written by Patrick Schiek
Help!! My dog just got sprayed by a skunk! Not a phone call that any of us ever want to make, but, it does happen more frequently than you would think. There is nothing quite like that moment when you realize that your dog has been sprayed by a skunk. Don’t panic – the smell will go away eventually.
Time is of the essence for you and your dog. Skunk spray is usually not harmful for your pets unless they have gotten sprayed in the eyes or mouth. Try to dry off the spray from your pet using paper towels or some old towels that you won’t mind throwing away.
DO NOT SPRAY YOUR DOG WITH WATER.
Skunk spray is a yellow oil made up of volatile compounds like thiols and thioacetates, both of which readily bind to skin and fur. It’s very important that you do not spray your dog with water after he’s been sprayed by a skunk! The oil will repel the water and actually become more pungent once wet.
Once you have tried to absorb as much of the spray on your pet with towels, you can try the following home remedy to bathe your dog:
1quart hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap
Combine all the ingredients in a bucket. Wearing rubber gloves, soak your pet with water first, then apply the mixture. Work it through the fur into a thick lather. DO NOT GET THE SOLUTION INTO YOUR PETS EYES. Leave on for 3 – 4 minutes, then rinse until the water coming off of your pet is completely clear.
That may not totally eliminate the smell. You may have to bathe your dog after that using dog shampoo. Lucky Dogs carries several varieties and fragrances of dog shampoo including one specifically for getting rid of skunk odor that our customers have given us great feedback on.
Finally, many dogs may act a little sheepish after getting sprayed. Reassure your pet that they are still a good boy or good girl and that they didn’t do anything wrong.
