal to seal the oil into hair follicles.
To top that off, skunk spray contains thioacetates that actually become smellier when combined with water. This can cause your dog to smell for weeks to months and every time they get wet again, it reactivates the smell reminding you of the momentous occasion!
It’s best to neutralize the oils first, then wash the coat to prevent a lingering, smelly nightmare!
Quick Review
If your dog gets skunked, remember to:
- Contain and Assess your Dog
- Retrieve De-Skunking Kit
- Change Your Clothes
- Flush Your Dog’s Eyes, Face and Mouth if Required
- Blot and Gently Wipe Your Dog’s Fur
- Apply Neutralizing Solution onto DRY Fur
- Rinse and Shampoo Your Dog
- Dispose of contaminated towels and clothing
Prevention and preparation will hopefully make a horrible situation a little less stressful. With any luck you’ll have only wasted a little time and money in preparation and will never need to deal with a skunking!
