The smell of skunk is unmistakable. You won’t have any trouble figuring out what the problem is if your dog comes home smelling like skunk.
The hard part is getting rid of the smell. Although many people recommend rubbing the animal down with tomato juice or vinegar, all this does is cover up the skunk smell and make your pet smell like a mixture of tomato or vinegar and skunk.
To truly get rid of skunk smell on a dog, you need to neutralize the odor, not cover it up. There is a product available that can do this, but if you don’t have a large pet supply store nearby, you might not be able to get it when you need it. The product is called Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover.
If you don’t have any of the odor remover on hand, the best alternative is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and liquid hand soap. However, there are some steps that must be taken before applying the odor neutralizing mixture, so be sure to read all of the instructions thoroughly before you start.
First of all, you need to check for open sores before starting since the mixture can irritate scratches or other wounds. If your dog just had a run-in with a skunk it is possible that the skunk may have scratched or bitten your pet as well as spraying its scent. If you find any injuries, don’t apply the solution. Take your pet to the vet for treatment instead.
If your dog does not have any injuries, apply a small amount of Puralube or mineral oil to your dog’s eyes before starting. This will help protect your dog’s eyes if any of the solution drips into them.
Now get a large bowl or pail to mix up the solution. Do not put the solution into a container with a lid. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide could cause the container to burst. Pour 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (3%) into the bowl, then add 1/4 cup baking soda. Add 1-2 teaspoons liquid hand soap to the mixture. If your dog is large, add 1 quart of lukewarm water as well.
Apply the solution to your dog’s dry fur. Do not get him wet first. Work the odor neutralizing solution into his fur thoroughly but try to avoid getting it into his eyes. Let the solution soak for at least five minutes before rinsing the dog with lukewarm water. You may have to repeat the treatment a few times to eliminate the odor completely.
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